Ridley Scott directing a historic film about Napoleon Bonaparte played by Joaquin Phoenix sounds like a surefire win. Through extraordinary battle sequences, fantastic costuming, beautiful set designs, and humorous albeit dark character details, NAPOLEON delivers in many aspects. However, at two and half hours, the film also meanders without much purpose. Perhaps my expectations were set a bit too high, but NAPOLEON, while visually spectacular, feels more like a let down than a successful victory.
NAPOLEON follows the rise of French military commander and political leader Napoleon Bonaparte. A ruthless war strategist, Napoleon was also considered a tyrant and a liberator. The film shifts focus back and forth between Napoleon’s war life and his love life. Demonstrating his merciless brutality through elaborate and stunning battlefield productions, the military tactical sequences are quite impressive. His obsession with his wife, Empress Josephine, played by Vanessa Kirby, showcases disturbing and sometimes humorous depictions of a problematic relationship, to say the least.
The parallels between these two battles, with armies or with his wife, is more interesting in theory than actually shown. Taking lives on a battlefield is somehow less volatile than relationship fights and I respect the visual dynamic that director Ridley Scott is able to showcase. I will say, I like the film more as I think about this correlation rather than watching it unfold on the screen.
Both leads are phenomenal. Phoenix brings an edge that is both vulnerable and commanding. Although I think it’s the humor within the character’s coldness, arrogance, and sometimes foolishness that only Phoenix is able to deliver that raises the film. Likewise, Vanessa Kirby strikes several emotions simply within her body language and stare that create much of the character and the dynamic in their marriage.
I’m not sure how the film needed to be edited, either scenes cut or added, but NAPOLEON is a bit disjointed leaving me feeling slightly empty. From the guy who directed emotionally staged battle sequences filled with tension in BLACK HAWK DOWN and GLADIATOR, I found the final battle scene in particular, while visually impressive, a bit dull. And while I appreciate the juxtaposition and sometimes humor of Napoleon’s life, I never actually invested any care or interest even from a historical point of view. NAPOLEON is interesting. Unfortunately, I was never interested. That’s not to say the film doesn’t create some great moments or is without merit. But by the end I kept thinking of that famous GLADIATOR line, “Are you not entertained?” Well… no, not completely… I mean, it’s okay. Much like the film, I feel like my answer is a bit ambivalent.
