Matt Damon and Jodie Comer on why 'The Last Duel' is still relevant today
The stars of The Last Duel, Matt Damon and Jodie Comer, along with one of the co-writers, Nicole Holofcener, discuss why the film is still relevant today. Damon also reveals whether he or his co-star and friend, Ben Affleck, would win in a duel. "Me, because Ben's not here," said Damon.
Video Transcript
- I am telling the truth.
- The truth does not matter. There is only the power of men.
KEVIN POLOWY: We'll often watch movies set in the 1960s or 1970s, and go like, wow, amazing! And also sad how relevant that still feels today. Here it's happening in the 1380s, with the film that's being described as a 14th century MeToo story. Was that always the intention, to frame this as a historical event through a contemporary lens? That says maybe we haven't come that far in 600 years?
NICOLE HOLOFCENER: I don't believe we came to the movie that way. I don't think the guys did either. I think they came to the movie thinking this is a great story. Incredibly visual, exciting, and important. Because nobody knows about Marguerite. And Marguerite de Carrouges, she was a brave heroine, and did something ridiculously brave.
Of course, we were aware that certain things have not changed at all. And we're aware of the culture we're in right now. But we didn't want to make a documentary. We're not experts in the MeToo movement, and we're not here to be on a soapbox. So I think we all came to it wanting to create three dimensional people and tell this specific story. And the fact that it's relevant today is tragic.
KEVIN POLOWY: Matt, I'd love to hear from you on that, too. Because critics are saying this almost feels like a redemption song for you and Ben given Harvey's involvement in "Good Will Hunting." I mean, sadly he's just one of many predators who's been revealed. But it sounds like he was not sort of near the front or back of your minds while working on this.
MATT DAMON: No. I'm obviously very aware of that case and what happened. And he was the person who made our movie 25 years ago.
NICOLE HOLOFCENER: He made my first movie too. Or bought it.
MATT DAMON: Yeah. You know, I was not thinking of it in the context of redemption. No. As Nicole said this is just this incredible woman. She came from a culture that didn't even consider her a human being. She was considered property. A woman was considered property then, of her father and then of her husband, who usually was a guy she was married off to who was about the age of her father in what was really a real estate deal.
And so the fact that she claimed what agency she could and spoke truth to power, again, and again, and again, to this kind of ever-widening circle that eventually included the King and all of France, at the risk of incredible public shame and the ruination of her name, and eventually her own life. It just was amazing that she kept standing up and speaking the truth. And that was like, wow! That's somebody to make a movie about. What an incredible hero. So that was really kind of where our heads were.
JODIE COMER: What really inspired me to want to do the project was the opportunity to give Marguerite a voice. When I was told about the event and I realized there was so much information about it, and so much information about these men who fought in this duel, you know. And I was like, OK, well, where is the information about her? You know?
To then get the script and see the way in which Matt, Ben, and Nicole wanted to deliver it, and really explore this kind of narrative of-- there's three perspectives, but there's ultimately only ever one truth. And it was always at the forefront of my mind that this is an incredibly sensitive subject matter. And it's a problem that has not gone away. And there are going to be many people who watch this film who do relate to it.
KEVIN POLOWY: We're so used to seeing you play contemporary women who are physically dominant in stuff like "Killing Eve," and "Free Guy." It's not that Marguerite isn't strong or doesn't have agency, but is obviously more vulnerable given the times and what happens to her. What sort of adjustment was that to make, playing a woman at a time when women were so oppressed?
JODIE COMER: Well, I think I had to really bite my tongue a lot. And I imagine the women of that time definitely had to bite their tongue a lot, because I think there was often moments within the script where I maybe wanted to deliver a line a little bit snappier to Matt. Or kind of fight back a little bit more. But then always having to remember what the consequences of that would be, or what the danger was in which they were living in.
You know, being in an abusive marriage. Not a loving marriage. The hierarchy, the lack of power, the fact that she was sold in her marriage. She was like property. You know, she was sold for a piece of land. So you're always having to remember the kind of dynamics of what was going on in that time. But also give her a personality. Make sure that she was just fully fleshed out.
KEVIN POLOWY: On a lighter note, Matt, the question everybody wants to know now. Who would win in a duel between you and Ben?
MATT DAMON: Well I would, obviously. Because Ben's not here.
NICOLE HOLOFCENER: Ben who?
MATT DAMON: Yeah, exactly.
NICOLE HOLOFCENER: What, the blonde?
MATT DAMON: I would crush that guy.
KEVIN POLOWY: I mean, you guys have been friends for so long. Have you had your own blow UPS over the years?
MATT DAMON: We've never had a fistfight, me and him. We've been friends for 40 years. I don't think it would ever regress to that level. We've certainly been angry at each other. And you know, writing, I mean you get very passionate. Or you can.
These things kind of diffuse really quickly. I remember working with the Coen brothers and wondering about what it was going to be like to have two directors. And more than once I had the experience where one of them came up and gave me a note, and two minutes later the other one came up, who'd been visiting with another actor, and gave me the exact opposite note. And I'd say like, wait Joel, Ethan just told me the opposite. And he'd go, Oh, yeah, well just do what Ethan said.
And they were so deferential creatively to each other, and I kind of feel like that's how Ben and I always are. If the other guy feels strongly about something, you just go well, let's try that. You know, if it doesn't work, we'll just try something else. But there's a level of trust that you have.
- I say before all of you. I spoke the truth.
