Film Review: "The Last Duel" (2021).

"The true story of a woman who defied a nation and made history". This is The Last Duel. This historical drama film, directed by Ridley Scott, written by Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon, and based on the book The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager. Carrouges is a respected knight known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield. Le Gris is a Norman squire whose intelligence and eloquence make him one of the most admired nobles in court. When Carrouges’ wife, Marguerite, is viciously assaulted by Le Gris, a charge he denies, she refuses to stay silent, stepping forward to accuse her attacker, an act of bravery and defiance that puts her life in jeopardy. The ensuing trial by combat, a gruelling duel to the death, places the fate of all three in God’s hands.

In July 2015, a cinematic adaptation of Jager's book of the same name was announced with Francis Lawrence and Shaun Grant originally hired to direct and pen the script. No further development was announced, and the film rights lapsed. In July 2019, it was announced that Scott was hired to direct with Affleck and Damon set to star, as well as pen the script with Holofcener. In October, Jodie Comer was cast as the female lead. In November, it was confirmed that Driver had replaced Affleck after the latter opted to play a different supporting role in order to avoid a scheduling conflict with Adrian Lyne's Deep Water (2022). By mid February 2020, Harriet Walter, Nathaniel Parker, Sam Hazeldine, Michael McElhatton, Alex Lawther, Marton Csokas, Željko Ivanek, Clive Russell, Adam Nagaitis and Bosco Hogan rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in mid October. Filming took place throughout France and Ireland. In mid March, Disney, after the Disney-Fox merger, announced that the studio had to delay the shoot indefinitely amid concerns for the cast and crew in light of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as travel restrictions in Europe. During the suspension, Driver was cast in Scott's next film House of Gucci (2021), and the two reunited to begin shooting their second movie together only four months after the completion of this film. Filming resumed in late September 2020. The film originally scheduled for a limited theatrical release on December 25, 2020, before going wide on January 8, 2021. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the release date was delayed to October 15, 2021. The film will play exclusively in theaters for 45 days before heading to digital platforms.

The film stars Damon, Driver, Comer, Affleck, Walter, Parker, Hazeldine, McElhatton, Lawther, Csokas, Ivanek, Russell, Nagaitis and Hogan. The excellence of the performances given, especially by Damon, Driver, Affleck and Comer, along with the richness of Scott's visuals and the depth of the themes, make this film a minor masterpiece in Scott's body of work.

The film was an ambitious undertaking for veteran filmmaker Sir Ridley Scott, whose established filmmaking styles are more than evident even in this effort.

Simon says The Last Duel receives:

Also, see my review for All the Money in the World.