Celebrated British director Ridley Scott charts the rise and fall of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in this sweeping biopic.
Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix takes on the title role, while Vanessa Kirby stars as the emperor’s first wife Josephine.
The film opens with Napoleon as a young artillery officer, witnessing the execution of Marie Antoinette, before chronicling his rise to become emperor of France and his subsequent fall.
Working with a script from David Scarpa, seasoned filmmaker Scott delivers a compressed and irreverent take on the story, which skips quickly through Napoleon’s life, focusing mainly on his tumultuous relationship with Josephine, while a selection of key battles are interspersed throughout. Those battle scenes are superbly staged and a spectacular highlight, full of mud and bloody violence, just as you’d imagine they were in real life.
Phoenix’s Napoleon meanwhile is an exaggerated weirdo, peacocking around in his pompous military uniform. Completely juvenile when it comes to his personal relationships, but blessed with tactical prowess and military excellence. A mix which makes for fascinating viewing and is delivered in a perfectly petulant performance by the Oscar winner.
The relationship between Napoleon and Vanessa Kirby’s Josephine is at the films core. Kirby refreshingly portrays the empress as fiercely strong and independent with her own distorted ideals and motives.
Rupert Everett is also excellently cast and relishes his supporting role as the Duke of Wellington, a character who ultimately plays a key role in Napoleon’s demise.
The film does take some liberties with the truth, in favour of an entertaining narrative, and that will no doubt irk some. However, after an ultra short 61 day shoot, the fact the film turns out as well as it does, is testament to the directing skills of Ridley Scott and quite an achievement.
Essentially an unconventional period love story, Napoleon has some completely absurd moments and will no doubt anger historians, but as an amped up piece of Hollywood entertainment it’s a surprisingly enjoyable blast, anchored by a pair of first-rate performances from its leads.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Paul Steward
29/11/23
X @grittster