The Last Duel (2021) User Reviews

Great, original film that gets better and better the further into it you get

[grantss · 8/10 · 30 December 2021]

France, late-14th century. Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris were friends but a series of disagreements has soured their relationship. These animosities are stoked to deadly feud when de Carrouges's wife, Marguerite, accuses Le Gris of raping her. When all other avenues of justice are exhausted, de Carrouges takes the only option left to him: a duel to the death.

Great drama, directed by Ridley Scott and written by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Ridley Scott's first film as a director was "The Duellists" (1977). Set during the Napoleonic era, two French army officers engage in a series of duels over a period of 15 years over a matter of honour. From the basic description I saw of The Last Duel I expected this to be a rehash of that so set my expectations accordingly.

Turns out The Last Duel is very different to The Duellists and thankfully so (not that The Duellists was bad - in fact it's a great film - but because a remake of it would be fairly boring). It starts conventionally enough: over a span of 16 years we see de Carrouges's view of the sequence of events. As this sets the scene for the remainder of the movie the de Carrouges part is mildly interesting but not overly engaging. At this point the film seemed like just another feud-leading-to-climactic-fight-scene.

What happens next elevates the film above that. We now see the events of the last 16 years from Le Gris's perspective. De Carrouges no longer looks like the saintly hero and Le Gris could be the one we're supposed to root for. The film is now looking like a Rashomon-type movie, i.e. Different perspectives, which one is correct?

However, it is the final part, Marguerite's view, that elevates the film to greatness. While Le Gris's view made the film intriguing it ends with any ambiguity to the course of events extinguished. This is where Scott, Damon and Affleck missed a trick - by making it clear what the truth is so soon they remove the mystery from the plot.

In the long run it doesn't matter too much as it is soon clear that the main theme is not of a feud, honour satisfied or how different people can have different perspectives of the same event but one of injustice. Marguerite's part is incredibly powerful and engaging and makes for compelling viewing.

This is all rounded off with a brutally realistic fight scene at the end. I can't think of a film that has shown medieval fighting depicted so accurately or graphically.

Ultimately a very well made, intelligent, highly original film with multiple layers and themes. Production values are excellent: every detail seems exactly like it would have been in the 14th century. All this makes for an incredibly realistic, historically accurate film.

Performances are spot on: Matt Damon (as de Carrouges), Adam Driver (as Le Gris) and Jodie Comer (as Marguerite) are excellent in the lead roles. Ben Affleck is almost unrecognisable as Count Pierre d'Alençon and puts in a solid performance. (His appearance was a bit distracting though: he kept reminding me of Will Ferrell's character in Zoolander!).

Also interesting to see Alex Lawther (of "The End of the ... World" fame) as King Charles VI. He provides some of the lighter moments of the film as he often seems to find deadly serious, life-and-death moments quite amusing. King Charles VI was only 16-18 years old at the time so I thought this was to show that he was really just a boy, out of his depth. Turns out this wasn't just there for levity but was a realistic portrayal of King Charles VI's character as he was known to have suffered from mental illness and psychosis. Yet another example of the historical accuracy involved.

Slow, Suspenseful And Enjoyable

[thomas-ero · 8/10 · 6 December 2021]

If you want to watch something that has well-developed characters and plot and will really pull you in, give this a go.

It think the strongest thing about this movie is the storytelling, which is very mature, thoughtful and well-paced. It turns what would otherwise be another medieval action flick into an engrossing study about injustices, conflict and how human beings relate with each other. The acting is amazing and it's nice to see Ben Affleck in an unusual role, which he really nails.

Ridley Scott delivers again.

Loved it -- slow burn, plenty of detail, had me engaged and thinking

[armencho-392-524499 · 8/10 · 5 January 2023]

Going into watching this I wasn't expecting anything else but some quality period piece with the bonus of sounds and images of glistening swords and all manner of medieval paraphernalia. This being a Ridley Scott film, I was of course expecting being at least thoroughly entertained.

I suppose me writing a review should mean my expectations were _exceeded_.

