Going into watching this I wasn't expecting anything else but some quality period piece with the bonus of sounds and images of glistening swords and all manner of medieval paraphernalia. This being a Ridley Scott film, I was of course expecting being at least thoroughly entertained.
I suppose me writing a review should mean my expectations were _exceeded_.
In short, "The Last Duel" is actually somewhat of a crime thriller, a "who dun it" story. It is a well built slow-burn movie, if these things are in your style. Acting was top-notch all the way through, even for familiar faces of Affleck and Damon. It seems Scott had his muse with him making this because it's kind of the sum of its constituent parts that makes it work as well as it did for me -- it doesn't skimp on the visuals (with medieval dramas I believe set pieces are important to a degree), actors are professional -- like I said even Affleck and Damon do a splendid job that didn't have me evoke any of their other more mundane roles -- , and the plot burns with a engaging flame like a candle.
I don't like movies that are only cerebral or only everything but. Last night I watched "Prey" which I heard was one to watch, and frankly I was bored 10 minutes in. This one I can recommend for the objective quality factor at least, however; but to each their own, of course.
I wouldn't want to leave this review without mentioning the important message -- yes, really -- that tried to show the enormous weight medieval women had to metaphorically carry and live with, even those admitted in king's court, their plight while being merely a leaf in the wind of fate, among feuding men. This movie made me reach deep into my moral core feeling compassion for the women who lived some half a millenia ago. And it did so in a way deserving of their legacy, if one dares to say so. As banal as it may sound, it had me thinking about the horrors medieval Christianity inflicted on everyone, and about fraternity culture between such men for whom women never became anything but objects.
