Condensing down the life of one of history’s more complex characters into a film-length expose was never going to be easy. Adding director Ridley Scott to the project was no real surprise as he is known for his more bombastic approach and this made sense for the view of a fierce warrior’s life. What resulted however was not what was expected.
Scott and writer David Scarpa have chosen to focus more on the relationship between Napoleon (Joaquin Phoenix) and his wife Josephine (Vanessa Kirby). Theirs was a dysfunctional union not helped in the least by the temper of the times and Napoleon’s odd nature and habits. Scott’s forcefulness with action sequences is also reduced and this seems an odd choice.
One battle scene however is very effective and it is based on what is generally considered one of his greatest victories called the Battle of Austerlitz. The visuals are stunning and the carnage overwhelming and even though great artistic license was taken with the facts, it’s still the high point of the film action-wise. Elsewhere the colours and actions of the hostilities are strangely muted.
There are so many contradictory views and opinions about the life and times of Napoleon Bonaparte that it would be impossible to do more than scratch the surface with a normal-length film. Focusing on limited aspects of his life may make sense on paper but up on the big screen the lack of engagement engendered by this approach is slightly maddening and does a disservice to one of history’s great eccentrics.
Rob Hudson
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