The Truth at Last
SCORE: 82/100
****BEWARE POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD****
REVIEW:
The Last Duel is a return to form for Ridley Scott. His previous historical films have been either good or horribly miscast, good being Gladiator and bad being Exodus: Gods and Kings. I'm happy to say that, while not perfect, The Last Duel is among his better historical films.
Ridley Scott has crafted a great-looking and relevant film that has an incredibly interesting structure. The film is told through three perspectives, Matt Damon's Jean, Adam Driver's Jacques, and Jodie Comer's Marguerite. All three stories vary in their accuracy, which accounts for a lot of the uncertainty the audience feels regarding the story. While some audience members may feel that this is repetitive, it's actually subtly different, showing the various inconsistencies and flat-out lies of some of the characters fabricate.
The cast here is good for the most part, with Jodie Comer being the clear standout, and Adam Driver delivering a great performance as well. Comer is electrifying, and fills every scene she's in with a sense of hope before the incident, and a sense of tension after. Driver is similarly electrifying in a way that's more subtle, yet more menacing. Matt Damon is good, not great here. He shines in the battle sequences and when it's not his telling of the story, but I chalk my issues with his character up to the writing, which we'll get to later. Ben Affleck is the one real issue here, as I don't think he was the right choice for his character. His hair is an odd choice, and is also not the best written. However, this is clearly Comer's movie since she's the main character.
The titular duel is also the high point of the movie, as it's among the most tense and stimulating moments of the entire film. I had no idea of the story before seeing the film, so not knowing which way it ends was a real experience. I will not spoil it here, as it's better to go in blind.
Getting into my main complaint for the movie, it has to be the writing. Affleck and Damon co-wrote the film with Nicole Holofcener, and while it does tell a compelling narrative, the dialogue leaves a little to be desired. Some of the sequences can be a little on the cringier side, while others (particularly during the trial sequences) can be enthralling. It's not outright bad, just inconsistent from a film with the talent involved like this one.
In addition, the film is two and a half hours long, which at some points can feel like it's moving at a snail's pace. I feel that the film definitely could have had some time trimmed out, primarily for its first chapter. The first chapter, told from Damon's point of view, is the longest and for no reason. If the story is about Comer's Marguerite, why isn't her story the focus? For a film that feels as relevant to current times as it does, it's a little infuriating. However, it does provide more narrative basis for the other stories, so it can be excused.
As a whole, the film manages to rise above its issues to create a compelling and relevant watch. It's length can make it hard to recommend for some, but I do think most will come out of this movie enjoying it.
Conclusion: The Last Duel suffers from inconsistent dialogue and a hefty runtime, but its story, as well as Jodie Comer and Adam Driver, help propel this gorgeous film further than it should.
Score: 82/100
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