Image: Sonypictures
Old master Ridley Scott has now dared to take on France’s famous emperor with “Napoleon”. Disturbing battle images alternate with scenes of Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Joséphine de Beauharnais. A visually stunning drama starring Hollywood star Joaquin Phoenix, which is in cinemas today. In “Napoleon,” Scott paints a portrait that draws a parallel between his rise to power and his turbulent relationship with Joséphine, to whom he was as addicted as he was to his hunger for power. He conquered the world to win her love and when he failed, he conquered it to destroy it and destroyed himself in the process, the director legend explained his intention for the film.
The 85-year-old shot a large battle and equipment cinema for around 130 million and, alongside Vanessa Kirby, brought Joaquin Phoenix in front of his camera again after 23 years. The Hollywood star played the supporting role of the crazy and merciless Emperor Commodus in “Gladiator” from 2000.
The 49-year-old actor cuts a stern and gloomy figure on the battlefield, but at the same time he plays the clown when he flees from politicians and looks deep into the eyes of a pharaoh’s mummy.
Anyone who brings an impressive historical figure like Napoleon onto the big screen inevitably runs the risk of exposing themselves to the judgment of a broad public including many experts. As soon as the trailer was online, the first reactions came. Napoleon specialists criticized, among other things, the fact that the film shows Bonaparte during the execution of Queen Marie-Antoinette (where he was not supposed to have been). A scene with which the film begins.
Scott has made a film on the border between history and fiction. He constructs an interesting love and later friendship, both romantic and tragic. However, the relationship between the two, which forms the emotional core of the story, leaves you a bit cold. Two hours and 38 minutes is not long to cover the rise and fall of Napoleon in a detailed manner.
“Napoleon”: GB/USA 2023 158 min. Director: Ridley Scott, Evaluation: Four out of six stars
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I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
