The Last Duel is a 2021 historical drama directed by Ridley Scott. It is based on the book The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager, the screenplay is written by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Nicole Holofcener. The book chronicles the sequence of events that led to France’s last government-sanctioned trial by combat as declared by King Charles VI, held between Jean de Carrouges and his former friend, Jacques Le Gris. The book, consisting of existing documents and records, recounts how Carrouges’ wife, Marguerite, accused Le Gris of rape, leading to the pair fighting to the death with Marguerite’s own life on the line if it was decided she had lied.

The cast includes Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer, and Ben Affleck.

The Last Duel had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 10th, 2021 and received a theatrical release on October 15th, by 20th Century Studios.

THE GOOD

The Last Duel sort of snuck up on me in a way. Usually a movie directed by Ridley Scott with such a talented cast would be circled on my calendar for months. But because of this seemingly never ending pandemic, release dates and standard promoting have been a complete mess. Once I saw the trailer for The Last Duel I was 100% invested and knew I would be seeing this on opening day. Well, that day has come.

I won’t waste your time beating around the bush, whatever that saying even means, I absolutely loved this movie. The sheer scale, ridiculously impressive set and costume design, top-tier acting, great camera work, and incredible attention to detail made for a movie theater experience that took me back in time. I felt like I was in the stands smelling the blood and sweat as I witnessed a once in a lifetime duel to the death. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a medieval era film, especially of this scale, and it was glorious.

Within 20 minutes or so I was invested to the point of no return, and to be honest it was a little crazy how fast the two and a half hours flew by, but that is what I like to call the Ridley Scott effect. Scott is known for his unique ability to immerse viewers in such a way that by the time the movie ends you almost snap out of a trance, which is pretty cool if you ask me.

The character development, and overall investment in the characters is fantastic. I felt like I was given an opportunity to get to know each of the three main characters, so by the time the films final act came around, I was on the edge of my seat. And speaking of the final act, oh man it was unreal how intense it was. I won’t give anything away of course but the movie starts at the beginning of the final scene, and flashes back to tell the story in a three chapter format, each chapter from a perspective of one of the main characters. I really liked this format and thought it was a very unique way to allow viewers to get all of the different perspectives. But before I get off track, by the time we get to that final scene, the anticipation is absolutely boiling over. I can’t remember the last time I was legitimately nervous about what was going to happen because it really could have ended in so many different ways. With that being said, I LOVED the ending and felt like it was the perfect way to wrap up a gritty story built around a life-changing event.

It goes without saying that acting is a huge strength for The Last Duel. As I’ve said, the cast is absolutely stacked. As far as screen time The Last Duel centers on three primary characters played by Matt Damon, Adam Driver, and Jodie Comer. Ben Affleck plays a primary role as well. From the scar across his face to his man on a mission demeanor, Matt Damon is exceptional as the brooding Jean de Carrouges. Damon is one of the best actors working today, and his ability to play dramatic roles and comedic roles is in the upper echelon. I really enjoyed his character and felt like his raw emotion was a big reason why the film worked so well. I was very impressed with Jodie Comer, who since her recent role in Free Guy, is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses. I don’t know if it’s my obsession with blonde hair or what, but she is absolutely gorgeous as Marguerite de Carrouges. The fact that her attractiveness jumps off the screen like it does really helps to drive the narrative and get viewers invested. She just stands out in a good way, and her performance speaks for itself. Comer shares the screen with Damon for the majority of the film, and they have great chemistry together.

The other primary character, the charismatic and mysterious Jacques Le Gris, is played by Adam Driver. A former marine who began his acting career on Broadway, Driver is a fantastic actor and he continues to impress in this role. He plays a complex character who seemingly has everything going for him. When you see things from his perspective, you learn that there is more to him than meets the eye. I really like Driver as an actor and felt like he was perfect for this role. Ben Affleck, a longtime friend of co-star Matt Damon, plays the pivotal supporting role of Pierre d'Alençon, and I really enjoyed his character. He is nearly unrecognizable with his bleached blonde hair and chin strap beard. Affleck’s character is extremely influential in the film and serves as a mentor of sorts to Driver’s character.

I went into seeing The Last Duel with very little knowledge of the events the film is based on, which are chronicled in great detail in Eric Jager’s book The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France. After seeing the film, I did a bit of research and learned that the film is at least 75% historically accurate, which is impressive if you ask me. You always need to add a touch of “Hollywood Magic” to keep viewers entertained, but to retain that much of the real story is a testament to the script. I also learned that the “event” the story is built around was actually much more violent and deplorable than what is shown in the film. Ridley and the writers decided that they would do just enough to allow viewers the chance to appreciate what happened, without the risk of alienating certain viewers who simply wouldn’t be able to handle a more realistic re-telling. I felt this was the right move and does not take away from how impactful it is.

Technically speaking, The Last Duel is absolutely top notch as you would expect. I really enjoyed taking in the beautiful cinematography, and the mix of blues and greys helped to reinforce that Medieval feel. The score and soundtrack is great as well, matching up nicely with the gritty feel of the film. I talked about how immersive of an experience this was, and the cinematography and score/soundtrack is a big reason why. Like with any period piece, the set design and wardrobe has to be on point and it is with The Last Duel. I really like the medieval time period, and this film checked all of the necessary boxes for me. I also thought the writing was great, with a screenplay from Nicole Holofcener, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck. Each character is given a ton of depth, and the story plays out perfectly as it builds up to a finale that will hit you like a freight train. That final scene is incredibly violent and just a breathtaking cinematic experience. My eyes were literally glued to the screen. I’m pretty sure I said “holy sh*t” out loud in the theater, and even had to remain in my seat for several minutes to collect my thoughts.

Director Ridley Scott is a legend, that is undeniable. The man who brought us Gladiator and Black Hawk Down to name a few, he has built up quite the resume in his illustrious career. His ability to direct these larger than life movies and take full advantage of the talented actors at his disposal is always seamless. Anything he touches always screams entertainment value. Scott’s involvement was one of the reasons I was really pumped for The Last Duel, and he did not disappoint. His attention to detail and the fact that he won’t settle for anything less than perfection really shows here, and you will leave the theater feeling like you just watched yet another great Ridley Scott film.

THE BAD

As I’m sure you guessed I have very few negatives to touch on with this movie, but I could see some people having an opinion on the films story as it sort of ties into the “Me Too” movement. Based on true events, the heart of the story is rooted in Jodie Comer’s portrayal of the strong-willed Marguerite de Carrouges, and her willingness to stand up for what’s right during a time when it was not only extremely difficult as a woman, but potentially deadly. Personally, I think its unfair to try and act like that was an ulterior motive for the film, and instead should be viewed as an opportunity shine a light on a very important and controversial event in France’s history.

I talked about the character development, and the investment in the characters that the film creates, but that wasn’t instantaneous. I felt like a few of the earlier interactions seemed a little forced, but thankfully things picked up pretty quickly. I don’t count this as a negative by any stretch, but the film is extremely violent as you could probably have guessed, and might be a little much for some viewers.

THE VERDICT

An immersive and visceral experience of epic proportions set in medieval France, The Last Duel is a compelling tale of historic events leading to a breathtaking finale. Exciting from start to finish with incredible performances while serving as a great history lesson, this is what going to the movie theater is all about. Ridley Scott has done it again, and continues to build on his amazing career. I knew this would be a great movie just with the director and cast alone, but it exceeded my expectations and left me wanting more. I plan to read the book to get some more perspective, and can’t wait to see The Last Duel again.

Be sure to see this in theaters to ensure we get more movies like this, ideally sooner than later.