Yes No Maybe So: The Last Duel
Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 10:24PM Please welcome new contributor Patrick Ball...
Jodie Comer in "The Last Duel"
One of the more anticipated fall releases, Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel finally got a trailer. A medieval swords n’ beards tale, it boasts the first joint screenplay from Matt Damon and Ben Affleck since their Oscar winning effort on Good Will Hunting (1997), this time joined by Nicole Holofcener. Starring Matt and Ben, Adam Driver (having yet another big year with this and Annette and House of Gucci) and Killing Eve breakout Jodie Comer, let’s raise the drawbridge on another installment of Yes No Maybe So...
YES
-The opening off-screen dialogue initially sounded kind of like Christoph Waltz and if this film is secretly narrated by an uncredited Christoph Waltz, I am IN.
- Jodie. Comer. In her first major theatrical dramatic lead since her Emmy win in 2019, Jodie looks to transfer her considerable spark from the small screen to the big, even while sporting pearl-adorned Princess Lea buns and constant turtleneck. The trailer begins and ends with her, and if the film does center her character’s perspective and provides her some degree of agency, that coupled with her unique blend of vulnerability and gravitas certainly makes me feel better about the uh… old fashioned nature of its plot.
- The best part is this short courtyard scene where Comer more than holds her own with Damon in a dramatic moment while two fabulous Renaissance Fair types look on. Look at that fur SCARF! (TFE does not endorse fur)
- Alway nice to see Zjelko Ivanek on screen.
- Production Design looks to be handsome and expansive and it has the feel of something epic in nature. If they can make what could otherwise be a more intimate drama feel like a character focused cinematic event, it really could fit in as a welcome part of the return of “big” films after a low-key year in the wake of Covid scheduling pushbacks.
NO
-When initial photos from the set were released, the internet certainly had something to say about the *wild* hair and makeup on the men, and honestly, Affleck and Damon both look distractingly insane. With Damon sporting an Alabama Friar Tuck hairstyle and Affleck serving medieval Mugatu drag, it does take quite a suspension of disbelief to take them seriously. We’ll see how it plays in context of the film as a whole, but I did not expect to see both Bennifer 2.0 and Affleck with platinum blonde bangs in one year.
- I know this is a film from the director of Gladiator, but for some reason I wasn’t expecting it to feel like an action epic? For a film called The Last Duel, the trailer makes it feel like The Last Seven or Eight Duels.
MAYBE SO
-It’s going to be a lot for me to get past the idea of modern day film whose premise is a man’s quest for revenge for the alleged sexual assault of his wife, but again, the trailer’s focus on Comer’s character and framing of her emotional journey as the focus of the film goes a long way towards making it feel more interesting. A moment is included referencing the gender power dynamics of the time and I hope to see more of that in the DNA of the film. I’m fascinated to see how Holofcener’s sensibility asserts itself in the screenplay and how balanced the narrative and spectacle feel.
- The accent work doesn’t thrill me, but rarely does it ever in a trailer. The vibe feels like it’s leaning towards realism, how will the movie juggle style and substance?
Overall, what I think this film has up its sleeve is major curiosity factor. I am really interested to see another Mattfleck screenplay, how they work with Holefcener, and how the film adds to the narratives of everyone involved since they're having busy years. I think the trailer is effective in keeping that curiosity piqued and it should be interesting to see how the film is marketed. So... I'm a yes. How about you?
The Last Duel opens in theaters on October 15th.
Reader Comments (20)
I'd switch the Yeses with the Noes, LOL.
"Affleck serving medieval Mugatu drag"
i lol'd hard with this and now i can't stop picturing it
in a serious note, this gives me "maybe so" vibe, Ridley Scott is very hit and miss lately, and this feels more in the "Ridley Scott who made Robin Hood" side rather than the Gladiator one. But Nicole Holofcener is credited as screenwriter, which gives me some hope this will be at least interesting.
I think it's a NO for me. Nothing about this story seems interesting, timely or like something we haven't seen before. I'm only curious for a second Affleck and Damon screenplay, but this doesn't seem to have an identity.
According to Affleck, he and Damon were very conscious of how this particular story would be received in this day and age, so they co-wrote all of the scenes that were from Carrouges and Le Gris' point of view, while Nicole Holefcener took charge of the scenes that were scripted from Marguerite's point of view.
It'll be interesting to see how that plays out in the finished film.
I had to watch the trailer twice to find Affleck as it is surprising to see him in that. I am intrigued by the film as I read about what happened as it does look interesting though Ridley Scott is often hit/miss as I don't want to be reminded again of Exodus. That was dull as fuck.
Jodie Comer. That's all I really need.
Comer looks on fire in this. Best Actress possibility?
What is wrong with Mugatu drag?
The trailer focusing on Jodie Comer is surprising. I wonder if she is the standout.
I'm going for Jodie Comer and Nicole Holofcener.
Yes: Scott, Comer, Driver, Holofcener. If the movie just had them, what fun. How many delicious things could happen.
No: Damon and Affleck. Regardless of reviews, press, status, I’ve had more than enough of these two. Dozy, smug, self-satisfied in their limited vision. Their white male privilege and money doesn’t mean I have to listen to them.
Maybe so: Nope.
Medieval hairstyles were delightfully wack. I actually appreciate it when filmmakers don't run away from that historical absurdity. I know it's a me thing, but I find it more distracting when, in the middle of a gritty period drama, the actors parade around in modern hairstyles. I remember that, on Twitter, people ridiculed Chalamet's bowl cut for THE KING. However, I still thought that it should have been more unflattering instead of the fashionable compromise it ended up being. We're so stuck on contemporary aesthetics that visions of the past that brush against authenticity are often seen as alienating.
Regarding this trailer, I'm curious about Comer's work, Holofcener's writing, and a possible deep dive into Middle Ages' nonsense. Considering Scott's track record, I'm a MAYBE SO.
Comer looks amazing. Could this be a Best Actress moment for her?
If this is good, and it looks to be, I think this is Ridley's horse this year, not Gucci.
I read somewhere that this movie was going to be like Rashomon, in which the storytelling is through the eyes of each character. Allegedly Holofcener only wrote the part in which the female character tells the story from her perspective.
Nope.
I want to say yes but I can't. If the script was basically round robined there must be some tonal inconsistencies. In addition, I don't know if Damon and Affleck are the most appropriate choices to tell this story.
Ridley Scott is hit and miss in this genre, but I'm a yes. He's a good director, and Ben and Matt have a lot of chemistry together on-screen and in the writer's room, so I'm excited about this.
Jodie Comer is also one of the better television dramatic stars to emerge in the past few years, and I'm excited to see what she does here.
The only questionf or me is if I see this in theaters (strong reviews) or if I wait to see this when it's released for rental (middling reviews) or on a streamer (bad reviews).
oh YES ... I'm all for it ! Great cast - Affleck's little voice clip sounded promising - Driver usually yes, here hmm... could be fab, Damon with a shocking mullet - and Comer just fits so perfectly, her features ... she is for me together with Pugh & Keough one of the most interesting new actresses in the past years... Not sure if there's lots of Oscar bait but definitely good entertainment.
I'm very intrigued by Jodie Comer and Nicole Holofcener. The rest, not as much. I'm a yes for now, though.
This had Oscar buzz.
Maybe So. Very interested in the Jodie Comer of it all.