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Oct 12, 2021 · After a prologue presenting the beginning of the title duel—a match to the death between squires and one-time friends Sir Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris (Damon and an especially tense-necked Adam Driver, respectively)—the movie takes a “Rashomon”-inspired structure. The first “Truth According To Chapter” belongs to Damon’s ...
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Box office. $30.6 million [4][5] The Last Duel is a 2021 historical drama film [6] directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon, based on the 2004 book The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager. Set in medieval France, the film stars Damon ...
- A brutal, bloody duel sets the stage for an unexpected discussion of women’s rights.
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- Verdict
By Ryan Leston
Updated: Oct 13, 2021 7:12 pm
Posted: Sep 10, 2021 7:30 pm
The Last Duel was reviewed at the Venice Film Festival, where it made its world premiere. It will hit theaters on Oct. 15.
The Last Duel takes us back to a dark chapter in French history as director Ridley Scott strikes an unforgiving tone for this tale of gruesome, bloody combat. Based on true events, the film’s grim story and overwhelming bleak atmosphere sets the stage for an emotional tale of one woman’s fight for justice in the face of honor, duty, and so-called chivalry.
Fourteenth century France can be a hostile place – especially for a woman. This is even more true for a woman accusing a man of rape, as Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer) soon finds out. Although The Last Duel largely focuses on how this plays out in a medieval court, it opens with the cut and thrust of the titular last duel. It’s certainly serious business, as knights Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques LeGris (Adam Driver) gear up for a fight to the death. It’s all in the name of honor – Jacques has been accused of raping his former friend’s wife. But hold your horses, as there’s a lot more at stake than meets the eye.
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These discrepancies are played perfectly all round by Comer, Damon, and Driver. The real cleverness in Scott’s approach to this story is in how its relationships change in the most subtle of ways from one version to the next.
The coy flirting between Jean and Marguerite becomes a “strange match” when Jacques recounts his story. And while there’s undeniable chemistry between Comer and Driver – especially in Jacques’ version of events – this soon breaks down into a gruelling, hard-hitting depiction of rape by the time Marguerite gets to tell her story.
Ridley Scott sets an unforgiving tone for this tale of gruesome, bloody combat.
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Scott doesn’t shy away from the brutal, horrific nature of it, either. Instead, you’re forced to face the reality of Marguerite’s full testimony, watching in horror as it all unfolds. This, too, changes from one account to the next – Marguerite recounts a harrowing moment when she fights back against Jacques’ violent demands. However, Jacques claims that it was all consensual, and merely the “customary protest” of a married woman who has fallen in love with another man.
Comer is the standout star here, vacillating in each account between dutiful wife, adulterous woman, and world-weary rape victim as the scene demands, playing each with staggering realism. But the question remains – will Marguerite de Carrouges find justice?
That said, a memorable performance by Ben Affleck as the eccentric (and thoroughly debauched) Count Pierre d’Alençon adds a touch of levity when it’s needed most. The foul-mouthed slurs of a nobleman who does as he pleases break up the often grinding tone of the movie, while a glimpse of his bedroom antics reminds us that even the noble house is not without corruption.
The Last Duel is a masterclass in slow-burn storytelling, allowing its complex plot to unfold naturally over three distinct chapters. Re-treading that story from different perspectives allows Ridley Scott to break down the virtues of those involved, calling them into question as they’re put under the spotlight.
The Last Duel is a masterclass in slow-burn storytelling.
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The Last Duel is a gruelling watch and certainly not for the faint-hearted. However, it rewards you with social commentary that’s as relevant today as in 14th century France. Alongside some stellar performances from Jodie Comer, Matt Damon, and Adam Driver, The Last Duel offers several bloody, brutal battle scenes and a fierce final duel that’s up ...
Oct 20, 2021 · As a side note, this movie was originally to be released on December 25 th, 2020, before going nationwide on January 8 th, 2021. However, due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, The Last Duel was shifted to be released later in 2021.
Sep 27, 2021 · Intriguingly, The Last Duel frames its story in three chapters and through the prism of the three characters’ recollection. This Rashomon-splaining yields intriguing variants in narrative ...
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The Last Duel is really the best of both worlds: action-packed and devoted to the right side of history. Full Review | Original Score: 7.9/10 | Oct 30, 2023
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Oct 13, 2021 · The movie best sings when the director gets to its gutting third act and Matt Damon and Adam Driver’s friends-turned-rivals duke it out in the historical duel.
