Napoleon is a spectacle-filled action epic that details the checkered rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, played by Oscar®-winner Joaquin Phoenix. Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking orchestrated by legendary director Ridley Scott, the film captures Bonaparte’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.Napoleon also stars Vanessa Kirby. Directed by Ridley Scott. Written by David Scarpa and produced by Ridley Scott, Kevin J. Walsh, Mark Huffam, Joaquin Phoenix. Executive producers: Raymond Kirk, Aidan Elliott, and Michael Pruss.
Listen to my review with Ari during out Reel Deal segment here:
I’m a fan of director Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down), but I also find his filmography inconsistent and uneven, much like his latest historical drama, Napoleon. At 2 hours and 38 minutes, you feel every minute of its bloated runtime.
While the battle scenes are spectacular, the rest of the movie is incredibly dry at times and occasionally very dull. It gets bogged down in the history, but the movie also presents the events in a way that expects you to already have an understanding of what is happening. You will feel behind if you have not done your homework.
Joaquin Phoenix plays Napoleon as an eccentric werido, a sex-crazed clown that comes across more as a petty, thuggish dope than a feared military genius. I understand that Napoleon was an unlikeable figure in history, but it’s hard to root for him as the titular main character.
That being said, I would still recommend checking out the movie over the long Thanksgiving weekend, especially if you have an interest in that history. Being an Apple Original film, this movie does feel like it was built for a streaming audience. Ideally, Napoleon is best viewed on television, preferably on a lazy Sunday with your dad.
Napoleon opens exclusively in theaters on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023
