I watched it this weekend and I think your review was absolutely on point. It was a well done movie but it did drag a bit in the middle. Some things could have been cut out in the second chapter. I appreciated them showing the scene between Driver and Comer twice because the same thing basically happens but the difference is night and day. He thinks she’s saying no and protesting playfully, like the women he was carousing with earlier in the film did. She was saying no and screaming for real. It’s a great vindication for all woman about how a lot of men - not all but a lot - don’t listen to what you’re saying even when you’re speaking plain English right in their face. Or plain French. Whatever. The scenes should also make every man who sees it rethink his entire romantic life and be extra, extra cautious about consent, going forward. I hear Ridley Scott is upset that this didn’t do very well at the box office but he shouldn’t be surprised. First, it was marketed but not heavily. I don’t think a lot of people knew about it. Also, despite the battle and action scenes, it’s basically a cerebral movie. It makes you think and it has a definite point of view. If you just want to make art, that’s great. But, show business is also business and I don’t think people want to see movies with heavy subjects because we are living that every day. Add to that the fact that people still aren’t going to movies and I’m not surprised it wasn’t a hit. It reminds me a lot of “Ophelia” with Daisy Ridley. That came out before the pandemic and I don’t think that was a hit, either. I didn’t know about it until I stumbled across it and rented it. It was also about a supposedly well known story told from the woman’s point of view, for once. It’s the kind of intellectual movie, like this, that I really enjoy but I’m an outlier. I think “The Last Duel” and “Ophelia” would make an interesting double header for a movie night or a Women’s Studies class.
Thanks Chris. This was a spot on review. I just saw it. Very intense & can trigger some viewers. The film can spark helpful discussions around masculinities.
It’s silly to not support correct accents! It’s a French period piece Omg. This film was so bad! The three chapter telling is off putting and gives a ground dog day feel. Dumb
I have never felt so seen watching a movie before and all of that is thanks to Jodie Comer’s masterfully nuanced and emotionally wrecking performance. My husband who rarely pays attention to movies was crying by the end of it. Her portrayal of Marguerite was so powerful.
I have thanked god a couple of times for having you on RU-vid. I never spend a weekend without watching a movie and your contents have made it a lot easier for me to find the good/bests to watch. I’m here since “Hold The Dark” review 🥂
You missed the point. It was to show how everyone sees themselves. Damon’s character for example, thinks he’s a better guy than he is. Driver’s character didn’t think what he did was rape. It was Important.
i don’t know what it is about your reviews specifically but god are they riveting to me. can’t thank you enough for these! i’ve been looking forward to this film and i’m glad to hear it’s good. i was introduced to jodie through her show ‘killing eve’ recently and i’ve decided since that i’ll watch any and everything she’s in lol. i bought and read the book first so i thought i knew what i was getting into but thanks for the warnings. definitely needed. edit: have you watched killing eve? it’s amazing!
My first exposure to Jodie was as Villanelle also! I've not seen all of Killing Eve, but I love her in that role. She is one of my favorite villains (or anti-heroes??)!
I love Killing Eve! It's such a good show and I feel the same way in that I will now watch anything with Jodie in it. I watched Dr. Foster on Netflix because of her and I'm so glad I did. Really enjoyed it.
@@pom11pom just added that to my list lol thanks! and it’s always nice to see people loving killing eve. as popular as it is, there seems to be no one irl for me who watches it!
In terms of the accents, the actors used a dialect coach to find a common cadence and accent that was non-specific and decidedly not French. To me it sounded a little transatlantic and, at times, jarred against the use of old, but not medieval, English.
Favourite medieval movie? Have to be Lady Hawke (with a touch of fantasy), or Princess Bride, Holy Grail for comedy. For a more serious one, prob Excalibur or Braveheart.
@@MoviesAndMunchies yeah there are so many greats to choose from. If you expand the choice to medieval-era Eastern movies (Chinese empires, Japan Samurai), the list gets much longer ;).
I felt the overlapping of the assault scene was necessary because Driver’s character POV makes you believe she did “experience pleasure” when she did not protest in the midst of the attack. Whereas from Comer’s character POV she consistently protested throughout the attack. It was definitely a he-said-she-said two chapters. Though I expected the court to make Marguerite appear to be the one trial instead of Jacques, it was still upsetting to watch the victim being accused of lying. The backstory of Jean and Jacques regarding the land gave the incident realism between rivalries on why they are rivals.
Definitely hope that the makeup artists, costume designers of this film get an Oscar. The film really takes you back to the 1300s and feels real. This was such a unique movie it is worthy of best film
I heard one reviewer say that the minstrels in this movie stray dangerously close to coming off like the musical sequences in Monty Python And The Holy Grail, which is one of my favourite medieval set movies, to answer your question. Is that true, did you think? I do love a good swords and shields epic. Whether it’s lighter stuff, like Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, or heavier material, like Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Henry V. The musical score for that last is still something I love to listen to, and it’s still a movie I love to revisit. I’m looking forward to this one. I’d add Gawain And The Green Knight to that list too, which you reviewed so well recently. Far less action in that one. But still so much going on. A real meditation on the fear of death. Thanks for this review.
