'The Last Duel' (18)

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer

Where can I watch?: The Last Duel is in cinemas and available to stream on Disney+

Rating: 3/5

Review: Young people, put down your "fucking cell phones" and observe how men have been shit to women for literal centuries! That's right, not depressed enough by the state of the world, I decided to watch Ridley Scott's latest 'flop' during the festive period and, boy, did it feel like a battle. Based on a true story from the 14th Century, The Last Duel is a tale of rape and revenge. Focusing on three central characters, Scott's depiction is divided into a trio of interlocking chapters during which Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon), Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) and Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer) give their accounts of the events preceding and following Marguerite's assault. Despite the horrendous wig, Damon gives a strong performance as a highly unlikeable knight, but it's Comer who steals the show as the wronged, yet determined, Marguerite: without even having to say a word, we know her thoughts and her inner turmoil. It's a brilliant performance, and one that undoubtedly elevates the film.  

But, with the positives also come the negatives, and there are many. To begin with, the three-narrative structure, while somewhat interesting (and clearly evoking Rashomon), is incredibly rigid. As each of the protagonists' story comes to an end, we know that the next one is about to begin, with inevitable overlap between them. Secondly, The Last Duel is certainly a lengthy watch - coming in at just over two and a half hours, you certainly feel the run time as the film progresses towards it's final act. Which leads me to probably the most problematic element of all: the rape scenes. Yes, scenes. For some reason, director Ridley Scott makes the audience endure Marguerite's rape twice, once from the perspective of her rapist, and again from her view point. Not only are both scenes almost identical, which raises the question as to why we needed to see it twice, it is also long and torturous. It also makes you wonder, why was it necessary to show the assault at all? It's clear from the moment Le Gris forces his way into Marguerite's home and pursues her upstairs that there will be a sexual attack, so why show it? Watching, it feels as though Scott is proving to the audience that the attack did actually happen, as opposed to merely believing Marguerite's word. It feels perverse and exploitative in the extreme to endure the scene once, let alone be forced to watch it again, and I couldn't help but wonder what a female director would have chosen to do. 

A Must-Watch?: It's a tricky one. On one hand, you have a heartfelt performance from an excellent Jodie Comer; on the other, you have a two and a half hour slog through men being rubbish.