Ridley Scott’s New Film Plays a Masterly Trick
<em>The Last Duel</em> tells a familiar story—and then unravels it.
introduces Jean de Carrouges (played by ), its ostensible hero, with the gritty fanfare expected from a Ridley Scott epic. Much like the valiant former Roman general Maximus of or the stouthearted Crusader Balian of , Jean proudly charges into battle, sword in hand, hacking at the enemy with no regard for his own life. The film follows Jean in 14th-century France, portraying him as a successful warrior, an outspoken noblemanand a loving partner to his wife, Marguerite (Jodie Comer). Then