Hmm, I never got the sense of Holy Grail from this, but maybe on a rewatch I'll keep it in mind and see if sparks anything. Also, what is the airspeed of an unladen swallow?
@@MoviesAndMunchies : The source I got that minstrels info from was nowhere near as reliable as you; an Englishman (that’s where I moved here from) called Mark Kermode, who always has fascinating things to say, knows his stuff, but I often vehemently disagree with him, so I’ll trust your review over his any day of the week. Interestingly, he said the same thing as you did about not wanting to see the rape twice, or feeling that it served the story well. In answer to your question; Is that an African or a European swallow? . . . 🤔😉✌️
I have 2 questions please. 1) is the movie really dark (physically) such that it's hard to see? I feel like I would fall asleep in a dark theater looking at a dark screen. 2) do we see the rape 3 times ? cuz once is bad enough.
It can't be worse than _'The Green Knight'_ adaptation... As far as 2021 Medieval period films/stories from age old source material and/or history - _minus 'The Green Knight' fantasy aspects_ - *here's hoping that **_'The Last Duel'_** and A24's **_'The Tragedy of Macbeth'_** (starring Denzel Washington) have more gravitas, more impressive scripts, cinematography, greater depth, richer dialogue & acting performances, and altogether more indelible components.*
Bro you really hate the Green Knight. Seen you posting this under multiple reviews. It was a slow and I understand not everyone liking it but I didn’t think it sucked
Ha...I'm in alignment with all of the positives that this channel's reviewer praised *_'The Last Duel'_* for. I just watched 'The Last Duel' tonight and it was _exceedingly_ more immersive & fulfilling _(on every level, and in scope)_ than something like that over-hyped underwhelming 'The Green Knight' bs. My enjoyment of *_'The Last Duel'_* now has me looking forward to, and hoping the best in regard to, A24's *_'The Tragedy of Macbeth'_* . 📽🎬🎞
@@m.worthy Lol I also liked the Last Duel. About as much as the Green Knight. They were going for different things. Also the Green Knight is much better if you know about the knightly virtues. I do think it a was a bit too arty but I liked it.
@@mooregh6501 Yes, prior to seeing Lowery's 'TGK' adaptation _(re-edited an additional six months because of things he didn't like about it),_ I knew of the source material. I'm not someone who went in expecting an action flick, and I fully grasped all of the Arthurian tale themes ("virtues", etc.), nuances, metaphors, and story beats throughout the film - especially how they relate to the characters and events within source material. I am someone who knew what I was watching. I don't "hate" 'The Green Knight', I've just seen so much better within every genre of film that not one thing in 'TGK' adaptation captivated me. Not the over-hyped "cinematography" _(I've seen better for decades and in 2021),_ and I've absolutely seen actors such as Joel Edgerton, Sean Harris, Dev Patel, and Sarita Choudhury, showcase their talents much more strongly with far more challenging roles and impactfully impressive scripts. _The most interesting thing about 'TGK' is the source material of the poem(s) which it was adapted from._ The Lowery film did _nothing_ for me.....I've heard others convey the same and/or hold it in less regard than I do... Well, I'm happy for you for being able to enjoy 'TGK'. It is great that you think well of it and that you genuinely enjoyed it.
@@m.worthy Fair enough then. I’ve just seen a ton of people that dislike the movie cause they didn’t understand the themes. Glad you enjoyed the Last Duel though. I also thought it was quite good.
Excellent review! I enjoyed the final scene -the actual duel - was so intense and well done. However, I hated the three different points of view. No one wants to see "that scene" at all, let alone twice.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail should be the high standard for movies set in medieval times: The costumes, the authenticity of the setting, the horses and, of course, the brutal realism of the action: "'Tis but a scratch!" - "A scratch? Your arm's off!" -"No, it isn't."
One of my favorite movies is Kingdom of Heaven the director's cut. Ben Afflek really surprised me in this movie. I think the rape scene form her pov was harder to watch but needed to be in the film.
Only if you can pretend Orlando Bloom isnt in it at all. Then its a decent movie. Like watching my two year old son take on citizen kane. Pathetic and embarrassing and unintentionally humorous.
Nope. Only if you think Orlando bloom is somehow a real grown man and not the boychild he actually is. Terrible casting and it ruined the whole film. Like watching dougie howser play the part of Macbeth, a disaster.
Yeah, the visuals and the story of Kingdom of Heaven are great but to expect us to believe that a metrosexual boy like Orlando Bloom is a medevial blacksmith and engineer is just ridiculous. It broke all immersion. Also, he can’t act which became painfully obvious since he was up against Jeremy Irons, Liam Neeson, David Thewlis and Eva Green. So for me the directors cut is a 3/5, theatrical 2/5. Orlando just ruined the entire movie.
I enjoyed this review a heck of a lot more than that 2 1/2 hour slog. I thought Damon and especially Affleck were completely miscast. They don't belong in a serious medieval period film. Affleck was insufferable. Outside of Marguerite, none of the characters were likable. The story wasn't interesting enough to me to have to see it three times. Kingdom of heaven, director's cut is a masterpiece. One of my favorites. Go see it asap if you haven't already.
