The Last Duel

The Last Duel

Oh it's Mr. Steal yo girl Based on a true story, the movie told the event that led to the duel between a knight and a squire whose friendship turned ugly. The cast of this movie alone excited me. We got Jason Bourne, Kylo Ren, and Batman. And they were all solid in their roles. However, I had a major problem with the storytelling. The plot was told in 3 separate chapters with each from a character's perspective. This was meant to fill in the blank and reveal major twists to the story. The problem is that the story itself was too simple for this style of storytelling to work. Chapter 1 and 2 were enough for me to comprehend the whole story and had good understanding of the characters. Many scenes were repeated in the same way without any unique look from the characters. This led to the runtime feeling too stretched out. I think 30 minutes could be cut off and the story would still be coherent. I would have been entirely bored of the movie if not for the duel itself. That duel was the only unpredictable part of the story, and Matt Damon and Adam Driver (or their stunt double idk) performed the fight very well. There was good amount of blood and intensity to made me excited. Overall, despite the great concluding duel, the storytelling made for a disappointing movie. 6/10.

I'm glad I got to see this after interviewing to work at my near by theater well worth it! Jodie Cromer is a riveting actress she has some powerful moments and I really hope The Last Duel gets nominated. Ridley Scott still makes amazing movies decades into his career! The action is incredibly visceral, set design is massive it all felt so authentic and the dialogue was perfect. This movie was meant for the big screen so much of it was cinematic. Sorry for my review but I did love it!

It's a brave man who will tell his tale in the manner of "Rashomon", particularly when he's as reliant on CGI as Ridley Scott is here but then Scott, now 84, has never been one to shy away from a challenge. Even without its 'Rashomon'-style telling, (different versions of the same events), setting your dark epic at the end of the Dark Ages, risks alienating your audience. "The Last Duel" is said to be based on true events but whose truth? In the end that hardly matters. Messing with the narrative is a good deal of the fun and Scott certainly gives us a big, bloody and savage movie. Indeed of all his films this could be the one most likely to appeal to fans of "Gladiator". It's a fantastic looking film, stunningly shot by the great Dariusz Wolski and superbly designed but fidelity to the period doesn't really extend to the screenplay, co-written by co-stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck together with Nicole Holofcener from Eric Jager's book, and it's all the better for it. The 21st century colloquialisms give the movie an accessibility it might otherwise have lacked. Unfortunately neither Damon nor Adam Driver add much depth to their characters though an almost unrecognisable Ben Affleck seems to be enjoying himself and a post-Killing Eve Jodie Comer has no problem walking off with the movie as the wife who may or may not have been raped. Indeed, there is so much about "The Last Duel" that is smart, funny and totally unexpected that if just might turn out to be the most unlikely multiplex movie of the year but whether audiences respond to a movie largely devoid of action until the final duel is a different matter. This isn't Marvel territory but a movie for grown-ups that deserves a grown-up audience. Let's hope it gets the recognition it deserves.

The Last Duel got some strong points - acting is good and the production fine. What drags the movie down for me is the duration and somehow I was never really engaged with the main body of the story (the crime), so I had from time to time really to fight to keep my attention on the movie - to use Akira Kurosawa's different perspective technique (Rashomon) was in my opinion no wise choice. What's left to say? Best parts of the movie are for certain the battle scenes and the duel in the end, and the high production value regarding settings, costumes etc. The Last Duel - for sure no bad movie but belongs certainly not to the best of Ridley Scott's work.

After Good Will Hunting I was shocked why Ben Affleck and Matt Damon didn't write any screenplay together. Well, our wait is over because they have done a brave move, but this time it doesn't have that Hollywood storytelling vibe on it. This time, it is more experimental and different, they went for a new storytelling wave. (with help of Nicole Holofcener) Best director you can find for this kind of visual storytelling is Ridley Scott, and believe me, he's still top of his game. To be honest I don't think that Gladiator was a best picture because of Ridley's effort, I think it was Russel's incredible performance. But this movie shines because of Ridley's awesome visual style. To talk about performances in this movie, Jodie has the lead, she can get awards buzz after this film. She plays her character from different perspectives, it is not an easy thing to do but Jodie does it beautifuly. Matt Damon makes his mark, after Ben Affleck's drop from the other lead role Adam Diver tooks it and I got to say it is an impressive casting, because, as a antagonist Adam has that villain look real good. Ben Affleck steals the show everytime he is on the screen, just like in Good Will Hunting his side character is real fun to watch. Overall it is really a brave movie, Hollywood doesn't make these kinds of movies, but they should make these kinds of auteur movies more...

