Flawed but honest attempt to make a good original film
It is amazing that Ridley Scott still seems able to make epics on this scale. This film was never likely to be successful and there is a good reason why film makers such as Kubrick have failed to make a suitable biopic of Napoleon.
Main issue here is the film tries to squeeze to much history into too little time. This necessitates some major narrative gaps and omissions in the history of the Napoleonic period (no mention of Trafalgar, the Invasion of Spain, Battle of Jena, Battle of Lepizig). At one point Napoleon just seems to return from his failed invasion Russia and is told he most go into exile in Elba. It reality that decision came on the back of military defeats in large pitched battles.
That said, much of the actual history that is shown appears to be fairly accurate. There are a few bits of artistic license Napoleon meeting Wellington etc but this is a historical film not a documentary.
It strengths are probably the battle sequences and visual aspects. Scott is still great at making these sort of scenes and they are incredibly effective. Vanessa Kirby is also excellent as Josephine and probably delivers the films best performance.
This film doesn't do many favours for Joaquin Phoenix. Despite seeming like a sound casting choice, he looks uncomfortable in this role and never really brought Napoleon to life.
All in all though still worth watching. Historical epics like this are rare, it is visually stunning and although flawed people should watch these sort of movies otherwise they'll just keep making more superhero trash instead.
Main issue here is the film tries to squeeze to much history into too little time. This necessitates some major narrative gaps and omissions in the history of the Napoleonic period (no mention of Trafalgar, the Invasion of Spain, Battle of Jena, Battle of Lepizig). At one point Napoleon just seems to return from his failed invasion Russia and is told he most go into exile in Elba. It reality that decision came on the back of military defeats in large pitched battles.
That said, much of the actual history that is shown appears to be fairly accurate. There are a few bits of artistic license Napoleon meeting Wellington etc but this is a historical film not a documentary.
It strengths are probably the battle sequences and visual aspects. Scott is still great at making these sort of scenes and they are incredibly effective. Vanessa Kirby is also excellent as Josephine and probably delivers the films best performance.
This film doesn't do many favours for Joaquin Phoenix. Despite seeming like a sound casting choice, he looks uncomfortable in this role and never really brought Napoleon to life.
All in all though still worth watching. Historical epics like this are rare, it is visually stunning and although flawed people should watch these sort of movies otherwise they'll just keep making more superhero trash instead.
- Tomniboos
- Nov 29, 2023