331. The Last Duel; movie review

 

THE LAST DUEL

Cert 18

153 mins

BBFC advice: Contains sexual violence, strong bloody violence

At last - a serious, well-acted film with a catalogue of moral conundra and some quality action.

Ridley Scott even throws in the Rashamon technique of repeating the action through the different eyes of its key characters.

The Last Duel, led by Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer and Ben Affleck is a medieval feast - plenty on which film fans to gorge.

They portray the lead-up to the true story of trial by combat in which the Norman knight Jean de Carrouges (Damon) duelled squire Jacques Le Gris (Driver).

The movie begins at the thrust of lances as the men begin their battle to the death and then spins back to the reasons for their conflict.

It turns out that they were comrades in battle on behalf of the feckless Count Pierre d'Alençon (Affleck) who prefers hedonism to leadership.

Le Gris sees flattery of the nobleman as a route to satisfying his own greed and this is perceived as being at the expense of Carrouges.

The latter is a man of high morals and whose forthright opinions cost position because he is pigeonholed as boring and a trouble-maker.

Nevertheless, despite being a bit dull, he wins the hand of a very beautiful young wife (Comer) who becomes central to one of the most notorious stories in French history.

The Last Duel had me gripped more than almost every other movie in 2021.

Its action scenes are tense and bloody, its characters are outwardly wicked but have such complex layers that my support was constantly veering.

It also looks great and the quality of the acting is top notch with Driver as reliable as ever, Comer adding to her growing reputation and Damon in his best role for some time.

I was also taken with Affleck - the role of corrupt medieval aristocrat seems to suit him as surprisingly well as his blonde wig.

Reasons to watch: Riveting medieval tale

Reasons to avoid: Scenes of cruelty

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: Yes

Overall rating: 9.5/10

Did you know? Though this was the final judiciary duel held in France, it was not the last legal duel. Subsequently authorised duels were not judicial duels deciding the guilt and innocence of the participants but duels for honour to avenge an affront. The last duel to be publicly authorised took place on 10 July 1547 at the castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye: it opposed Guy Chabot de Jarnac against François de Vivonne, following a request by Jarnac to King Henry II for permission to duel to regain his honour.

The final word. Ridley Scott: As far as I’m concerned, I’ve never had one regret on any movie I’ve ever made. Nothing. I learned very early on to be your own critic. The only thing you should really have an opinion on is what you just did. Walk away. Make sure you’re happy. And don’t look back. That’s me.” Variety

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