Brutality realistic. The Lat Duel is done in three chapter, by the stories of the main characters and the viewer decides the truth. Which I like! Great environmental filming as the viewer experience the smells, feels, and dirt of 13th century France. France is a true socialist state run by the Royals (government) with sword control only royals can own, and the surf society which decides who get represented by a two tier law system. People took by force, and Matt Damon's character is a professional soldier with the perfect 13th century mindset! Damon takes, and wars for possessions including Damon's character's wife! Damon's rival Lane fought with Damon but is a political animal. More educated, personable and useful works in with Affleck, a duke, and moves up the power latter and gains property etc off of Damon's expense. I believe there is a rivalry between the Damon and Lane characters and the rape of Damon's character wife is Lane's characters motive to one up Damon and get away with the crime with connecting with the duke would be able to get away with the rape. Rules do not apply for Lane's class morally or legally! Damon power play for the duel is the only systematic way to get back at Lane and is the warrior which should win the duel. The third chapter is Comer character a women who was sold as property, and meant for breeding. The rape was a property crime with a state run church accusing the victim that if Comer testimony's un true then God will the the victum be burned at the stake if Damon loses. God will let the true man win in the idea of divine providence! Lane is the one who runs the estate and is more educated can read and writes abilities does not matter becasue Damon has all the legal rights; Damon as the warrior makes the decision of the duel. All three Chapter perfectly directed by Scott builds up for the duel, which becomes a savage entertainment. Brutal and realistic 8 stars.

It's 14th century France. Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) are comrades-in-arms and best of friends. They are given a new lord in Count Pierre d'Alençon (Ben Affleck). While Jacques becomes the Count's favorite, Jean falls further and further out of favor. It doesn't help that Jean has married Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer) which leads to complications. This is directed by Ridley Scott. The structure divides the movie into three chapters. Each chapter takes the point of view from Jean, Jacques, and finally Marguerite. This is good but the Rashomon structure does lead to the feeling of repetition. Then there are the two scenes devoted to the central issue. The one depicting Jacques' point of view needs to be more on his side. After all, this is a case of his says, she says. The two sections leave the question as a degree rather than a decision. There is no question to the basic case. That may be deliberate but it does not increase the tension. The intensity needs to be higher although I do like the actual duel. There is a reality in the brutal repeated battering.

"The penalty for bearing false witness is that you are to be burned alive." Le Gris' Priest (John Kavanagh) Indeed, epic and enjoyable, The Last Duel bears the weight of rape that goes on even today with a woman who challenges a man for violating her against her will. However, this historically accurate medieval occurrence happened 600 years ago under the Normandy reign of the "mad" king, Charles VI. In addition, its legal battles are almost as interesting as how a virtuous woman can withstand the pressures of men who rule her and all other women with witless tyranny. Conditions for Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer) are worse for her in the 14th century because the same "he said" "she said" is met with the same disbelief as in many cases today. Her uptight husband, Sir Jean (Matt Damon), who rarely smiles, will eventually agree to a duel with his squire, Jacque Le Gris (Adam driver), the accused. It may be the last duel, but it is not the last time a woman comes near death for her allegations. Ridley Scott, who knows something about action (Blade Runner, Gladiator), directs this almost melodrama to a fine degree as he explores, Rashomon-style, three points of view about the rape yet has as memorable a stock dueling scene with horses and lances as any I've seen. The complex drama allows us to question the truth of contradictory elements and to long for a resolution that is unambiguous but eventually hard to attain. The question about justice for women is present as it is today, for in the end the men determine, and women are left helplessly pleading to be treated fairly. That the truth of her allegations rests on the outcome of the duel is absurd but allowed because the King wills it, as if chance could determine the truth more than truth itself. Never does Scott let the action overshadow the search for truth because he allows sharp questioning take place, albeit resting on false assumptions such as if a woman doesn't feel pleasure at the end of the act with her husband, there will be no child, or that a child does not ensue from rape, or that describing a man as handsome predisposes a woman to adultery. Ages ago but a contemporary ignorance our ultra-conservative covens love. Not half as important but more interesting is the turf battle, where land is capriciously given away or gobbled up for debt less than its worth. Women as chattel is not new-doweries exist today even if they are not called that: "Rape is not a crime against women" says one man. "It is a crime of property." The Last Duel gives the audience almost all the possible pleasures from a motion picture that include gorgeous property and people. Enjoy as it was meant to be seen-in a theater.

Firstly Ridley Scott's talent as a director is undeniable. And it is for the most part well displayed in "The Last Duel." Secondly I was pleasantly surprised at Matt Damon's acting chops in the film. I consider Damon a yeoman talent. Certainly not top top tier actor, but a very good one, and he does very vey well in the film. I did not think Adam Driver, who has a stunning range in his career did well in this part. Jodie Comer, after you have seen her in a few roles seems to be repetitive and I was not impressed with her portrayal of her role in Duel. But my main impression is that aside from a number of really dramatic action sequences, the narrative inappropriately tries to impose modern mores. This just doesn't work. It is a jarring anachronism given this is set in late medieval, pre-Enlightenment times. Similar to the problem in the narrative in "Kingdom of Heaven" were historians critiqued the narrative element of having the lead characters on both sides displaying modern and thus utterly artificial views of tolerance that were manifestly not present in anyone at the time the piece was set. With Dual and Kingdom one gets the feeling of a fourth wall-like didactic lecture to audience. Lastly to those who say noting the similarity with Rashomon is wrong, OI can only say you havent seen Rashomon. The Last Duel has been called " "Rashomon crossed with #MeToo" and "Ridly Scott's Rashomon." I saw this Athens Film Festival while in Greece on business. 6/10.