Napoleon (2023)

User Review

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  ScreenZealots

  4 / 10

  Overblown, overly ambitious, self-indulgent, and intolerably dull, director Ridley Scott‘s historical epic “Napoleon” is a total misfire. His biopic of one of the world’s most notorious figures is less of a grand scale spectacle and more of a foolproof cure for insomnia. Despite strong performances from Vanessa Kirby and Joaquin Phoenix and a couple of inspired battlefield action scenes, this film is one of the major disappointments of the year.
  
  The epic film tells the story of the rise and fall of relentless French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (Phoenix) and his volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine (Kirby). Detailing his visionary military and political tactics and recreating the most significant battles, the narrative begins with the 1789 French Revolution and follows the timeline all the way up until Napoleon’s death.
  
  The film plays out like a dry classroom lecture that’s interspersed with eye-popping battle sequences, and Scott assumes his audience has more than a basic knowledge of French and world history (a refresher is in order before embarking on this journey). Not only is the narrative not easy to follow, but his storytelling is messy and rambling, which leaves a lot of uncertainty as to what the director’s vision actually was. This is a film that lacks focus but is also incredibly detailed, and it’s one that wore me down. I cannot describe the sense of relief that washed over me when they finally got to the battle at Waterloo.
  
  As with most large scale cinematic spectacles, the production design is outstanding and the period costumes are extraordinary. Scott brings history to life with scenes of combat that don’t ignore the massive death toll for which Napoleon was responsible. The film features bloody, gory wartime violence towards both people and animals, and after many repetitive scenes of devastating conflicts, it becomes clear that Scott doesn’t know when enough is enough.
  
  The one exception is the absolutely thrilling and jaw-dropping depiction of the 1805 Battle of Austerlitz, one of the most important engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. It has long been studied and revered as a tactical masterpiece, and Scott’s depiction of a frozen lake turned into a bloodbath is by far the best and most memorable part of the film.
  
  “Napoleon” feels like it was a passion project for the director and as a result, it often comes across as a case of Scott being too in love with his subject. The film is tedious, cluttered, and a major letdown.
  
  By: Louisa Moore for SCREEN ZEALOTS

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