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Blazing Minds (92 KP) rated The Last Duel (2021) in Movies

Oct 15, 2021 (Updated Oct 16, 2021)  
The Last Duel (2021)
The Last Duel (2021)
2021 | Drama, History
With Jodie Comer, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Adam Driver in a movie directed by Ridley Scott I just had to see it.


And I have to say I wasn't disappointed, loved the idea if the story being told by the three viewpoints which works very well.

The Last Duel is a well crafted movie that although runs at 2h 32mins it really didn't seem that long.
  
The Dead Don't Die (2019)
The Dead Don't Die (2019)
2019 | Comedy, Horror
Adam Driver (0 more)
Hilariously Self-Aware
Zombie-comedies are the only kind of zombie movies I enjoy, and this was no exception.
Bill Murray (who was previously in Zombieland), and Adam Driver are the main characters, as cops in a small town (maybe in NY?), and their chemistry is deadpan and hilarious. Driver mentions multiple times throughout the film that 'This is going to end badly', finally Murray's character asks him why he keeps saying that. Driver's character responds that he read the entire script. Murray proceeds to call Jim Jarmusch an a-hole, since he didn't get the whole script. I about died of laughter over that.
Tilda Swinton's character is completely whack-a-doo, and cuts off zombies' heads with ease with a samurai sword. Because, as everyone knows, kill the head.
The entire movie is absurdist, and the humor might not be for everyone. It's gotten really bad reviews from a lot of critics, so I may be in the minority. Chloë Sevigny's character was the only one that completely annoyed me.
It's ultimately an homage to zombie films and, of course, an allegory of modern times, with people being absorbed in their mobile phones, unaware of the real world around them.
  
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Andy K (10821 KP) Jun 15, 2019

Can't wait to see this!

The Dead Don't Die (2019)
The Dead Don't Die (2019)
2019 | Comedy, Horror
Adam Driver (1 more)
Bill Murray
The Plot (1 more)
The Ending
Good Cast..Stupid Movie
What the hell did i just watch!!.A bizarre and ridiculous movie that made no sense and moved at the equivalent snails pace as the zombies in the film itself.

No laughs,the underlying message of how we have an addiction to material things and a waste of some great actors are the main things you take away from watching this film.Oh and as for the ridiculous conversation between Murrays and Drivers characters at the end when they start discussing the script for the film is just silly beyond words.
  
The Dead Don't Die (2019)
The Dead Don't Die (2019)
2019 | Comedy, Horror
I've seen some pretty tough reviews for this movie. However, I thought it was funny.

It was predictable. It wasn't earth shattering in any way. It didn't redefine a genre. But it WAS funny for the sake of being funny. Adam Driver and Bill Murray killed it (get it? get it?) as country bumpkin deputy's who are faced with a zombie intrusion. Satire throughout was quite funny.

I wouldn't go into this movie expecting it to change my views on anything. Just go into it expecting to have a few laughs for an hour and a half and you'll enjoy yourself. Improper expectations are the birth of terrible reviews.
  
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
2015 | Action, Sci-Fi
The cast and crew of this movie was tasked with the impossible job of living up to a fandom that has thrived (sometimes rabidly and maniacally, sometimes even toxicly) for almost forty years at the time of release.

Adam Driver, Daisy Riddle, John Boyega and company did an admirable job of continuing the saga that was started all those years ago. There was also some heartache to go around for those invested in the saga.

All in all, a good entry for a new generation of fans while also mostly satisfying fans of old without alienation (except for those toxic folks I spoke of earlier.)
  
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
2018 | Biography, Comedy, Crime
I saw this movie around two weeks ago, and haven't been really able to decide on a number rating. I went between a 10, then an 8, but now I've settled on 9.
I haven't read the book, so I'm not sure how much the story was embellished and/or changed, but it was overall, an entertaining 'true story'. I know Spike Lee was drawing heavy parallels to today, which, is fine, but I think everyone would have still gotten the point without the last 5-10 minutes of news footage.
Adam Driver and John David Washington were a good team, and their work together was kind of what made the movie. The last scene on the phone was the best part of the movie.
  
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
2018 | Biography, Comedy, Crime
Powerful
I have to be honest, I haven't seen a lot of Spike Lee's work although I loved Inside Man when that came out. So I wasnt entirely sure what to expect with this film, but I was pleasantly surprised.

This is definitely a strange film. It packs a powerful message but then is full of moments of sheer hilarity, which is definitely welcome in otherwise heavy scenes. But for the most part this doesn't detract from the true story this is telling. To be frank, some of this film is very disturbing to watch and the last 5/10 minutes that link to more recent events is harrowing and almost verging on overkill. The acting is second to none, especially Adam Driver and John David Washington, and the script and dialogue are very clever and witty. I do think this may be a little heavy handed at times and a little too long, but it's still a powerful and moving film.
  
The Last Duel (2021)
The Last Duel (2021)
2021 | Drama, History
Three nuanced perspectives on a winter’s tale.
In Ridley Scott’s new movie “The Last Duel” we are in the late 14th century in France. And – apart from in one scene – it appears to be perpetual winter!

