America

‘The Last Duel’ doesn’t disappoint, but makes for a long build

October 14, 2021
Henry Club

Apart from Scott, whose most relevant credentials for these purposes include “Gladiator” (successfully) and “Kingdom of Heaven” (significantly less), the film was written and produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. In an intriguing division of labor, longtime collaborators collaborated on the script with freelance writer-director Nicole Holofsner, who worked on the part told from the woman’s point of view.
As in production, it would be one of three separate chapters, in a film that lasted over 2½ hours, leading to the final sanctioned duel in France in 1386. The competition pits a knight, Jean de Carrouge (Damon), against an all-out. Name Jacques Le Gris (the omnipresent adam driver), seeking justice after Carrogas’ wife Marguerite (“Killing Eves” Jodie Comer) accuses her husband’s one-time partner of rape.

“I want him to answer for what he has done,” Marguerite says as she proceeds with an allegation that could lead to bloodshed, adding – in a line that echoed centuries in the #MeToo era. Is – – “I can’t keep quiet.”

However, speaking up does not mean that Le Gris will be held accountable. The result of the duel is intended to reflect the will of God and the righteousness of the charge, making Marguerite’s rights dependent on her silent husband, as he is seen as her property.

Judging by the conflicting accounts, what happened? “The Last Duel” has dices in the parts representing “truth” in the eyes of Carrogues, Le Gris and Marguerite, which bears clear “Rashomone” similarities, although the differences here are more subtle in some respects.

For that reason, paying attention to small details slowly becomes a strain on the pace of the film. The most interesting memories come from Marguerite, and Comer – making substantial changes for major film roles “Free Boy” This summer – makes the strongest impression among the otherwise male-dominated cast.

Affleck also has a minor role as the noble Count Pierre d’Lençon, who finds a welcome companion for his lewd adventures in Le Gris and mainly doesn’t care much for Carrogues because of all his war, no. -Play demeanor means he’s not much fun to be around.

Shot in washed-out vocals, the film meticulously mimics the period, and the visceral climactic sequence is worth catching on (and perhaps at home again) on a big screen. As far as the precipitating event is concerned, its depiction seems essential to the story, which makes it no less disturbing to watch.

At 83, Scott’s knack for daring filmmaking that transports audiences to different worlds and times hasn’t waned. Still, the film’s star power will be tested by a film that proves as a flamboyant epic as a psychological character study, delving into feudal politics with talk of taxes and squabbles of ungrateful lords and liars. She sheds blood.

The film thus plays like a throwback in many ways, to an era when audiences dutifully flocked to theaters to see the likes of Robert Taylor or Alan Ladd Trump in armor. In the age of streaming, motivating people to leave their castles for the kind of rent looks like a battle that “The Last Duel” would be hard-pressed to win.

“The Last Duel” premieres in US theaters on October 15. It has been given an R rating.

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