In short, "The Last Duel" is actually somewhat of a crime thriller, a "who dun it" story. It is a well built slow-burn movie, if these things are in your style. Acting was top-notch all the way through, even for familiar faces of Affleck and Damon. It seems Scott had his muse with him making this because it's kind of the sum of its constituent parts that makes it work as well as it did for me -- it doesn't skimp on the visuals (with medieval dramas I believe set pieces are important to a degree), actors are professional -- like I said even Affleck and Damon do a splendid job that didn't have me evoke any of their other more mundane roles -- , and the plot burns with a engaging flame like a candle.

I don't like movies that are only cerebral or only everything but. Last night I watched "Prey" which I heard was one to watch, and frankly I was bored 10 minutes in. This one I can recommend for the objective quality factor at least, however; but to each their own, of course.

I wouldn't want to leave this review without mentioning the important message -- yes, really -- that tried to show the enormous weight medieval women had to metaphorically carry and live with, even those admitted in king's court, their plight while being merely a leaf in the wind of fate, among feuding men. This movie made me reach deep into my moral core feeling compassion for the women who lived some half a millenia ago. And it did so in a way deserving of their legacy, if one dares to say so. As banal as it may sound, it had me thinking about the horrors medieval Christianity inflicted on everyone, and about fraternity culture between such men for whom women never became anything but objects.

Scott returns to form

[Come-and-Review · 9/10 · 13 September 2021]

Seen the film at a screening at the Venice Film Festival.

Even if there is no way of telling that what The Last Duel portrays is entirely how the events took place, or as authentic as it seems to be in depicting middle ages, one thing is certain: it belongs to Ridley Scott's better works, and proves that the 84-year-old filmmaker is still able to deliver memorable films.

The dramatization takes on a three act narrative frame that resembles partly that of Kurosawa's masterpiece Rashomon: three chapters narrate the events, each from the point of view of one of the three protagonists, the two duellists and Marguerite.

The film clearly seeks a historical authenticity, and seems to succeed at achieving it. The almost word-by-word, blow-by-blow adherence to the accounts of the duel seem to confirm such an achievement, and is in a way reminiscent of Scott's debut film The Duellists, known for its methodical reconstruction.

The true essence of this film's stance is the idea that through the study of history more can be learnt about the contemporary world, the past as a mirror of the present.

The Last Duel is, in the end, a film that deals with the present by showing the past, and does so in an exquisite and entertaining fashion.

(extract from my review on comeandreview)

impressive

[Kirpianuscus · 26 December 2021]

The basic motif to admire this film is the image of Dariusz Wolski. Earth colors, falls and early springs, winter and tones of browns and gray.

The second is the acting and the most impressive work seems be by Jodie Comer.

Not the last - the force of gifts and precision of Ridley Scott to propose a beautiful exploration of contemporary problems.

It is an impressive film for themes and for dialogues , for confrontations and fight scenes and for the wake up of truths. A Medieval story very modern in its fundamental traits. A chain of confirmations about actors talent, an admirable construction of the motives, reactions and answers of characters.

Short, a great film and proof of a provocative art of unique director.

Ridley Scott is the Master of this Genre for a reason

[emiraktel-2710 · 9/10 · 17 September 2021]

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...

repeating structure

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 2 December 2021]

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.

'Rashomon' for the 'Gladiator' generation.

[MOscarbradley · 9/10 · 3 December 2021]

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.

Still got it

[hi-44665 · 7/10 · 11 December 2021]

Really enjoyed it! Worth the watch. Great actors and still such a great director. Not his best work but still great. Always worth watching his movies.

Just Watch It

[hangerorg · 8/10 · 26 October 2022]

Legendary acting and scenario... It may just seem a little boring to some people. But that doesn't mean the movie is bad. The plot of the film is very well processed. In addition, the film reflects its time very well. I think it deserves 8 points. I did not give 2 stars. This is because of the last duel that gave the film its title. The last duel didn't go as I expected. I wouldn't expect professional soldiers to fight with many mistakes. And I think the last duel should have lasted longer. Anyway, despite everything, it was a movie that I loved very much. Have a good time. Don't forget to watch this movie in a calm state. This increases the pleasure you will get.

Way Too Long

[Tweetienator · 6/10 · 1 December 2021]

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.

So many Shills

[kbellenfant · 4/10 · 1 December 2021]

Soooo Tedious! What a terrible movie. The first and last ten minutes were not so bad. The middle two hours were just in the way. Ben Afleck was horribly miscast.

Rough Justice

[eslapionfl · 9/10 · 7 December 2021]

An excellent film about a historical incident. Well directed and written.

