Yes, Matt Damon And Ben Affleck Are Back Together Again For The Rip, But I Want To Talk About This 2021 Film They Did Together

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Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are a legendary duo in Hollywood. It’s always great to see them work together, and their new movie, The Rip, is full of surprises. But if I had to pick my favorite film they’ve done together, it would be 2021’s The Last Duel – it doesn’t get enough attention, in my opinion.

Ridley Scott, known for both historical epics and science fiction classics like Alien, directed The Last Duel. It’s a retelling of a true story, structured similarly to the film Rashomon, focusing on differing accounts of the same event – in this case, a dispute between knights. Despite not doing well in theaters, it’s still a movie worth checking out.

Matt Damon Plays A Complete Oaf… But That’s Not How He Sees It

If you mostly know Akira Kurosawa for his samurai films, you might not be familiar with Rashomon. Essentially, it’s a movie built around the idea of telling the same story from multiple viewpoints. Characters often have completely different interpretations of the same events, which makes you question who’s actually telling the truth.

Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel presents a single story through three distinct viewpoints. We see the events unfold as experienced by Sir Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon), Sir Jacques le Gris (Adam Driver), and Marguerite (Jodie Comer), Sir Jean’s wife. The central conflict stems from a rape committed by Sir Jacques while Sir Jean was away, leading to a potentially fatal duel between the two men to defend Marguerite’s honor.

But here’s the interesting part. In Damon’s section of the book, he comes across as a truly honorable and admirable character. Everyone looks up to him, and even his wife respects him.

Initially, the story presents Damon as a hero, but later we discover most people, including his wife, see him as clumsy and foolish. It’s interesting to see him portrayed as brave in some scenes and a bit of a simpleton in others. Although we didn’t rank The Last Duel among the best Matt Damon films, it’s definitely worthy of consideration.

Ben Affleck Also Stars As A Libertine Count

Okay, let me tell you, Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel has a lot of strong performances, but Ben Affleck’s really stood out to me. He doesn’t get a full story told from his perspective, which is fascinating. Instead, he sort of exists on the periphery of everything, and that choice makes his character incredibly compelling. He’s not central, but he’s always there, and I found myself constantly watching him.

I was fascinated by Adam Driver’s role – he plays Count Pierre d’Alencon, basically the boss of Matt Damon’s character. But it’s clear the Count favors Driver. He sees Damon’s character as a bit clumsy and doesn’t hesitate to give a valuable estate – one that should belong to Damon – to Driver instead. He just clearly prefers Driver’s character and isn’t afraid to show it!

What really stands out about Affleck’s character is how contemporary he seems within this historical setting. His bleached blonde hair and often world-weary attitude – when he’s not enjoying himself – make him feel like someone who doesn’t quite belong in that era, and it’s incredibly effective. Just as we praised Denzel Washington in our review of Gladiator II, Ben Affleck’s performance is a true standout in an already amazing movie.

It’s also amusing to watch Ben Affleck be so tough on Matt Damon in the film, considering how close they are as friends in real life.

Adam Driver Plays An Absolute Scoundrel In This Picture

Adam Driver is a captivating actor with incredible range. He convincingly embodies diverse characters – from flawed villains, as seen in the Star Wars sequels, to selfless martyrs like his role in Scorsese’s Silence, and even charmingly unpredictable rogues, as he plays in this movie.

Let me be clear: even if you’re a fan of Adam Driver, you probably won’t like his performance in this film. His portrayal completely changes the perspective. The story suggests his character wasn’t the aggressor, but rather that Jodie Comer’s character misled him. He’s presented as a brave knight who risks everything in battle, but feels overshadowed by Matt Damon’s character. However, the film heavily favors Driver’s point of view, making him appear to be the hero.

Even within his own scenes, the character comes across as excessively flattering and insincere. We know this because Ben Affleck’s character seems to approve of him, despite the fact that Count Pierre d’Alencon is a morally corrupt person. This highlights Ridley Scott’s skillful direction and Adam Driver’s impressive acting ability; Driver convincingly portrays a man who believes in his own worth, even though the audience clearly sees through his arrogance.

It’s only in the final chapter though that we really see how despicable he truly is.

Jodie Comer Rounds It Out As The Film’s Mistreated Moral Compass

The film’s ending reveals the true story through the perspective of Jodie Comer’s character, Marguerite de Carrouges, who has been mistreated by almost everyone around her. It turns out she was the one managing all the finances, despite Damon’s character pretending to be in charge. The film also clarifies that Driver’s character didn’t seduce her; he brutally assaulted her instead.

Although the film deals with the difficult topic of sexual abuse, it doesn’t feel exploitative. We understand this once we see the story from Comer’s perspective, as she’s repeatedly victimized. Her husband emotionally neglects her, a friend sexually assaults her, and ultimately, she faces a society that initially dismisses her claims.

Comer’s character experienced a sexual assault, and she’s determined to stand up for what happened to her, as it’s the only thing she has left. Even when those close to her suggest she let it go, she refuses to be silenced. She challenges her attacker to a duel because she knows the assault was wrong and she won’t accept it.

In truth, Marguerite de Carrouges is the only noble one in the entire film.

In Short, The Last Duel Is A Criminally Underappreciated Gem, And My Favorite Damon/Affleck Collaboration

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have collaborated on fifteen films, and I enjoy many of them. While everyone usually mentions movies like Air, Dogma, and especially Good Will Hunting – and sometimes Chasing Amy (though Damon’s part in that one was smaller) – I believe The Last Duel deserves more attention.

What’s really striking about the film is its structure. While it could have been told from a single viewpoint, that would have felt restrictive. It also could have been simpler, but the way it’s divided into three parts is what truly makes the film work.

It’s also fun to see longtime friends Ben Affleck and Matt Damon play such contrasting roles. Affleck’s character stays detached and mostly watches the action unfold, while Damon’s character is a tough, forceful presence who gets manipulated by others. And somehow, this dynamic really works!

If you haven’t seen The Last Duel yet, I highly recommend it. I believe it’s the best film Ridley Scott and Matt Damon have made together so far!

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2026-01-28 02:14