In the world of sports age is becoming just a number - Serena Williams was winning grand slams coming into her forties, Ronaldo banging them in at 36 and Tom Brady is winning superbowls at 43.
Well what about Ridley Scott being the only film maker still making massive historical epics at 83. His latest historical epic (it has been 21 years since Gladiator ) is The Last Duel. Mostly filmed in France and Ireland (indeed it was this film that brought Matt Damon to Dalkey last year for an extended lockdown stay ). I have been looking forward to this one for a while and after some Covid delays it is finally out.
Based on a true events, it is the story the last legally sanctioned duel in France in 1386. The duel was between Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris. Once friends, Jean has accused Jacques of raping his wife, knowing he will not get satisfaction in local courts he appeals to the king to grant him a duel, if he is telling the truth God will see to it that he wins. If Jean is defeated he will die and his wife will be burnt to death for lying. So the stakes are quite high.
Written by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Nicole Holofcener. It is the first writing credit Matt and Ben have together since Good Will Hunting in 1997. The film is structured as a triptych, from the three perspectives of Jean, Jacques and finally Marguerite, Jean's wife. As far as I am aware the three writers wrote the parts separately. I am glad they decided to ask Nicole Holofcener to be involved to bring a much needed female perspective to the story. Holofcener is a more established writer than the two lads - and a much better writer, her section is, by some distance, the superior third.
While I like the Rashomon style, I wonder if just a fleshed out version of Maurgerite’s tale would have been sufficient. It is clearly the truth (and via some title card play the film straight up tells you it is ) so why bother listening to these men spin their yarns? Surely this whole Me Too movement is about listening to woman and not giving into these cliches. Indeed when Jacques tells his side of the story he claims she did offer “the customary protests because she was a lady” but the encounter was not against her will. Classic 'asking for it' nonsense.
Worthy and timely politics of the film aside, there is a lot of other good stuff here. Some bloody and violent battles (I do love a battle ) with limited use of CGI, the final duel is absolutely brutal and ferocious. I recommend going in as blind as possible to the outcome. It is rated 18s which is rare enough these days as the studios do not like to limit audience. I feel like TV is more violent than cinema currently. It really earns its rating with some truly savage battles.
I do have some issues, I am not sure we needed to see the assault so many times (twice ) and Matt Damon (surprisingly ) is not great. But the film has some clever things to say about gender and justice which is admirable considering the setting. Overall I think this is a great trip to the cinema to see an adult film told well. Rare enough these days.