This movie brings to light the how strongly paternalistic and misogynistic society was in medieval times and how much your point of view can vary according to your place in this highly hierarchized world.

Here you have the illiterate knighted husband who wants to defend his honor and sees himself as a hero, the friend who likes to think the wife of the knight has a crush in him and the wife who suffered abuse and seeks justice only to find herself treated as property and risking an atrocious death for telling the truth.

Magnificent acting by Jodie Comer and Adam Driver.

Underappreciated movie that should have been better recieved

[Mccadoo · 9/10 · 19 February 2023]

The Last Duel is a very well directed, well acted historical drama that, while a bit long, is well worth your time. As has been stated here in the trivia section, it was one of the most notorious box office bombs of 2021 but that doesn't mean it's not an excellent film, it is.

I think there were several reasons for its poor performance in theaters. First is that it didn't appeal to todays younger movie goers because it is a historical film with a complicated plot that actually requires some thought and it doesn't have any characters dressed in Halloween costumes with super powers.

Second is that it was one of the films that Disney inherited in their purchase of 20th Century Fox and while they were contractually obligated to release it they did almost nothing to promote it. Proving once again, as if anyone needed further proof, how galactically inept Disney has become at the entertainment business in the last decade.

The effort put into this movie by all involved is apparent on the screen in almost every scene. True it does have a long running time that likely could have been trimmed down a bit but it holds your interest well throughout. It has excellent production values, acting and directing and is a film that forces you to think about what you're watching. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys intelligent movies about real people.

Venice 78 review

[pejv22 · 6/10 · 14 September 2021]

Excellent perfomances elevate meandering script which also drags a little and doesn't fully justify its structure. But scenes that work are really impressive, especially the last duel. Jodie Comer is a real standout with a nuanced perfomance that should get a lot of awards attention. All in all a perfectly fine movie but nothing you haven't seen before.

Amazing.

[gangeshgnair · 9/10 · 16 December 2022]

Ridley Scott doing a period drama is something that i always look up to. This is definitely a amazing movie. It uses a rashamon effect narative technique to show the perspectives of 3 people on a event. The action scenes are amazing, especially the duel in the end. The duel was shot so amazingly, genuinely made me kept on thinking what's going to happen next and who is going to win the duel. The movie is technically marvelous. The movie also tries to show how in their own perspectives everyone is right. There is no much difference to the events taking place in each perspectives, but slight variations that make a lot of difference. There are also many other subjects like how men are behind power, how hard it is for a women to talk about Attrocties done to her, some aspects of the senslessness of relegion. The movie is very engaging, even though the same events are being narrated again it held my attention completely. Jodie comer is just amazing in her role, She gets the most scope to perform in the movie. Adam driver, matt Damon and ben affleck were good in their roles.

jodie comer stole the show

[mam_388 · 7/10 · 1 December 2021]

If you are blown away by her performance in killing eve get ready to be blown away again by her worthy of an Oscar performance in the last duel , her character is the exact opposite of villanelle and she is equally believable playing this sympathetic character to the point of breaking your heart , she absolutely stole the show , I am so glad she is starting to capitalize on the success of killing eve and getting to play big parts in great movies like this one .

Ridleys Scotts Historical Epic

[Fil-sorokins · 8/10 · 11 December 2021]

First things first. Ridley Scott is an outstanding filmmaker. Movie "The Last Duel" is a story of historical events and the story is told from 3 different perspectives of the situation. Without any spoilers, I wanted to say that it's a brilliant movie. It tells the same story from 3 points of view , and everyones story is a True Story of the events.

The Cast is outstanding . Matt Damon , Adam Driver and the lady Jodie Comer. Made the story authentic and true. Performances are 10/10. And Ben Affleck is in this picture as well!

Besides marvelous acting, dialogues, costumes design there are really great locations. I am not an expert , but the Medieval France looked authentic.

Movie is a 2:30 hours long so .. If you are a fan of the genre , than I definitely recommend watching this film. The story will take its time , so you understand every characters personalities , motives and actions and it all will lead to the Duel. The Last Duel - Ridleys Scotts Historical Epic.

