NAPOLEON

UK, 2023, 158 minutes, Colour.

Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Rupert Everett, Mark Bonnar, Paul Rhys, Ludivine Sagnier, Sinead Cusack, Ian McNeice.

Directed by Ridley Scott.

There has been a long tradition of films about Napoleon, especially the silent film classic of 927 by Abel Gance with its split screen technique. Since then many stars have played Napoleon, including Marlon Brando, Desiree, 1954, and Rod Steiger, Waterloo, 1975. He is a familiar historical figure. He is familiar cinema figure.

Which means that audiences will be bringing their own presuppositions about Napoleon to this interpretation, admiration for Napoleon and his leadership, especially in battle, intrigued curiosity about his ambitions and achievement, interest in the range of battles, no Trafalgar here, but Toulon, Austerlitz, Borodino and, of course, Waterloo.

There has been great admiration for the film. There has been some high criticism by those who feel they know Napoleon very well and are determined to highlight deficiencies in the writing by David Scarpa and in Ridley Scott’s direction. But, those caught up in the film, as was this reviewer, it is almost 3 hours of immersion in, firstly, the French Revolution and the execution of Marie Antoinette, the bloodthirsty crowds, the Republican independence, secondly the portrait of Napoleon himself, lowly from Corsica, skilled in battle, and tactics, perhaps, rather than overall strategies (which led to a number of victories but also to several downfalls, Moscow and Waterloo). And, thirdly, this immersion, lavish sets and decor, costumes of the period, as well as the close-ups of battle, cannon fire deafening, thunder of troops on horseback, the hand-to-hand combat make an impact.

There is also the question of the casting of Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon. Ridley Scott directed Phoenix as the Emperor in Gladiator, 2000, and the actor receiving an Oscar nomination. He has had a long career playing character actors, even to playing an older Jesus in the film, Mary Magdalene, 2018, and winning an Oscar for playing Joker (and he will appear in the sequel). Phoenix is rather short, especially in comparison with Vanessa Kirby’s Josephine, somewhat squat, not exactly an oil painting (although there are some sequences where he and Josephine pose for the official painter, Jacques-Louis David).

As portrayed by the screenplay, Napoleon comes across as quite single-minded, ambitious and vain, straightforward in intentions, step-by-step tactics, rather humourless, infatuated with Josephine but very blunt in his dealings with her at times, especially sexually, and preoccupied with having an heir.

Most audiences will know what happens to Napoleon and the end, disgrace, after the trek back from Moscow, exiled to Elba, his immediate escape, the ambitions at Waterloo.. Unlike defeated heroes in plays and novels, Napoleon did not tragically commit suicide. Rather, he went to the faraway island of St Helena for six years. Overreaching ambition and its consequences.

Audiences prepared for a cinema re-interpretation of Napoleon will be interested. Those who have formed their ideas about Napoleon have emerged as quite dissatisfied. This reviewer saw and enjoyed the film on the IMAX screen – and Napoleon himself would have wanted IMAX, or a large cinema, rather than on streaming where he will eventually find a more permanent home (a bit like six years at St Helena after the vastness of his battles).

1. Audience interest, common knowledge of, Napoleon military, political, personal? The literature on Napoleon, the range of films on Napoleon? This film as one interpretation?
2. The work of Ridley Scott, scope, spectacle, psychological understanding?
3. The length of the film (and 90 minutes more for streaming release)?
4. Widescreen photography, IMAX release, costumes and decor, the French Revolution, the military and battles, diplomacy, the more intimate scenes with Josephine? The cumulative effect of an impression of Napoleon? Some understanding?
5. Joaquin Phoenix is Napoleon, appearance, height, bulk, manner, minimum sense of humour, straightforward, tactics rather than strategy, ambition, vanity, never making mistakes, the influence of his brother in early years, the influence of his mother and her presence, ambition for an heir, the effect on to Josephine, disappointment in her, challenge, communications, love, the marriage, the coronation, the divorce? Her presence in his imagination?
6. The setting of the French Revolution, deposing Louis XVI, the arrest of Marie Antoinette, her children, in the tumbril, the scaffold, the fall of the guillotine, her head and the blood, and the effect on the crowds, baying for blood, and the subsequent theatre and show, macabre, the audience?
7. The use of the revolution, the Reign of Terror, Robespierre, conspiracy against him, challenged, the wound to his face, guillotine? The politicians of the time, their ideologies, revolutionary, anti-royalist?
8. Napoleon, from Corsica, lowly family, military, gunner, tactics, links with the leaders, the plan for Toulon, the siege, the British presence, lazy, the attack, the explosions, success? Setting Bonaparte on his military career? The succeeding years? The screenplay highlighting some of the battles, especially those in Egypt, the wonderful scenery, the opening of the tomb, the mummy and Napoleon touching it?
9. Josephine, freed from prison, keeping alive, two children, the first encounter with Napoleon, offhand, sending the boy for the father’s sabre, Napoleon delivering it, the relationship with Josephine? Napoleon, sexuality, blunt and direct? His absence in Egypt, the letters, the news of Josephine’s infidelity, the visuals? His return, the confrontation, his love for her, desire for an heir, his mother’s intervention, testing out on the young woman, her pregnancy and the birth, the buildup to the divorce, the signing, Josephine having to read aloud, and everything for the good of the state? And her ironic smile? Napoleon more deadpan and believing it?
10. Coronation scene, the background of the consuls, the coup d’état, Napoleon and his fear, the appeal to the military, entry into the hall, the confrontation, shooting? The sequences of the arrest of the consuls at home, the disappearance? 2004, the Pope’s presence, compensatory, Napoleon taking the crown, lifting it, his words about dusty it, placing it on his head, crowning Josephine?
11. France, the Empire, audience knowing the background of Napoleon and his structures, currency, legislation… This is not part of this film? The military ambitions, the hostility to England, wanting to have forces going into Asia to thwart England? No Nelson or Trafalgar in the film?
12. The buildup to Austerlitz, the hostility with the Tsar, with the King of Austria, the combining, the troops, the battlefield, Napoleon and his tactics, battle on the ice, his victory, the number of dead, meeting the King, toasting peace? And the later combining of forces, Napoleon and the ambition to conquer Russia?
13. Audience familiarity with the invasion of Russia, the summer of 2012, the number of forces, the long trek, the battle of Borodino, the number dead, moving towards Moscow, the deserted city, the inhabitants burning it? The trek back, the winter, the death of the troops, carving horsemeat for survival?
14. Napoleon and his return, held to account by the government, his disgrace, sentenced to elbow, the financial considerations, for his family, for Josephine?
15. The time on Elba, his being homesick, the decision to leave, the landing, confrontation of the troops, their loyalty, his marching through France, towards Waterloo?
16. The British, trade and empire, attitude towards France, trade with Moscow and the decision of the Tsar? Wellington, the preparations?
17. The situation of Waterloo, Napoleon and his confidence, the British, keeping the high ground, inviting a head on confrontation, the Prussian troops and their delay? The attack, canonfire, the troops, hand-to-hand? The Prussians, the retreat, the defeat?
18. His presence on the galley, with the midshipman, Wellington, disdain for Napoleon?
19. The British, the sentence to St Helena, Napoleon and the humiliation, six years on the island, the brief glimpse of his loneliness, the memories of Josephine, the visuals, her contact with the Tsar?
20. The overall impression of the film, the experience of the Napoleonic era, Napoleon himself, Josephine, Emperor, general and battles, ultimate defeat?