by Foster Harlfinger, Contributing Writer
Though its subject requires little introduction, Napoleon takes a far less reverent approach than one might expect for one of history’s most notable and controversial military leaders. Chronicling Napoleon Bonaparte’s (Joaquin Phoenix) rise to power alongside his wife, Joséphine (Vanessa Kirby), through an episodic highlight reel of the French emperor’s most notable battlefield exploits, Napoleon is the largest-scale historical epic we have seen in years.
Ridley Scott, who at 85 years old shows no signs of slowing down, directs Napoleon with the energy of a man who has nothing to lose. Even despite the film’s digital cinematography and CGI-enhanced landscapes, with Scott behind the camera, Napoleon remains a visual spectacle from beginning to end. Isolated sequences of action and war, most notably the film’s thrilling depiction of the Battle of Austerlitz, ensure that Napoleon will thrive in the internet age. One can already envision countless moments from the film entering “Top 10 Epic Movie Scenes” compilations on YouTube or TikTok in due time. Even aside from the simple pleasure of seeing big things go kaboom, the sheer scope of the history captured onscreen is enough to make even the most incurious student eager to learn more about the Napoleonic era.
It can feel strange to offer sincere praise for a company that has so sinisterly monopolized the phone and computer market, but there is no denying that other streaming services could stand to learn a thing or two from Apple. In prioritizing quality over quantity, Apple TV+ sets itself apart as one of the clear leaders in the streaming wars. In a time when Netflix and Disney+ are throwing spaghetti to the wall in order to see what sticks, and while Max (formerly HBO Max) continues to inexplicably rebrand itself, Apple’s commitment to funding genuine auteurs like Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott, and allowing their films to have a substantial theatrical run, will undoubtedly pay off in the long run.
From a narrative perspective, Napoleon takes a decidedly more satirical approach to its central leader than would be found in your typical biopic film. While Napoleon’s skill as a military commander remains on display throughout, the film’s constant undermining of his reputation ensures that said skill is never the primary focus. Phoenix portrays Napoleon as an insecure man-child whose inflated sense of self backfires with increasingly comical line deliveries as the film wears on, none more memorable than Phoenix’s hilariously earnest reading of the line, “You think you’re so great because you have boats!” Scott and screenwriter David Scarpa’s take — as if there were any doubt — is confirmed by the decision to conclude the film’s third act with Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, leading to the decisive end of both the Napoleonic Wars and Napoleon’s reign as the Emperor of the French.
If the history of films like Fight Club and American Psycho is any indication, nothing will stop the increasingly large subset of media-illiterate viewers from the internet generation from having the subtext so obvious that it can hardly be called subtext from flying right over their heads. Napoleon, the character, feels bound to be misunderstood in much the same way as the leads of Killers of the Flower Moon or The Killer have been in just the past month. Whether Scott and Scarpa’s take on the controversial leader will land with general audiences remains to be seen, but it is fascinating to see the sheer volume of films made by cinema legends this year with unabashed contempt for their protagonists, albeit with varying degrees of humor.
For as grand as Napoleon’s historical and visual scope may be, the film’s somewhat narrow analysis of such a complicated figure, while entertaining, can feel disappointing given the immense potential of a historically accurate depiction of the Napoleonic era. One can only hope that the inevitable director’s cut will add the necessary depth to make Napoleon a must-see without any reservation, à la Kingdom of Heaven. In spite of its shortcomings, Scott’s biting sense of humor and unparalleled eye for visual spectacle makes Napoleon an easy film to recommend.
Rating: Liked It
Napoleon is currently playing in theaters
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