Jodie Comer is spellbinding in this tale of betrayal and vengeance set in 14th century France from visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott. Based on actual events, the film stars Matt Damon and Adam Driver as friends Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris, two knights who must fight to the death after de Carrouges’s wife (Comer) accuses Le Gris of assault.
For more in-depth thoughts on The Last Duel, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
The Last Duel comes to Blu-Ray in an AVC encoded transfer in 2.39:1 courtesy of 20th Century Studios featuring stunning cinematography from Dariusz Wolski. This is a film with a very intentional visual aesthetic bathed in icy blues and warm yellows depending on the scenario. This presentation is quite gorgeous and offers a stable image quality throughout. The visual majesty of the film translates well on disc with most shots looking stable and breathtaking. The color spectrum does sometimes make certain locales look a bit murkier than similar productions, but these are minor moments lacking supreme sharpness.
Wolski captures some awe-inspiring imagery that really pops in high definition. Not only do the textural details render cleanly, but the distinct hues really radiate off the screen. Those expecting vivid colors such as the green of the vegetation to pop off the screen will be thrilled by the intensity of certain shots. There is no evidence of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances outside a very minor bit of noise in the darkest sections. Skin tones look natural to the color grading throughout the runtime. There is a 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc that was not made available to me for review which likely tightens up any fleeting issues. Within the technical limitations of the format, The Last Duel is simply beautiful.
Audio Quality
This disc comes equipped with an incredibly effective DTS-HD 7.1 Master Audio presentation that fully immerses you in this world. There are elements in this track that are truly unnerving, such as the ferocity with which swords clang against one another. Sounds are appropriately rendered with precise directionality from the more kinetic scenes to the quieter dialogue-driven scenes filled with subtle whispers. The score from Harry Gregson-Williams brings to life a truly thrilling soundscape. Dialogue is presented perfectly clear without ever being overwhelmed by any of the competing sonic elements. The low end is engaged well when the scene calls for it and there are a lot of sonic elements at play. The sound design of this film is quite specific, and the implementation of environmental sounds are executed very effectively. The mix here is very well done with nice engagement of all the channels, which makes this track more than satisfactory for fans of the film. Those who purchase the 4K UHD Blu-Ray will be treated to Dolby Atmos audio.
Special Features
- The Making Of The Last Duel: A pretty substantial 34-minute documentary in which you get to serve as a fly on the wall as director Ridley Scott guides the actors through the performances and motivations, collaborates with the cinematographer to capture his vision, makes critical decisions about location shooting, and much more while trying to produce this film during the first wave of COVID. While not as in-depth as some documentaries for Ridley Scott projects, you really get a valuable glimpse at the filmmaking process on multiple levels.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
The Last Duel seems like a movie that could really miss the mark based on the subject matter and the primary talent behind the camera, but thankfully the movie handles the material thoughtfully. The movie is very long and a bit choppy in points, but it really does use its runtime to flesh out the nuances of each viewpoint which all come together for a thrilling finale. When Ridley Scott hits, he really knocks it out of the park and this one is a real win for him. 20th Century Studios has released a Blu-Ray featuring an excellent A/V presentation and a pretty decent supplemental feature. This is a film worth seeking out, and if you are equipped it would probably be worth it to spring for the 4K UHD Blu-Ray. Recommended
The Last Duel is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: 20th Century Studios and Disney Home Entertainment have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
