Review of The Last Duel (2021) by Nobodyyouknow — 15 Jan 2022
Medieval soap opera. That's not necessarily a pejorative. This is a film about relationships, treachery, and, yes, rape. But if you look at this as *only* being about rape, you'll miss out on the range of emotions at play.
With Ridley Scott involved, you know a film will at least look great, and TLD does (Damon's mullet notwithstanding :-D). Lots of warm, candlelit interiors and gray, somber exteriors help define moods and help us imagine life in 14th-century France.
The cast is predictably good. Jodie Comer is given the most to work with from the script and is the stand out. Driver is solid and Affleck, whose part is minor, is surprisingly good as the entitled, nepotistic, petty Count Pierre. Damon showed the least range, but I think that was how his character was written.
If you've seen Rashomon or The Affair, you'll be familiar with the multiple-perspective style of the narrative here. This doesn't work for some who feel that they're just watching the same story over and over, but the point is to pay attention to the differences, sometimes nuanced. Some will notice that Lady Marguerite's version of the story is subtly but noticeably labeled as "The truth", which is actually disappointing and reveals at least part of the film's intent. It's disappointing in that it removes ambiguity and tells the viewer that the men's perspectives which we just watched were not truthful (as far as the writer and director were concerned). This makes the movie feel like it's more about virtue signaling than it is about the complexities of human interaction. Marguerite's version very well may be the truth, but the writers certainly don't *know* the truth -- no one who has lived any time over the last 6 centuries can know the truth about this situation. What's the point of highlighting Marguerite's version as "The truth"? Obviously, rape is wrong regardless of nuance.
Nevertheless, I found myself wrapped up in the story and found TLD an interesting, enjoyable watch, though probably won't view again.
This review of The Last Duel (2021) was written by Nobodyyouknow on 15 Jan 2022.
The Last Duel has generally received positive reviews.
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