At the age of 85, Ridley Scott is still consistently releasing films every couple of years around the holidays. Scott has been a Hollywood titan since he directed the legendary film Alien in 1979. Since then, he has had the budget to make any movie he wants, and Ridley is not afraid to take a big swing. Napoleon is his latest effort, detailing the life of the French general with Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role, analyzing his battles as well as his intense relationship with his wife Josephine (Vanessa Kirby). The movie draws heavily from Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, which was adapted from a novel that was written shortly after Napoleon Bonaparte’s death. Kubrick famously attempted to make a movie about Napoleon but could not get the project off the ground. Ridley Scott realizes Kubrick’s idea 50 years later, although Napoleon still feels as though something is missing.
Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby deliver strong performances throughout the film. The strained nature of Napoleon’s relationship with his wife seems to be the focal point of the movie. Scott shows the initial contact between the couple which grows into a somewhat forced marriage. Josephine initially is unfaithful when Napoleon is at battle which leaves Napoleon crestfallen, he is deeply in love with her so despite her adultery he attempts to revive the marriage. Kirby thrives in this role, playing a strong woman whom Napoleon yearns for. Napoleon stays in contact with Josephine even after they discover the heartbreaking truth that Josephine is unable to produce an heir for Napoleon. Ridley uses narration while Napoleon is at war to convey what is written in the letters between the two. This is an effective choice and shows how Josephine grows fonder of Napoleon as the film goes on. Despite a heavy focus on their relationship, it comes at the cost of more intricate battle sequences and historical accuracies. Although I enjoyed seeing Kirby and Phoenix on screen together, the arc their relationship took failed to capture my attention as much as the brutal combat that is shown when Napoleon is away from Josephine.
The aforementioned battle sequences are some of the most jarring, engaging, and stunning scenes ever seen in a movie theater. Scott draws from his best picture winner Gladiator and directs virtuosic battle choreography. The Battle of Austerlitz in particular was heart-stopping and gory. Ridley is not afraid to show the gruesome truths of battle which are some of his best works. These huge set pieces also show beautiful landscapes and cinematography. These scenes are by far the most beautiful and gripping of the movie, which makes it difficult to return to the slower-paced plotline of Napoleon’s relationship. It feels as if Ridley Scott is making two different movies at times, one being a deep documentation of Napoleon’s relationship and personal life while the other is a symphony of battle showing the agonizing grandeur of the Napoleonic wars.
Ridley Scott and Apple TV will be releasing a four-hour director’s cut of Napoleon in December. Historically, Scott’s director’s cuts have proved to be more cohesive than the theatrical releases. This is especially true for Kingdom of Heaven which is also a historical drama that was reclaimed after the director’s cut was released. Napoleon was extremely watchable and a great moviegoing experience, yet it still felt unfinished, and many historical landmarks were left untouched. Most of the films about the Napoleonic wars have not done well historically and the most critically acclaimed one is Abel Gances Napoleon which was released in 1927. The truth may be that Napoleon’s life was too eventful for a movie whether it be 2 hours or 4 hours. Napoleon stood only 5’2 but led a life too tall for any film to reimagine.
3.5/5 STARS