It even has that same actress that plays Barry's cousin. An excuse to claim 'homage' to a film that came out two years prior, perhaps? Just saw this film and it continues to solidify my thought that Ridley Scott and David Fincher are the most over rated directors in American film history. He hasn't made one film that raises itself above the level of mediocrity. This one is just plain silly and uninvolving.
shareRidley is influenced by Kubrick but so are many other directors. Despite the clear Barry Lyndon influence, The Duellists turned out to be a strong atmospheric movie where most things are left unspoken. One viewing (which is usually spend on 'plot') is not enough to get it.
Alex
"One viewing (which is usually spend on 'plot') is not enough to get it."
Sorry if I come across as overly opinionated, but YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. You're talking about Ridley Scott, not Kieslowski or Antonioni. One viewing is more than enough to "get" the minimal payoff that ANY Ridley Scott film has ever offered.
My initial point however, had more to do with the fact that in The Duellists (another funny thing is that he can't even spell his film correctly), Scott so blatantly attempts to mimic Kubrick's slow pan in/out shooting technique of painterly vistas. Of course Kubrick, unlike Scott, wasn't a dullard hack, so it worked in his film.
another funny thing is that he can't even spell his film correctly
That's why I know you need more than one viewing. Ridley Scott is British and so he uses the British spelling. You don't even know what I mean with "getting it". You don't even ask.
You're talking about Ridley Scott, not Kieslowski or Antonioni. One viewing is more than enough to "get" the minimal payoff that ANY Ridley Scott film has ever offered.
Yeah, right! Blade Runner is a legendary example of how critics and audiences needed more than one viewing before they "got" it ... before they made a connection with the film.
Alex
Blade Runner? Ridley Scott was the one who needed "more than one version" before he "got it". How many are there now, 7?
shareYes, yes, and yes again. This film is good, and very watchable, but it is not at the level of Barry Lyndon in any area.
Well said, OP. Thank goodness everyone here isn't a complete and overly-enthusiastic buffoon, choosing a simpler and easier-to-follow film over a legitimate masterpiece. The dolts even applaud the cinematography of this film and claim it is far better than BL, with all it's strange inconsistencies, odd filter choices, and its fairly shameless nods to Barry Lyndon over and over again. It's a good film, I admit, but it does feel, look, and sound exactly as what it is....the first film from a budding director with very decent talent and skill. But a first film nonetheless.
If history has taught us anything, it's that those who cannot really tell the difference between good and great, are ones who are the most vocal about it. That has never changed.
On another thread, a genius states that The Duellists beats Barry Lyndon in every area. LOL! Every area!
People of this vile type also feel that McDonalds is the place for world-class burgers. And WalMart fashion is truly cutting edge (Their fall collection is both savvy and smart, with so many XXXL sizes to choose from too).
As my 8 year old nephew might say: GTFO NOOBS!
Well, at the risk of cries of heresy, I find this far more engaging than Barry Lyndon. Much of that has to do with Ryan O'Neal in BL, who I found as boring as watching paint dry. This film, on the other hand, caught my attention and kept it for the entire length. I'm not saying BL is bad, just that I didn't connect with it, while I did here. So, if Ridley Scott was desperately trying to make this into Barry Lyndon, he failed, and I am all the more happy for it.
I tend to agree on Fincher, as I don't care whatsoever for his films, which puts me at odds with a lot of my work colleagues. Scott, to me, is an uneven director. I like many of his films, but could care less about many others. He's top notch as a visual stylist, but he is weak with his actors and sometimes loses his story in his visual styling. I love Blade Runner, but the story is more comprehensible, for me, from having read the novel and the Marvel Comic adaptation, before actually seeing the film. You can certainly work things out from what's on-screen; but, the visuals often overwhelm the story points and it may take repeated viewings to pick up on things, like the glow in the eyes.
"Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!"
I like both movies. I think I like _The Duellists_ a little better. I can relate more to the situation.
Both are on the short list of movies that made me feel like I was actually looking back in time through some sort of "Chronoscope" or something, and seeing it something like the way it really was.
And I stood where I did be; for there was no more use to run; And again I lookt with my hope gone.
Heresy be damned. I don't think Barry Lyndon can hold a candle to The Duellists on any level. If the plot had been fleshed out (perhaps with a bit more Keach narration) so that anyone could fully appreciate the film who didn't know about Napoleon's disaster in Russia or about the Bourbon Restoration, The Duellists would have been perfection and IMHO, superior to Lawrence of Arabia.
"I told you it was off." The Jackal
But too much narration would stand in the way of the visuals. The great thing about Scott's early movies (this one, Alien and Blade Runner) is their lack of a literary narrative. The image is in the spotlight and we, the audience, are invited to project our own thoughts onto the films.
Alex
I couldn't agree more, and meant only an additional line or two of narration carefully placed within the film. I have watched The Duellists with several people who got a bit confused regarding historical context and recall at least one film critic (for whatever that's worth), who commented when the movie was in theatres, that some audience members with less than a vague knowledge of Napoleonic history might not follow the storyline completely.
"I told you it was off." The Jackal
"I don't think Barry Lyndon can hold a candle to The Duellists on any level."
Your subtle use of ironic sarcasm is pretty humorous. Thank you for that. Comparing Barry Lyndon negatively to The Duellists is like disparaging Bob Dylan by calling him inferior to Jacob Dylan. God damned hilarious, I tell ya what!
ITA about Ryan O’Neal.
shareDefinitely similar, but I think that's as much to do with the time it was made, as much as any direct influence.
I like both films, by the way, and was very impressed by it.
"It even has that same actress that plays Barry's cousin."
So what... "The Firm" about the CIA has three actors in it who've portrayed Batman.
---
It's not "sci-fi", it's SF!
Far as I´m concerned, he could "pay homage" all day and all night as long as the results are impressive (which they are in case of The Duellists), rather than do his own thing - whatever that might be - that turns out bad. And all his post-1982 films that I´ve seen indeed HAVE turned out pretty bad.
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan
I found The Duellists to be a fascinating miniature, whereas BL was an epic. I think they go well together. Marisa Berenson and Diana Quick too.;O)
Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.
I found The Duellists to be a fascinating miniature, whereas BL was an epic.
The commentary is quite entertaining.
my vote history:
http://www.imdb.com/user/ur13767631/ratings
[deleted]
No, it doesn't.
It stands on its own merit.
Get a sense of perspective.