Disjointed duel

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 1 February 2023]

There were quite a number of reasons for wanting to see 'The Last Duel'. Ridley Scott has made some great films, such as 'Alien', 'Blade Runner' and 'Thelma and Louise'. The story structure, the same event told from three different points of view and with three stories, sounded fascinating and ambitious. Love films set in medieval periods. The cast also promised a lot, have liked some of the work of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, Adam Driver has impressed me in much of his work and this reviewer fell in love with Jodie Comer ever since binge watching 'Killing Eve'.

Seeing it, 'The Last Duel' had a lot of great things and was interesting. It was also though rather disjointed and falls short in a few areas. Of the two 2021 films Scott directed, the other being 'House of Gucci', my vote for the better film goes to this. Despite also being very uneven, 'The Last Duel' is more focused tonally, more involving with not as many pacing issues and although not all the performances work none are as bad as Jared Leto's in that film, despite being a fan of a higher number of actors in that film.

Am going to start with the good. On the most part, 'The Last Duel' looks very lavish and atmospheric in the costumes and settings and is also beautifully shot. The music is a wonderful mix of haunting, rousing and hypnotic, as well as cleverly and ravishingly orchestrated. Scott's direction on the most part is accomplished and much more assured than in 'House of Gucci'. Of the performances, the best comes from a truly incadescent Comer, helped by that she is the most interesting character and that her story is the most consistently compelling of the three, and the final act is truly powerful emotionally and in suspense.

Driver is very good too, with lots of authority and intensity, his character is interesting and complex and there is real suspense in seeing whether he did what he was accused of or not. The action on the whole enthralls and is suitably uncompromising, not shying away from the cruelty of war and the aftermath. The final duel is spectacularly staged and shockingly brutal. There is some thought provoking dialogue and the story structure does compel generally, especially in the final act.

Having said that, the execution of the story isn't completely successful. Did find the first story/act rather dull and stagy on the whole, with some very stilted dialogue, and there are times where the film is a little too repetitive. The dialogue has moments, but too much of it (especially in the first act) is self-indulgent and awkward.

Furthermore, Damon came over as rather bland, one that needed more authority and intensity but saw a lot of forced angry moments and looking haughty from Damon. Driver had the more complex character and hasn't been acting for as long, but managed to be a lot more convincing when it came to the authority and the intensity. Affleck's performance is also truly bizarre and out of place, even for a character that drinks a lot and a party animal sort of character Affleck throughout his screen time looked and spoke like someone would recovering from a bad hangover. There is some very jumpy and choppy editing that gave the film a sense of incompleteness.

Interesting and ambitious film with many great things and moments of brilliance, but also rather disjointed. 6/10.

Medieval drama with a great history

[HafizhMaulana21 · 8/10 · 21 December 2022]

The knight Jean de Carrouges had a duel with Jacques Le Gris after the incident happened to de Carrouges' wife. The two knights duel to prove each other the truth of the dispute that occurred between them.

The Last Duel presents a drama story from medieval history. The film is wrapped in a story concept that is divided into several acts. Each of these acts has a different point of view of conflict from the three main characters, namely de Carrouges, Jacques and Marguerite. Each act has a well-constructed and dense conflict that produces a story with a different point of view. The film is able to provide the perfect emotional side in reinforcing conflicts.

The Last Duel is a drama film with a classic medieval story that is quite good and interesting. The film features a strong, dense and structured story premise. The dialogue presented provides a strong explanation in building conflicts and stories. Followed by performances from the cast who performed well in portraying life in the middle ages.

Like watching 3 coats of paint dry

[tomarm-21596 · 3/10 · 23 October 2021]

For some bizarre, inexplicable reason they decided to make a Rashomon type movie - i.e. The same events re a woman's rape accusation, told from 3 different perspectives. Problem is none of those perspectives really much disagree with each other - so what's the point here? You're left with the boring experience of watching/(enduring) the same story 3 times. And the initial version's not all that interesting the 1st time around.

Seems only purpose for this is as a "me too". But, er, yeah, woman's rights were particularly unevolved in the - 13th century. That's why it was the Medieval age.

Only positive is that's it's bombed at the box office (cost over $100 mil, made $4.8 mil 1st week), so hopefully that will discourage Hollywood from making more movies like this.

(An order of magnitudes better Ridley Scott "duel" movie is the The Duelists from the 80s, watch that instead)

A good movie, a wonderful scenario and an amazing acting

[griesarmand · 8/10 · 12 October 2021]

First, I'm french and I've seen the movie with french dubb, which is alright (but feels sometimes a little bit mixed « on » the soundtrack and audio effects), so I can't tell about the original « not frenchy » voices.