Plot Summary:
Widowed Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) is a battle-hardened warrior, loyal to King Charles VI of France (Alex Lawther). He is becoming progressively estranged from his one-time friend Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), a personal favourite of Normandy ruler Pierre d’Alençon (Ben Affleck).

But Carrouges’ lovely new wife Marguerite (Jodie Comer) accuses Le Gris of a terrible crime. But who is telling the truth? Only God can decide, as Carrouges and Le Gris must duel to the death.

Certification:
US: R. UK: 18.

Talent:
Starring: Jodie Comer, Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Ben Affleck.

Directed by: Ridley Scott.

Written by: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Nicole Holofcener.

“The Last Duel” Review: Positives:
It’s an intriguing script – the first collaboration between Damon and Affleck since their Oscar-winning “Good Will Hunting” from 25 years ago. It presents 3 different versions of “the truth” from three different perspectives. (One of these – Marguerite’s version – is suggested as being the ‘actual’ truth through a clever delayed fade of the chapter title). Many of the same scenes are repeated in each variant: sometimes with obvious differences in fact; sometimes with the slightest nuance of tone or expression; and sometimes with no change to the visuals, but with the benefit of hearing the dialogue being spoken. Very clever.
“Killing Eve”‘s Jodie Comer is just brilliant here. She is the master of nuanced expression, and she genuinely deserves an Oscar nomination for this work. Combined with her great and fun role in the surprise summer hit “Free Guy“, Comer is surely on a path to movie acting greatness.
Damon, Driver and Affleck also have great fun with their roles: they are all eminently watchable and this is a study in acting greatness. But I particularly loved Alex Lawther’s turn as the king: all excitable childish power in the body of a young adult.
Battle scenes and the final duel are delivered in visceral nature reminiscent of Ridley Scott’s famous battle and arena scenes in “Gladiator”.
Excellent production design and special effects on show here. Another Oscar nomination perhaps? The movie was filmed in the Dordogne region of France and also – after a 2020 Covid lockdown – in Ireland.

Negatives:
At two and a half hours it’s another long film (is October 2021 designated long film month??). And although the nuances between the different versions of reality are fascinating, there’s a degree of tedium involved in rehashing the same scenes (in some cases) for the third time. Arguably I think a few of these re-versions could have been omitted to reduce the bladder-testing run time.


Summary Thoughts on “The Last Duel”
This is Ridley Scott back on top form again. I found this a gripping watch. As the film opens, we are teased with the start of the ‘boss level’ duel between Damon and Driver. But these final dramatic scenes are the emotional lynchpin of the movie since only then do you understand the background and the ramifications of the fight.

Evidently, 14th Century France was NOT a great time for sexual equality. Women were merely chattels, denied not only fair play and self-determination, but also the bedroom niceties of foreplay and, in most cases, orgasms. As the story was based on real events, the courage and determination of Marguerite of Carrouges were extraordinary. And Jodie Comer’s portrayal of her wonderfully demonstrates, yet again, why she is the UK’s most exciting acting export for many years.
  
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)
2018 | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
What did I just watch?
I love Terry Gilliam but I'm really not too sure what to make of this film and whether it was really worth the 25 year wait it's taken to get this to the big screen.

This has a great cast, notably Jonathan Pryce who is absolutely wonderful as Don Quixote. And surprisingly Adam Driver. I really don't like him as Kylo Ren but it appears it may be that particular character letting him down as I've loved him in everything else I've seen him in and especially this. He's a hoot. Sadly though I think the rest of the cast may be let down by the sheer wackiness and confusion of it all. And that's the main issue I had with this film, it's absolutely crazy and I didn't have a clue what on earth was going on for the most part. There are the odd funny quips and scenes (one with Oscar Jaenada dressed in a cupid outfit whilst brief gave me the biggest laugh of all), but for me these are few and far between and not enough. The ending is rather silly and fitting and the film overall looks good (even if some of it is in a cheap Monty Python-esque way), but I spent the rest of the film nearly pulling my hair out in frustration as to what the heck was going on and some of the dodgy weird camera angles didn't help. And that's not really something you want to feel while watching a film.

There's a scene towards the end of this film where someone says "try to keep up with the plot" and Adam Driver's character replies with "There's a plot?" - this exchange literally sums up the way I feel about this entire film.
  
Logan Lucky (2017)
Logan Lucky (2017)
2017 | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Sleeper
If you are looking for a movie that checks all the boxes, Logan Lucky is the one. I LOVE finding gems like these. Sleepers. Sure you can see movies like Logan and War For the Planet of the Apes coming from a mile away. You expect them to be great It's films like Logan Lucky, however, that keep the movie calendar refreshing.

Just fired from his job and trying to make enough money to take care of his daughter, Jimmy Logan (Channing Tatum) devises a plan to rob the Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Tatum is awesome in his role, but has a great deal of help from a star-studded the cast the likes of Daniel Craig, Adam Driver, and Katie Holmes. With too many hilarious moments to count and an overly lovable protagonist who you can't help but root for, Logan Lucky is one of the year's best.

In 2007, I saw a movie called Stardust that surprised the heck out of me by how good it was. I mean, the film just came out of nowhere but I couldn't have been happier that I saw it. Logan Lucky gives me the exact same vibe. I give it a very solid 97.