Review: "The Last Duel"

Ridley Scott is a renowned director in the industry who has made some films that are viewed as absolute classics but he also has a bit of a reputation. For all of his great films he has just as many uneven films that feature great set pieces, excellent action but suffer in pacing and overindulgence in being "Ridley Scott." The Last Duel falls somewhere in a weird place between one of his great films and one of his uneven films. He doesn't compromise in his films, for better or for worse, as he has a clear and concise view for all of them even if it doesn't fit for modern times. Along with Scott in the directing chair, the film has incredible talent in front of the camera and on the page. For the first time in a long time, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have penned a script, which may just be one of the weaker parts of the film sadly. The gold they hit on in Good Will Hunting, has not carried over to The Last Duel as it is largely an uneven period piece that takes too long.

The plot shows the perspective of three different characters over the course of the central plot. Jean de Carrouges (Damon) is a respected knight known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield but is a brute. Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) is a squire who is widely regarded for his intelligence and eloquence which largely makes him one of the most admired nobles in the court. All the while, he also develops a reputation among the women. Le Gris and Carrouges are both close friends at the start but all of it is turned on its head when Le Gris viciously assaults Carrouges' wife. Marguerite (Jodie Comer) steps forward to accuse her attacker in an act of bravery and defiance in the face of certain death and embarrassment. The ensuing trial by combat, a grueling duel to the death places the fate of these three characters all up to God.

Matt Damon's Carrouges, is the first perspective we see and even through his own lens, we can still see that he is a bit controlling over his wife Marguerite and a brute. All the while, Damon portrays the character very well as his typical shtick of being very charming and personable is gone and replaced with a sneer that can make the viewers a bit fearful of him, or even laugh at him. His character is the one that changes the most as we see more perspectives of different characters as through his own eyes he views himself in high esteem, but those around him see him as a simpleton. The power of perspective is an interesting filmmaking ploy here by Ridley Scott but used to varying levels of success as by the end of Carrouges perspective, the audience is able to fill in the pieces adequately enough to the point that the remaining two chapters are not incredibly necessary and bog down the pacing.

Adam Driver's Le Gris is truly a stand-out as Driver continues to pad his resume with increasingly intriguing roles. Here, Le Gris is intelligent, reserved but also exceedingly overconfident, especially with women. This would ultimately be his greatest downfall in his pursuit of Carrouges' wife. His scenes alongside the relishingly evil and condescending King Richard, who is played by Ben Affleck Jodie Comer as Marquerite is a bit of a revelation too. Stuck between two outstanding performers in Damon and Driver it would be easy to be completely overshadowed and forgotten but she delivers a layered and even understated performance that surely puts her on the map. The Last Duel is very much Marquerite's film as her story and her perspective is the actual truth even despite the fact that these larger-than-life personas only view her as property that can be used on their own whims and desires. It is truly a great performance, even if it takes too long to actually get to the truth.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck both give great performances as I have stated but the biggest flaw in this film still falls at their feet. They both admitted that Damon wrote the perspective of Carroughes, while Affleck wrote for Le Gris and Nicole Holofcener wrote for Marguerite. Again it is an interesting idea but fails in its execution. The major plot points are well understood long before we get to the truth leading the audience a bit antsy to get through the respective perspectives only to see the outcome of these three characters and at times it feels as if Damon and Affleck overindulge in the manliness of these characters, which very well could be purposeful as in that time, a man had much power that would exert itself into everything. Ridley Scott, again does a fantastic job behind the camera and some shots are framed beautifully. The biggest downfall of his direction however would be that sometimes he cuts away from a big scene too quickly right into another lengthly scene that doesn't give the audience long enough time to digest and unpack what had previously happened. Overall, The Last Duel is a flawed film but with all the talent onscreen and behind it is difficult to not enjoy.