The movie presents itself through a hard and violent duel, which only by the trailer we know is about a woman. But with a length of 2h38, it's not just about that obviously. And without any spoiler, it's in fact almost three hours of a very good scenario. It shows stuff, and hide or untell others. We get out with more of a society questionning than a moral one, in my opinion.

Acting is really good, Matt Damon nailed it with his fierce and violent knight. Ben Affleck, dispite his strange look is a brilliant lord. Adam Driver is a good vilain, but his origins seems a bit odd in the context. And finally, Jodie Comer manage a difficult play ; only drawback, she is far too perfect and dressed for a harsh environnement like the late middle-age.

The overall movie is fine to watch, it seems historically accurate, with some anachronisms. The duel is a great piece of battle, with a general « show everything, including blood, guts and ass » vibe, which is in all middle-age movie these days (or GoT). The end is not to my taste « graphically ».

Finally, the soundtrack is really good and I would have loved to heard it more.

Decent film

[Bravo419 · 7/10 · 30 December 2022]

I felt there were some miscasts with The Last Duel; Damon looks and acts too much like a grunting brute rather than a temperamental knight, while the equally unkempt Driver lacks the good looks the women in the film doted about, instead carrying a puffy and sour expression on his face at all times, which sadly cannot be helped. Comer played her role very well, on the contrary.

The film could've easily been shortened to just two accounts instead of three, combining Damon and Comer's versions of events and thus placing this film below two hours. Comer's version simply further elaborates on and "corrects" some of what she told Damon after all, and with history telling us that the real Carrouges (Damon) did anything but challenge or choke his wife after her accusation, despite the film portraying otherwise, this would have been truer to life as well.

What we're left with is a film where the men are portrayed as violent savages, and the women are helpless victims caught in the middle of it all. Nevertheless, we do get the long-awaiting duel in the end, complete with grappling, half-swording, and other combat techniques of the Middle Ages that were pleasant to see and made up for what preceded the duel, particularly in a film that got several other aspects of this period wrong.

Complex and Brutal

[davidmvining · 8/10 · 20 October 2021]

A $100 million epic that probably should have been made for significantly less considering the subject matter, Ridley Scott's The Last Duel is a hard-edged Rashomon-like look at a rape in Medieval France and the ensuing legal duel, sanctioned by Charles VI, the last in France's history. I'm going to be honest, I'm not surprised that it's bombing horribly at the box office. This isn't the sort of thing people want to buy popcorn to and go to the theaters to watch. It's too heavy.

The film is broken up into three chapters, each telling the story up to a certain point from the perspective of the three main characters. The first is centered around Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon), a squire who led a hasty charge on an enemy line in battle that cost his lord, the Count Pierre d'Alencon (Ben Affleck), a key city. Alongside him in battle was Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) who helped Jean avoid death in battle and is also a squire under Pierre. The friendship between Jean and Jacques quickly devolves into a rivalry as Jacques gets closer to the Count, receiving more gifts for loyal service than Jean. Jean, meanwhile, meets the daughter of a pardoned traitor, Marguerite (Jodie Comer). Jean negotiates with her father for her dowery, agreeing upon a particular plot of land that gets snatched from him when Jacques, unknowing the pending engagement of Jean and Marguerite, agrees to accept that land for the rents that Marguerite's father owes Pierre, essentially (but not literally) stealing the land from Jean. Lawsuits are filed, egos are bruised, and Jean becomes increasingly bitter as he sees his lot in life lowered while Jacques seems to raise his own lots through no effort of his own.

Before going any further, I want to admire the film's structure. The first third, Jean de Carrouges' telling, is where we get the bulk of the world building, and it's important stuff for the story. It's not just about women being pawns in the games of powerful men. There's a lot of detail about how the feudal system in France worked. How squires reported to Counts who reported to Kings, about how lawsuits worked, and how finances worked. Everyone is always short of cash, and the only way Jean de Carrouges can get out is to go to war from plunder and prisoners to sell at ransom. He goes to war in Scotland for just this, returning with nothing, and needing to immediately go to Paris to receive payment from the crown for his efforts. When he comes home, Marguerite tells him that Jacques Le Gris showed up when she was alone and raped her. Jean believes her, and he pursues a course of action that leads to the King of France endorsing the legal duel.

