Reality bites.
After a whirlwind of publicity, Disney-Fox’s “The Last Duel” may be dead on arrival.
The Ridley Scott- directed shields and armor opera made just $350,000 in previews last night. it opens officially today.
Costing close to $200 million, “The Last Duel” has an all star cast that reunites Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, also stars Adam Driver and Jodie Comer. But reviews have been mixed, with an 86 % on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics appreciate the performances and skillfulness of movie making, but not the movie itself.
Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal wrote: “The production has a lot going for it… But the narrative is cluttered with court intrigue against a background of repetitive battles, and the storytelling structure is exhausting.”
The low previews number doesn’t augur well for this release. We’ll see tomorrow how things pan out…Luckily, for Ridley Scott, the 83 year old director still has “House of Gucci” coming this fall, and that one looks like a winner.
