The Last Duel (2021, Ridley Scott) centers on the plight of the character MARGUERITE DE CARROUGES, played by Jodie Comer. Because Marguerite is beautiful and well-versed in Latin literature, men both desire and take advantage of her.
The Last Duel is a woman’s picture adorned with a surface coat of medieval action. In it, the central character must choose between a marriage of security or an affair of romance. Except she doesn’t have any choice in either matter, as both men rape and objectify her anyway. There’s also a Rashomon narrative structure that doesn’t really make a convincing debate for either of the other perspectives besides that of Marguerite. And in one of the most overtly aggressive instances of symbolism, the scene where JEAN DE CARROUGES has a fit because a black stallion starts mating with a white mare, the awkward tone of this movie’s subject is hammered home.
This is the least sexiest Ridley Scott movie I’ve ever seen. When there are sex scenes, they feel immoral because the characters are horrible. When there are sex scenes between characters we think may turn out to be decent, they feel immoral because there’s no intimacy, connection, or even consent. As Jean de Carrouges, Matt Damon delivers a great performance, being constantly dealt miserable blows to his ego that he whines or rages at, all with his scarred face and bad mullet.
This movie feels so unscrupulously assembled that I think it may be destined for cult status. Something about its lavish production values, big-name cast, and heavy handed agenda seem spoiled by what amounts to cheap melodrama. But I will say somehow seeing this in the theater wasn't a total waste because of Alex Lawthor as KING CHARLES VI. Oh my what, the king's expressions, snickering, and amusement during the proceedings is hysterically counterpoint to the tone of everything else in this movie; what a treat.
10/16/2021 AMC Madison Yards 8
Atlanta, GA
DCP
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