I just saw a new, all-star, block-buster movie with Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Adam Driver, and Jodie Comer; directed by Ridley Scott. And I want to discuss it with you, but I don't know of a single person in America who has seen it. So it sort of feels like a secret movie? It's called The Last Duel and can't stop thinking about it, and about how men in the 1300s are not so different from men in 2021.
So intrigued by The Duel, will definitely make time to watch it this week. And I agree with your take on guys who “become feminists” after they become dads. Now their positions are off-bounds.
This grabbed me just now because I did see somewhere that is was going to be a complete flop. I have no idea where to look but want to say I probably saw it on Twitter quite a while back. I would definitely like to see it. If I figure out where the review was I will get back to you.
We HAVE heard of The Last Duel--we've seen the trailer in theaters a couple of times, and that kind of historical drama is right up our alley, especially because it's set in France. Last Friday, we were torn between it and The French Dispatch for Date Night, and the latter won. (Delightful.) The Last Duel will be our pick for this Friday. I'm looking forward to it.
100% agree with your title and your exploration of it.
Okay, this movie sounds a lot like Rashomon, by Kurasawa. I haven't seen anything about The Last Duel, either, but I wonder if the writers/actors/director have mentioned anything about Kurasawa, and if there are any nods to his film in this one.
In March 2020, just before lockdown, we were traveling in France and stayed in the same hotel in Carcassone as Adam Driver and the crew filming this movie. I've been interested in its success ever since
Matt Damon talked about this new movie on Armchair Expert a while ago, which is how I knew about it. I really enjoyed that interview, and now I really would like to see the movie! So awesome that it mentions/is set in your town!!
The tweet thread about child support is spot on for a couple of friends of mine. One friend’s husband left her for another woman out of the blue (he travelled for work). He left her with 4 kids under 12 and then started refusing to pay support. They were plunged into poverty almost overnight. He ended up having to go to jail, came out and did start paying but every month was like some kind perverse game with him. Another friend divorced her husband after 25 years, he was emotionally abusive and making everyone miserable. She has 4 kids, 3 were in college. Her husband stopped contributing to the college fund AND removed the kids from his health insurance plan. I will never understand parenting a child and walking away from them. I know that there are many men who do better.
I have seen advertisements for this movie, and the location and time period definitely interests me, but I cannot watch another Adam Driver movie. I just can't. Maybe I could fast forward through his scenes?
Hi! I'm just reading your newsletter from last week. My boyfriend and I saw The Last Duel a couple of weeks ago. He wanted to see it more than me, but I think it was just the medieval duel that intrigued him. I had no idea the subject was rape and thought it was a much better movie than I expected. I liked the differing POVs. And yes, all men in it were trash. I genuinely feared that Marguerite would die horribly. It's so sad that the world hasn't evolved that far on rape accusations after 700 years.
I loved the Last Duel. Definitely hated all of the men by the end. I saw it because I love Jodie, but I was surprised how much the movie as a whole affected me! I care zero percent about knights and fighting and medieval times, but I felt totally transported, and the final duel shook me to my core. It felt so brutal and real. And Jodie did an amazing job. It's unfortunate it's not doing so well at the box office.
So intrigued by The Duel, will definitely make time to watch it this week. And I agree with your take on guys who “become feminists” after they become dads. Now their positions are off-bounds.
This grabbed me just now because I did see somewhere that is was going to be a complete flop. I have no idea where to look but want to say I probably saw it on Twitter quite a while back. I would definitely like to see it. If I figure out where the review was I will get back to you.
We HAVE heard of The Last Duel--we've seen the trailer in theaters a couple of times, and that kind of historical drama is right up our alley, especially because it's set in France. Last Friday, we were torn between it and The French Dispatch for Date Night, and the latter won. (Delightful.) The Last Duel will be our pick for this Friday. I'm looking forward to it.
100% agree with your title and your exploration of it.
Okay, this movie sounds a lot like Rashomon, by Kurasawa. I haven't seen anything about The Last Duel, either, but I wonder if the writers/actors/director have mentioned anything about Kurasawa, and if there are any nods to his film in this one.
In March 2020, just before lockdown, we were traveling in France and stayed in the same hotel in Carcassone as Adam Driver and the crew filming this movie. I've been interested in its success ever since
Matt Damon talked about this new movie on Armchair Expert a while ago, which is how I knew about it. I really enjoyed that interview, and now I really would like to see the movie! So awesome that it mentions/is set in your town!!
The tweet thread about child support is spot on for a couple of friends of mine. One friend’s husband left her for another woman out of the blue (he travelled for work). He left her with 4 kids under 12 and then started refusing to pay support. They were plunged into poverty almost overnight. He ended up having to go to jail, came out and did start paying but every month was like some kind perverse game with him. Another friend divorced her husband after 25 years, he was emotionally abusive and making everyone miserable. She has 4 kids, 3 were in college. Her husband stopped contributing to the college fund AND removed the kids from his health insurance plan. I will never understand parenting a child and walking away from them. I know that there are many men who do better.
I have seen advertisements for this movie, and the location and time period definitely interests me, but I cannot watch another Adam Driver movie. I just can't. Maybe I could fast forward through his scenes?
Hi! I'm just reading your newsletter from last week. My boyfriend and I saw The Last Duel a couple of weeks ago. He wanted to see it more than me, but I think it was just the medieval duel that intrigued him. I had no idea the subject was rape and thought it was a much better movie than I expected. I liked the differing POVs. And yes, all men in it were trash. I genuinely feared that Marguerite would die horribly. It's so sad that the world hasn't evolved that far on rape accusations after 700 years.
I loved the Last Duel. Definitely hated all of the men by the end. I saw it because I love Jodie, but I was surprised how much the movie as a whole affected me! I care zero percent about knights and fighting and medieval times, but I felt totally transported, and the final duel shook me to my core. It felt so brutal and real. And Jodie did an amazing job. It's unfortunate it's not doing so well at the box office.