The Duellists

An interesting film for sure. It's got some great scenic shots and cinematography. You can really see the beginnings of Ridley Scott's style in the film however you can also tell it hasn't been fully developed yet. Keitel is great but I didn't think that Carradine was all that impressive. The duels themselves are very tense and reminded me of the Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai Trilogy starring Toshiro Mifune. See it for sure if you want to see some realistic sword play or you're a Ridley Scott fan.

The lighting and cinematography is gorgeous, and the story is very compelling. Scott keeps almost all of the narrative focus on D'Hubert and his attempts to lead his own private life despite potentially fatal interruptions... leaving Feraud as a shadowy, Terminator-like enigma. Carradine actually isn't very good, but the other elements of the film hold up very nicely. Not as good as Barry Lyndon, but one of Scott's better pictures, especially impressive for a first feature.

I would be lying if I said Harvey Keitel's thick Brooklyn accent wasn't a significant hurdle to clear in believing him as a French general in the early 1800s

An impressive debut, Duellists might still be Scott's most accomplished work -- at least when it comes to his epic, historical desires. It's great to see how the scenes are put together, the subtle travellings to indicate the change of mood and the beautiful cinematography by Frank Tidy. A great first film.

Striking looking. 'Honour' as addiction and mental illness, the tragedy/absurdity of militarism. Not the pure, full-length-shot-style that I would like but, the fights are pretty good.

Beautifully filmed movie, especially during the outdoor dueling scenes. Scott gratefully allows the camera to be far enough back to see the action, resisting his later use of the extreme close-up. The contrast between the dueling scenes in the beautiful countryside versus the affected dialogue in the dark and filthy city scenes make for a unique series of contrasts throughout.

Ridley Scott's first feature is a cinematically beautiful but at times slightly sluggish story of two men with a grudge who feud over 15 years including several duels. It's well made, though I couldn't attach that much to either of the leads (though they are fine.) Very well mounted and there are some absolutely gorgeous shots.

Great intimate story with gorgeous visuals and stunning production, peppered with some questionable editing and weak acting.

"I have submitted to your notions of honour long enough. You will now submit to mine". That's basically the film, but with that simple idea of honour Scott is able to, with mesmerising performances by both Keitel and Carradine, weave a completely compelling story with the Napoleonic Wars as the backdrop. This is one of those films that you cannot stop watching. The film equivalent of a page turner. The costumes and score are also perfectly on point.

Scott's first movie is, of course, very nicely shot. The title just about summarizes the simple plot.

Not sure how this one slipped by until now but there you go. Beautifully shot; really gives you a sense of the 1800's. I loved the evolving animosity between Keitel and Carradine, and I was thoroughly satisfied with the ending. #Netflix

Harvey Keitel can not stop stabbing people! It's an epidemic spreading across Europe, in the shape of some occasionally clumsy narration bridging small episodic looks into the characters intertwining lives, with a scale, grandeur, and period opulence I've never seen in such a low-budget, debut film - how does it look this amazing? I cannot wrap my head around it. Puts Ridley's later success into a full context (and if you ask me he peaked hella early).

The suspension of disbelief required to accept the language disparity is made up for by the fascinating depiction of the details and intricacies of duelling's honorable protocol and perameters. And the story continually intrigues as a portrait of pride's singular motivating force behind vengeance and violence.

ridley scott's fantastic first feature film, which was inspired by kubrick's barry lyndon. the duellists is a worthy homage to barry lyndon and a film which stands on its own merits as well. the long standing feud, interrrupted several times by war, is an interesting one. the final scene is wonderful and breathtaking as well. keitel is perfectly cast as the hot headed feraud. carradine is equally good as the slow to anger d'hubert.

Probably the most beautifully shot directorial debut of all time.

Carradine's acting isn't the best, he just sort of stiffly recites his lines and lets everyone else carry him. The support is so good, though, that we can spend as much time with D'Hubert as Ridley wants us to without becoming bored. Keitel, however, is amazing as the savage Feraud. Really, though, this one is all about the fights and the visuals, all of which are absolutely top notch and tell the story of these gentlemen better than any line of dialogue could hope to.

It isn't Barry Lyndon, though clearly inspired by it. However, Scott does Conrad's story and Kubrick's legacy on this period justice.

Barry Lyndon Junior. The cinematography is breathtaking start to finish.

Keitel (his Brooklyn accent strategically front-and-center) is the fanatical upstart Premier Consul (~45 years prior to Scott's attempt at an explicit biopic) in this able and enjoyable conservative tale of the Modern and the age of extremes.

