The Last Duel
Set in Medieval France , Ridley Scott’sThe Last Duel , a period of time drama that has remnants ofGladiatorin the brutish behavior of powerful men , might take audiences back in time , but its central story is rooted in the here and now . full stop piece have a direction of distancing themselves from the present enough to dig deeper without being beholden to the knee - jerking reaction and the media circus that wall sexual assault accusal , and the film ’s message could n’t be more pointed in its mirroring of the present day . Co - written by Matt Damon , Ben Affleck , and Nicole Holofcener , their screenplay is based on Eric Jager ’s book document the historical account of the story . The Last Duelis split into three chapter , each of which showcases the altering perspective of its main character . A tale of force and misogyny masquerade as honor , the flick is engage and at times funny , espouse its themes despite a story imbalance .
The Last Duelfollows the evolution of Sir Jean de Carrouges ( Damon ) and Jacques Le Gris ( Adam Driver ) from friends to enemy over the grade of several age , with their feud and rising disdain for one another culminate in an acute and fucking duel after Carrouges ’ married woman , Marguerite de Carrouges ( Jodie Comer ) accuses Le Gris of outrage her . The story begins in 1386 France before cycling backwards to where it all began . Carrouges and Le Gris were friends — the latter even godfather to Carrouges ’ son — and comrades on the field of honor . While Carrouges is all about king , god , and country , Le Gris acquire the party favor of the lewd Pierre d’Alençon ( Affleck ) , the king ’s cousin-german . As the pair ’s friendship devolve , their jealousy and frustration comes to a head when Carrouges challenges Le Gris to the last legally sanctioned trial by fight .
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While the movie offers three trenchant perspectives , with each of the events previously shew playing out somewhat differently and to motley degrees of effectuality depending on whose side of the story is being told , The Last Dueldoesn’t swim in equivocalness when it fall to Marguerite ’s colza . The story stands firm in her recess , even as she becomes subject to intense scrutiny , questioning , and perfidy . Religious men are of a sudden interested in scientific discipline when it come to damning a woman , while simultaneously treating Le Gris with understanding and forgiveness , with the film painstakingly examining the subtle patriarchal structures that are still very much at play today . There is a lurking sensation of entitlement that colors every look of the film — from Carrouges ’ outrage regarding a captaincy once promised to him to Le Gris stupefy what he require through violent substance and despite protestation .
The motion-picture show goes so far as to show how even Carrouge ’s mother Nicole ( Harriet Walter ) — who admits there is no candour in life , “ only the power of men ” — act against Marguerite in service of process of the patriarchy . It ’s all rather disheartening , with an incisive commentary on the ways in which this very system , and its disregard for women , still exists today . To that oddment , Ridley ’s film showcases the barbarism that goes beyond the blood and violence of strong-arm altercation . The duel itself is just an reference of all that follow before . In the courtyard of public vox populi , believing women is not a given , but an statement that must be win . The truth is treat with ambivalence , with the benefit of the doubt offered here to Le Gris . And although there are layers of depth and exploitation , all of which highlight the system that attributes to these events , The Last Dueltakes a firm stance in its message .
The buildup gives the title fight higher emotional stakes , turning it into a gripping spectacle rife with meaning . But the duel itself is less interesting than what happens before , with the script and the management laying the groundwork in particular , permit the audience to enter this world through the eyes of its fiber , while also spend a penny certain not to excuse their behavior . The Last Duelmight seem like a spectacle , teasing a gruesome duel to the death , but it ’s more of an intriguing character bailiwick . Jodie Comer is a standout , afford a deeply nuanced performance . She gets time to shine as the purveyor of truth in her chapter , which is the final one of the film , an example of the specialty and fortitude it takes to tell it like it is despite the atrocious and roughshod backlash from the public .
But while Marguerite have her own chapter and view , the story is far more occupied with her office as a dupe than in delving deeply into what makes her character tick . Her function is rather circumscribed to the confines of what happens to her afterward on ( a colza that sure as shooting did not need to be shown double for the audience to get the full stop ) , seemingly less interested in how she feels about her life or the family relationship she ’s forged , be it out of duty or genuine friendship . Affleck , meanwhile , is clearly having a great time playing Pierre , embellish in the absurdity of his character . He brings levity to the otherwise serious tone of the film . There is plenty of campiness to be find throughout , too , especially as the tale shifts between characters , but Pierre remains a unceasing source of amusement . Adam Driver and Damon ( each with fluctuating accents ) are good at impersonate their blemished , ego - force back characters , each of whom becomes more irritating as the film goes on .
All that said , The Last Dueldoes go on for much long than it should . Each of its three chapters reveals sure detail that are different due to their revolve perspectives — Carrouges gets more raring and embarrassing from Le Gris ’ detail of view , etc . — but there is very little that actually change or adds to the overarching story . A few scene belonging to the chapter of Carrouges and Le Gris could have been trimmed down , especially if that time could have been used to expand upon Marguerite ’s story . Wrapped up in its play , however , the film is less of an actioner and more of a multifaceted examination of man and their endless well of might and privilege , how it ’s wielded , and the women it harms . The Last Duelis ultimately a timeless plastic film that serves as a monitor that , despite its fourteenth 100 mise en scene , some things have n’t really changed at all .
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Matt Damon and Adam Driver in The Last Duel
The Last Duelreleases in theaters on Friday , October 15 . The film is 152 minutes long and is rated R for strong furiousness including intimate assault , sexual depicted object , some in writing nakedness , and spoken communication .
The Last Duel is a diachronic epic drama set amid the Hundred Years War , and research the omnipresent major power of men , the debility of justice , and the strength and courage of one woman willing to tolerate alone in the service of truth . free-base on actual events , the film unravels long - held assumptions about France ’s last sanctioned duel between Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris ; two friends turn bitter rivals .
