Ridley Scott is almost 84 years old, but age does not seem to diminish his ambitions or his film-making appetite. ‘The Last Duel‘ proves once again that the English-born director is one of those cinematic forces that manages to make of the films of the big studios interesting productions and that have something to say, but at the same time films spectacular enough to satisfy fans of Hollywood commercial productions. ‘The Last Duel‘ is a historical film but at the same time seems very contemporary in theme, a film that brings on the screen a few of the most famous actors and gives them the opportunity of roles different from the patterns of their previous creations. Overall, success has accompanied Ridley Scott in his career, but it has never been a comfortable success for viewers, nor has it left a feeling of compromise. The same thing will happen, I beleive, with ‘The Last Duel‘.
The story takes place in the 14th century, and yet the ‘based on true events’ warning that opens it is justified, because it is based on a famous case, recorded by historical chronicles, debated and discussed not only at the time it happened but also in the decades and the centuries that followed, in fact to the present day. Matt Damon and Adam Driver play Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris, two French knights during the reign of Charles VI and the Hundred Years’ War between the kingdoms of France and England. At the beginning, they are united by a friendship born on the battlefield that turns into time in rivalry related to a property coveted by one and acquired by the other, but also by the differences between the temperaments, education and morals of the two. The conflict turns into a deadly rivalry when Carrouges’ wife accuses Le Gris of rape. It is a case that today would seem to be taken from the news of the day, one of those in which there are no witnesses and the testimony of the woman and the man are in balance. But we are in the Middle Ages, the testimony of women is not considered equal, and such conflicts between knights can be resolved through a ‘judiciary duel’ that is a life and death fight, in which God is left to decide, sparing the winner and his honor while the defeated is punished with death. The historical truth in this case has been disputed for centuries and is still shrouded in uncertainty. Not for Ridley Scott and the film’s audience. To present the different perspectives of this case, the history of the events leading to the duel is told three times in succession, from the perspective of Carrouges, Le Gris and Marguerite de Carrouges. It is not a completely new process, it has been used in other films including ‘Rashomon‘, one of Kurosawa‘s masterpieces, which also had as its theme the story of a rape. However, the screenplays for the three stories are written here by three different authors – Matt Damon, Ben Affleck (also acting in a different role in the film) and Nicole Holofcener – and it is possible that this invention will bring an Academy Award for original script to the movie. As in many similar events, the perspectives on the case are different not only between the participants but also between those who discuss and interpret the facts, both now and in the historical perspective. But there should be only one truth.
The production has all the characteristics of a Ridley Scott film. The cinematography is by Dariusz Wolski, with whom Scott has worked on his last three films, who brings to the screen the vision of a bloody and cold Middle Ages, in which the light and heat of the sun can be perceived only in the final scene. Adam Driver seems to have been born at that time and in that role, but when does this not happen with this extraordinary actor? Scott Comer is remarkable in the role of Margeurite de Carrouges – beautiful, dignified, fighting for her own honor and justice against all odds. Matt Damon also has a consistent role, but I confess that I failed to fully understand his character – maybe because he is too far from me in time and mentality. Ben Affleck, an actor I consider more intelligent than talented, has an odd role and blond hair. An interesting role (of Jean de Carrouges’ mother), somewhat of composition, is the one acted by Harriet Walter, but I had the feeling that the dialogue between her and Marguerite could lead to something much more interesting if it was pursued deeper. The last actor I will mention is Alex Lawther who makes the role of the unstable Charles VI (called at first the Beloved and later the Mad) an appearance hard to ignore. ‘The Last Duel‘ is quality feminist cinema and a solid and interesting film, which will find its place in the list of Academy Awards nominations. I liked it at many moments. Like many other Ridley Scott‘s movies, it impressed me but it failed to move me. This barrier has not disappeared.