Didn't make it to the end. Slow. Keitel character was such a dick. Might go back to it, as it looked lovely and to see who wins....

It's a solid concept and a stellar production, but the intervals between duels just aren't doing anything for me. I would love it if they sat down a couple of times and hashed things out, as much of a struggle as that would be. There is no way Keitel's brute with a death wish survives as long as he does.

It's not at all difficult to see this as a career-launching film. It's full of indelible imagery and features fine performances from the leads. The pace sags a little in the last half, but it still stands as one of his best films.

In the eternal battle between an artful trimmer and a dour fanatic, whose side are YOU on?

A strong debut; well shot with an engaging premise, good performances and an enjoyable score, if a little dated (what was it with the 70s and the oboe?). It's becoming a cliche with me, but the narration is unnecessary. The duel on horseback is very well composed, genuinely tense and almost horror-like in how it's directed. As a historical drama, this is very different to the terror-fest that is Alien, but it's clear to see how Scott was the perfect choice to direct. Lots to like here.

+performance

Napolyon döneminde askerlik. 1 düelloyu kazanan Harvey Keitel, onu tutuklamaya çalışan diğer asker Keith Carradine arasındaki yakalama şovu. Fransa'da 1 tarih yolculuğuna çıkaran film, mekanlarıyla da mest ediyor. Harvey Keitel da çok iyi. Bıçaklar, Kılıçlar, Usturalar. Silahlar. Filmin sonunda, vurmıylem sana vurmıylem. Bendeki bu hayvan sevgisi olmasa.

Great in so many ways; narrative form, cinematography, production design. Keitel's character doesn't make much sense but that's probably the point.

Plays like a lay man version of BARRY LYNDON and yet it shares its main shortcomings of feeling too detached a storytelling and merely an exercise in formal qualities and production. It doesn't share its ambition, but we may be thankful for that. So, there's a collection of scenes with pretty camerawork and costumes, the rest doesn't register much.

I don't understand what isn't bad about this...

It's a wannabe Barry Lyndon but Scott gives it his best and the results are pretty good. Some beautiful shots here and there, and the duels are great, but Keitel's accent is horribly out of place. Then again, Ryan O'Neal can't act for shit so who's counting?

Ridley Scott's first feature is the true story of two Napoleonic-era soldiers locked in a decades-long rivalry. Keith Carradine (as leading lean-bean) vs. Harvey Keitel (as bulldog antagonist) are not wholly convincing, but the film is well served by its attention to period fighting styles, hair, and politics, plus ambitious stagings of the ill-fated Russian campaign (shot on snowy Scottish slopes) and an ultimate duel in castle ruins that sets up a sublime closing shot over the Dordogne River.

The Duellists - Ridley Scott's first film, is really great, moreso than expected. It's like The Prestige except with duelling instead of magic and played straight without any twists. It isn't hyperbole to say that it has some of the best cinematography ever. It also feels quite lean for a historical film - certainly in comparison to Ridley Scott's other ones - which might have to do with the constraints the filmmakers were under but is ultimately a mark in its favour.

Ridley showing what a talented storyteller he is, combine that with remarcable characters and you have an involving movie.

82.000

Excellent dialogue, cinematography, direction, and a wonderful performance by Harvey Keitel. I still didn't enjoy it. And so it goes.

A story of irrational hatred and grudge with the rise and fall of the Empire of Napoleon as the background... a great literary setting. As a movie, it brought it on in cinematography and acting too. As a resident of Strasbourg I would have expected more descriptive shots of the city.

I have to wonder what happened to Ridley Scott. How do you start out with this, Alien and Bladerunner and end up doing shit like Robin Hood? The Duellists doesn't come close to frequent comparee Barry Lyndon, but is still a nicely understated little historical character drama with some beautiful camerawork.

Solid and well rounded. I can see where all the praise is coming from. Just didn't find it too gripping and all that meaningful. Although I must admit the idea of the duel being a sarcastic allegory of Napoleon's consecutive wars got me thinking. Then it's pretty neat, really.

It had costumes, it had dialogues.

Underrated. One of the best films in Ridley Scott's filmography with Alien and Blade Runner. Artfully cinematography hasn't easily seen in debut film like this.

90.000

the perfect movie

Owns.

Excellent cinematography and good acting by Keitel in Ridley Scott's first--and best--film.

A bit pointless and empty-headed. Some scenes do come through looking excellent, but the scope is limited in this as well.

Excellent.

the visuals and duels are the shit

982

One of Ridley Scott's few good films