The second section is Jacques Le Gris'. Where Jean's section showed a man perennially beaten down, Le Gris' shows a man of education and loose morals climbing the ladder of power easily. Much of his section takes place in Pierre's presence as he plays witty word games and joins Pierre in sex games with the pretty young women in Pierre's court (outside of Pierre's wife's presence, of course). He's also good with numbers and takes up Pierre's accounts, agreeing to make sense of the books but also go to the different tenants on Pierre's lands to pick up the missing rents. It's here, in Le Gris' section where we see that there are subtle but very interesting things happen. There's one particular moment that is in all three sections where Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris attempt to reconcile at the celebration of another squire's new child. In all three, a single line is uttered by different people about how no fight between squires should be allowed to continue for it is ruinous to all. In Jean's he speaks it, in Jacques' he speaks it, and in Marguerite's the other squire speaks it off camera. This is like the memories of the three reflecting back on the events from the end of the movie, wondering how they all got there.

The most important aspect of this difference is in the rape itself. Jacques loves (lusts after?) Marguerite, but it's mostly from afar. After a brief exchange at the celebration where both are revealed as book learned and witty, they spy each other in different places over the next few months. When Jacques sees Jean after Jean returns from Scotland on his way to Paris, Jacques decides that this brute of a man has left behind his beautiful, intelligent lady of a wife behind at home alone. He visits, enters her home through deception, and gets into her bedroom with her and no one else in the house. What follows is a recreation of an earlier scene from Pierre's bedroom where Jacques had chased another lady around a table in a game that led to consensual sex. You can see the mirror, but at the same time it's obvious that Marguerite doesn't want to participate. It's not playful, but it's definitely not consensual. However, from Jacques' point of view you can see how he might see it that way. As he explains to Pierre later, when the accusations are running around the country, Marguerite was a lady who just put up the normal objections, like the lady from the earlier scene.

The final third is Marguerite's point of view, and it provides more interesting context around both men. Her first scene is of Jean angrily arguing with her father about the loss in dowery with her father promising him that Marguerite will be fertile. The celebration scene clarifies a moment where she was dancing with Jean but looking at Jacques with her dialogue explaining about fake smiles getting people places rather than anger. There are scenes with Jean's mother, and the two really don't like each other. There are scenes of her sex with Jean which obviously pains her (the common belief at the time that women require "the little death", an orgasm, in order to conceive is mentioned by her doctor in reference to how she can't conceive). And, most importantly, there is the rape, which is a good bit more horrible from her perspective. We can see that Jacques was thinking that he was playful, but he's also far rougher with her and her protestations far more vocal. Also, Jean's reaction to the news if far less understanding that Jean's memory.

It all ends up with that titular duel, and Ridley Scott puts his trademarked look on the brutal fight that earns every bit of the R-rating. It is both satisfying in some ways and really empty in others, on purpose. Neither Jean nor Jacques are particularly good people. Even in their own tellings they're not really admirable at all. Jean is a thin-skinned and impulsive brute who got himself laughed out of court, and Jacques is a cruel womanizer. When one side wins, it's not the pure victory anyone really wants because motives, purposes, and intentions are all crossed and confused.

No, this really isn't something that was going to make its money back at the box office.

I loved it, though. It's a complex portrait of a brutal time filled with very good performances from everyone especially Jodie Comer as Marguerite and Ridley Scott's wonderful visual sense of grandeur. I would never have greenlit this movie with a $100 million budget (and a script that is rumored to be at least an hour longer than the final product) as a producer, but I'm glad it's here. It's a hard film, but I think it's ultimately very worthwhile.

An Uphill Battle

[nlsteven-attheMovies · 6/10 · 1 November 2021]

The Last Duel is a mixed bag of good and bad. Its highlights include its #MeToo message, an intense duel scene, which recalls Ridley Scott's brilliant work on Gladiator, brilliant performances by Adam Driver and Jodie Comer and breathtaking location cinematography by Darius Wolski. Its biggest letdown is its screenplay, which tells the rape story in three alternative versions, rendering the film repetitive and slow-moving. I also can't get past how disappointing and unattractive Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are in their overdue comeback roles together.