While he has always been a master of the genre film, Ridley Scott’s second greatest talent has been his ability as an epic filmmaker. Scott has brought that skill to The Last Duel once again. Anchored by powerful performances from the cast, especially Jodie Comer and Ben Affleck, Scott’s newest epic delivers on all fronts. The action is exhilarating, but the screenplay takes a surprisingly nuanced take that brings a problematic story to perfect assembly.

The Last Duel is a historical epic about the last duel in medieval France. Marguerite de Carrouges, wife of knight Jean de Carrouges, accuses fellow noble Jacques de Gris of raping her. The story unfolds to reveal the long rivalry of the two men, as each brings their perspective on the events that occurred and caused these two men to duel to the death.

In the entire ensemble of The Last Duel, the principal trio all stand out, as they carry each aspect of their story. Jodie Comer is the immediate standout, providing a multi-layered performance as she juggles the subtle differences of her role throughout the film. Driver delivers a complicated character, bringing empathy and moral firmness to a despicable character, while Damon utilizes his talents to play both the noble hero and the arrogant fool with finesse.

The Last Duel features little in the way of a supporting cast, but one who immediately shines is Ben Affleck, playing the local ruler of Normandy. Affleck gets to have a lot of fun as this hedonistic and sarcastic noble, providing much of The Last Duel‘s humor. What brings him beyond comic relief though is the undercurrent of venom beneath this proud man, as well as the deceptive cunning that slips out when the moment calls. It’s a difficult performance on paper, but Affleck excels at it.

Ridley Scott is an absolute master of his filmmaking craft, and The Last Duel proves that he still has that talent even at 83 years old. While the battle scenes are truly epic, with the titular duel providing the most gripping action scene of the year, it’s not where Scott’s talents shine brightest. He shines through expertly utilizes his filmmaking to shift the story from something as subtle as how actors are staged to something as blatant as depicting the same events differently.

The Last Duel, written by Nicole Holofcener, Affleck, and Damon, is a complex and ambitious screenplay that could’ve fallen flat in the wrong hands. In addition to tackling a unique storytelling technique of retelling the same events from different angles, The Last Duel tackles themes of sexism, nobility, wealth, and religion in a difficult juggling act. The fact that The Last Duel isn’t just successful but consistently engaging is a sight to behold.

The technical craft of The Last Duel is something to truly behold as well. The cinematography by Darius Wolski captures the cold, brutal world of medieval France with a vibrance that shouldn’t be possible with how dark it is in terms of lighting. Editor Claire Simpson deserves the highest marks, as her editing makes the screenplay actually work, while the production design and makeup departments all earn praise as well.

If there is a flaw, it’s that The Last Duel is a long movie. Even if that time flies by as viewers get engrossed in the story, The Last Duel absolutely takes its time to explore its themes and characters. Add onto that the complex narrative device used in presenting the three perspectives, and some viewers may find The Last Duel to be too long. However, I am sure that trying to name a part to cut would be difficult.

The Last Duel is a fantastic and gripping epic, unlike what audiences have seen in quite some time. It’s truly grand to watch a filmmaker like Ridley Scott go as big as he wishes, and everyone involved is clearly on board with Scott’s vision. From the phenomenal cast to the enticing story and the filmmaking itself, The Last Duel is one of Scott’s best films of the century.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgygUwPJvYk

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The Last Duel

8.5

Score

8.5/10

Pros

• A dramatic and gripping ensemble
• Thrillingly epic direction from Ridley Scott
• A nuanced depiction of medieval culture and sexism
• Excellent technical aspects including cinematography and score
• Surprisingly funny, both intentionally and at moments not so

Cons

• A long film, with fat that could've potentially been trimmed