Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Alien, Kingdom of Heaven) makes a return to the past with his latest movie, The Last Duel, and brings along a cast of A-listers and rising stars.
To explain the synopsis of this film requires that I explain the format as well. The Last Duel centers on three main characters. The first being Jean de Carroughes (Matt Damon), a loyal soldier that feels he’s never got the respect he deserves. His former best friend and often rival is Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver). He is a lothario who has great luck and has earned the respect of the crown. The centerpiece of this movie is Marguerite (Jodie Comer). She is a confident lady who descends from an elite family in France and marries Jean.
The events here are scattered through two decades in the late 1300s in France. We see the friendship between the two men, though petty power grabs turn them into rivals. Marguerite steps forward and accuses Jacques of sexual assault. It becomes a version of he said/he said/she said. This puts the kingdom at a stand-still and a young King Charles VI decides that the truth will be settled through combat between Jean and Jacques.
The most interesting aspect of this movie is how it tells the story. It’s divided into three chapters. Each chapter takes the perspective of the three main characters and it tells the “Truth according…” to them. The history of each character jumps from year to year, but we see pivotal moments shown through their eyes. It’s almost as if these characters are telling the story through their own filter. The unreliable narrators are shown when the truth is finally revealed.
This is a meaty 2 1/2 hour movie. The story, as told through these characters’ eyes, often describes the same scene three different times. A timeline reaches its end, and we have to sit through the same timeline with a different perspective, or two. This kind of experience is fascinating, but might be best at home.
Unlike Scott’s previous epics, The Last Duel comes across as more of a historical narrative. There are a few scattered battles tossed in, and Scott has not missed a beat when it comes to showing the brutality and ugly aspects of hand-to-hand combat. Though, no one should go into this movie expecting a war movie. It is a story of vendettas, lust, and justice.
And now for the cast. Jodie Comer is magnificent as the character that is silenced by most around her. Even when speaking up, she must face the fatal consequences of doing so. I loved her character and am inspired to read up on the actual person. Matt Damon plays a gruff, non-charismatic character well, but might be the weakest link here. He feigns an attempt at an accent, but comes off more like Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood. Adam Driver sinks right into his character. You can see the draw, but there’s always distrust in his narcissism. Surprisingly, Ben Affleck as Pierre (the King’s cousin) has a fantastic scene-chewing performance. He is in the movie a perfect amount and is someone I loved to hate.
Ridley Scott brings some gravity to the movie by crafting as realistic an experience possible. The world of 1300s France is dark and grimy. Indoor shots are only lit by candlelight, making scenes feel eerie and claustrophobic. He also doesn’t rely as much on a score as many of his previous films. This is a bit disappointing in fight scenes, but it would also be weird to have a triumphant score for a film like this.
The Last Duel is a one-time watch, but the format used for its storytelling should be studied (fans of Rashomon will find it familiar). It’s a very detailed and clever way to approach a situation that would generally not have worked for film before. This doesn’t need to be seen on a big screen necessarily, but I’m glad I have seen it. I’m not sure how based on a true story this is, but if you are a history buff, this will be worth seeing. B
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