{"id":926,"date":"2022-02-09T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-the-last-duel\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T18:29:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T17:29:30","slug":"review-the-last-duel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-the-last-duel\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: The Last Duel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Set in 14th century France, Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon)<\/strong> and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver)<\/strong>, once comrades, are poised for a duel to the death. The conflict arises from the accusation by Jean’s wife, Marguerite (Jodie Comer)<\/strong>, that Jacques raped her. The narrative unfolds through the distinct perspectives of these three central characters, creating a multifaceted account of the events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ridley Scott<\/strong>‘s filmography includes several critically acclaimed works, such as Alien<\/a><\/strong>, Blade Runner<\/strong>, Black Rain<\/strong>, and Gladiator<\/strong>. His productions are consistently meticulously crafted, with the script being the primary determinant of a film’s overall success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Last Duel<\/em> is penned by Matt Damon<\/strong> and Ben Affleck<\/strong>, marking their first screenwriting collaboration since Good Will Hunting<\/strong> (for which they received an Academy Award in 1998). The screenplay adapts a historical account from a book based on true events in 14th-century France. A notable challenge is the limited empathy evoked by the characters, with the exception of Marguerite, portrayed convincingly by Jodie Comer (Free Guy<\/a>). The portrayals of the other two protagonists as abrasive and unlikeable contribute to a detached atmosphere, hindering the film’s emotional resonance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The casting of Matt Damon as Jean de Carrouges presents an interesting dynamic. His interpretation of the battle-hardened warrior is understated yet effective. Adam Driver’s performance as Jacques Le Gris aligns with his established acting style. While Driver exhibits a naturalistic approach, his consistent portrayal across diverse roles, from HBO’s Girls<\/strong> to the Star Wars<\/a> saga, can feel somewhat repetitive. Ben Affleck was initially slated to play Jacques Le Gris but transitioned to a supporting role due to scheduling conflicts. This casting change potentially impacted the film’s dynamic, as the established rapport between Affleck and Damon could have introduced an additional layer of complexity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blu-ray edition showcases excellent visual fidelity, characterized by vibrant colors and deep black levels. The bitrate is well-managed, resulting in a stable and detailed image. The audio mix, however, is initially subdued, requiring adjustment to achieve parity with other films. Once normalized, the sound quality is satisfactory. The Last Duel<\/em> is also accessible to Disney+<\/strong> subscribers, where the streaming version exhibits a slightly darker and less defined picture quality. Conversely, the audio levels are higher on the streaming platform. Both the Blu-ray and Disney+ versions feature a comprehensive documentary on the film’s production, directed by Ridley Scott’s grandson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In conclusion, despite underperforming at the box office, The Last Duel<\/em> is a commendable addition to Scott’s filmography. While it grossed only a fraction of its $100 million budget, the film remains a compelling and well-executed historical drama, and is worthy of recommendation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disney<\/a> provided review copies for this evaluation. The provision of materials does not influence our editorial independence. Our reviews are conducted objectively, with the reader and consumer as our priority.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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