The Last Duel Film Review (No Spoilers)

'The Last Duel' 20th Century Studios

It had been 24 years since Matt Damon and Ben Affleck collaborated to co-write a screenplay following the massive success of their film "Good Will Hunting" which debuted in 1997. In this gritty, authentic story, Damon, Affleck, and critically acclaimed Director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Alien, The Martian) provide a direction of story telling that we don't get the privilege of seeing often enough on screen.

Synopsis:

"Jean de Carrouges is a respected knight known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield. Jacques Le Gris is a squire whose intelligence and eloquence makes him one of the most admired nobles in court. When Le Gris viciously assaults Carrouges' wife, she steps forward to accuse her attacker, an act of bravery and defiance that puts her life in jeopardy. The ensuing trial by combat, a grueling duel to the death, places the fate of all three in God's hands."

What You See, Feel, and Hear

In other circumstances, you may come into a film based on a true story from the 14th century and find plenty of faults in the historical representation, but not with this film. With small details such as hairstyle, narrative, and gender perception you feel fully immersed within this era. The color gradient remains consistent with a cold, blue and gray scale to enhance emotions similar to those from a rain-filled environment.

The major standout from this film is Jodie Comer and her performance. Coming off a fun performance in Free Guy, Comer transitions herself into this emotionally driven role with a character arc that is nothing short of impressive. The acting performances stood out collectively. This story is told from three perspectives; that of Sir Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon), Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) and Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer) which felt unique and refreshing. With each perspective came slight detail changes which affected the personality, facial expressions, and body language of each character and were executed brilliantly.

This film is a complete STORY. If you're walking in hoping for a lot of action, this isn't that film. With a 2h 32min runtime, you're presented with a story filled with intricate dialogue, character development, and relationship building. In certain scenes, Scott portrays intimate moments in one take from many camera angles to allow the viewer to feel a raw emotion of empathy with the character's circumstances. Why is this admirable? Our emotions are usually emphasized or inflated by the score, a story climax, or character defeat whereas in these raw moments the story itself, without the influence of the score or a plot climax, brings out the viewer's emotions simply because of what is taking place and how it is being shown cinematically.

My Take

This film is impressive, and I enjoyed it. There's something about a film when directed, produced, acted, and filmed authentically that appeals to me most. Because of this, the two words that stick out to me in describing this film are quality and authentic. There's a moral message of integrity, an acting performance that will come up in conversation afterwards, and a format of story telling that you'll walk away admiring. I have two main critiques with this film. First, I feel as if the score was underutilized. This film is filled with emotion and persuasion and the score wasn't used to maximize those moments or emotions. Second, I feel that certain scenes could have been compressed throughout this film. Because of the way the story is told, you feel a sense of repetitiveness heading toward the climax. Instead of drawing scenes out, I think Scott could have compressed the story a bit while keeping major details in play. Overall, I encourage you to take time and experience this story and pay attention to the minor details, you won't be disappointed.

Grade: 8.2/10