This engrossing debut from Ridely Scott is under seen and highly underappreciated. As a period drama, its attention to detail would later reflect in the directors other films also set in the past (most notably
Gladiator) and the cinematography, with its foggy wide angle shots of the beautiful French countryside during Napoleon's rule serve as the highlight (inspired no doubt by Kubrick's
Barry Lyndon). The tale of two men (devilish Harvey Keitel and refined, stoic Keith Carradine) who's feud with each other over something so trivial, it is forgotten in the midst of their rivalry, fuels a long standing obsession to fight the other whenever the opportunity to do becomes apparent. These fights, using swords and the rules of fencing, often end with either or both bloodied and wounded and never produce a clear victor, stretching for years as a consequence. This may have also been the basis of Christopher Nolan's
Prestige as well (he cited the film as one of the few that looked at the rivalry amongst men and its obsessive nature).
What makes the film unique is how lethal and self destructive their quest becomes yet still remains, gentlemanly. They lose lovers, dignity and opportunities to make peace (the two men fight together during one of the Napoleonic wars in Russia, in a stunning snow filled sequence) but extend the other the goodwill to choose their weapon or the time of combat and even...pause for a sneeze. Soon enough, people start betting on them and folklore takes over. In their lockdown, hubris takes over until the two are finally drawn into the last act for a poetic conclusion that could not have ended better.
Rating: 4/5
