By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 5 cats
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Adam Driver | Ben Affleck | Harriet Walter | Jodie Comer | Matt Damon
Country: united_kingdom, united_states
Year: 2022
Running time: 152
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4244994/reference/
Thom says: “I certainly did not go into this film with any extraordinary expectations other than the presence of Adam Driver (and he is, as usual, impeccably brilliant). Director Ridley Scott has had a remarkably diverse career of such varied quality to be nearly mind-boggling. At his very best he has created some incisive, indelible work. ALIEN, BLADE RUNNER, MATCHSTICK MEN are all of the highest order, & THELMA & LOUISE was even my FILM-OF-THE-YEAR for 1991. But then there’s the problem with his bottom tier. I have seen over 23 of his feature films and so many of them were crappy: BLACK RAIN, BLACK HAWK DOWN, ROBIN HOOD, PROMETHEUS. Even his range shouldn’t account for such dreadful films. Moreover, the medieval theme is rarely my cup of tea. And certainly its 2.5 hours length was never going to work in its favour, but, lo & behold, I was fairly captivated from the beginning. It is the story of Jean de Carrouges (Damon), a Knight in the Court of King Charles VI of France who marries the eligible daughter of a rich land baron but loses the property he was promised in the dowry. During his numerous campaigns for his King he befriends a notable squire Jacques Le Gris (Driver) who soon gains huge favour with the King, and then is Knighted as well. Damon’s beautiful wife Marguerite (strikingly played by the stoic Comer (so terrific in the TV series Killing Eve) has definite qualms about adapting to life with her dull, plodding husband. He is continually petitioning his lord (a foppish, almost unrecognizable Affleck) and then King to acquire back his lost land, and is continually rejected. As he brings his comely wife to state functions he runs across Le Gris who instantly is taken by her numerous charms and because he is something of a rake he mistakenly fantasizes that she is taken with him. As de Carrouges is sent on another campaign for King Charles VI (wickedly played by Alex Lawther) Le Gris sneaks into de Carrouges’ castle and thrusts himself upon Marguerite. When her husband returns Marguerite tells him she was raped by Le Gris which is all that more dramatic as she becomes visibly pregnant. His reaction while predictably male compels him to bring serious suit against his now arch enemy at this point & the wacky King declares a duel to the death between the 2 Knights. What makes the film extra special is its RASHOMON approach to the intense story. The great editing here brings us the same compelling story told from the viewpoint of the three main characters played by Damon, Driver and Comer. This brings us a thoughtful, almost calm approach to the often violent proceedings. Acting credits all around, Damon plays beautifully against type and I felt the length to go by in a nonce. 5 cats“