A respected knight' wife comes forward to accuse her attacker of rape which put's her and her husbands life in jeopardy.
The Last Duel has everything you'd expect from a production helmed by veteran director Ridley Scott, from the performances, sets, locations and cinematography they are outstanding; synonyms with Scott's work.
Those expecting Robin Hood, the grandeur of The Gladiator or The Kingdom of Heaven may need to adjust their expectations. While it has the historical realistic bleak, brutal and bloody brief battle scenes littered throughout, it is centred around the events that lead to a court hearing and a high stakes jousting duel.
The editing retelling structure from other points of view is unnecessary and draws out the storytelling needlessly. That said, Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's screenplay tackles systemic misogyny in a thought-provoking way, the social commentary stays true to the time in which it is set while remaining relevant. It could have been something fanciful and Hollywood-like but producers go out of there way not to sellout to make it more grounded.
At times The Last Duel is tense, bloody and grim, reminiscent of The Name of the Rose. Thanks to Scott's visual flair and an outstanding intense last act, it steers away from becoming a simple medieval soap opera. Although Marton Csokas' talent is wasted, the cast is first-rate. Affleck gives a terrific performance. Leads Damon and Adam Driver are noteworthy. Driver really shines here as Jacques Le Gris. Both Jodie Comer and Harriet Walter are memorable.
Overall, structure choices aside, it's a genuinely big-budget offering that accumulates to a satisfying conclusion.
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