Napoleon, as viewed historically, is a creditable attempt to convey the spirit of the mysterious French emperor and military commander. The early 19th-century European environment is faithfully recreated in the picture because of Scott’s meticulous attention to detail in the set design, costumes, and general ambiance.
The film takes certain artistic licence for dramatic effect, but overall it does a visually stunning job of depicting the social climate of the time, political intrigues, and major conflicts.
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Ben Miles, Ludivine Sagnier.
Director: Ridley Scott
Joaquin Phoenix does a strong performance in his depiction of Napoleon. Particularly when coupled with Vanessa Kirby as Josephine, he adeptly transitions from periods of sensitivity and contemplation to Napoleon’s merciless ambition.
One of the film’s virtues is the way Napoleon is humanized, which makes it easier for viewers to relate to a man who is frequently consigned to historical myth. As Josephine, who reduces Napoleon to size outside of his triumphant global conquests, Kirby is especially remarkable.
A fascinating dynamic is created in the movie by intimate character moments between the main couple amid expansive, realistic war scenes; these moments occasionally even result in unexpectedly funny moments.
The film occasionally feels like a love story because David Scarpa’s script places so much emphasis on the poisonous connection Napoleon had with his wife Josephine. Scarpa’s witty one-liners provide lighthearted reprieve amongst Scott’s heavy labor to depict Napoleon’s hysteria as part of the genre-hopping.
Although the cinematography includes expansive views of battlegrounds and landscapes, the writing frequently skips over important details. The story occasionally feels hurried because it tries to cover too much ground in Napoleon’s life, and the movie’s pacing suffers as a result of Scott’s desire to capture significant events in Napoleon’s life and career. This results in a cursory exploration of certain historical events, which might have been avoided with a more concentrated narrative—possibly presented in a different way.
Napoleon is a remarkable contribution to the historical epic genre, while lacking in crucial aspects such as keeping an engaging pace and captivating narration.
You may also like:
Step into the Past with The Railway Men Review
