Napoleon Movie Spoiler Review- Flawed Portrait of a Complex Figure
Ridley Scott's Napoleon is a visually stunning and ambitious film that chronicles the rise and fall of one of history's most iconic figures. The movie depicts some of the best war battles in movie history and an unconventional love story. However, the film has historical inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and a disjointed narrative.
*** 1/2
Starring:-
Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte
Vanessa Kirby as Empress Joséphine
Release Date:- November 22, 2023 (In Theaters)
Director:- Ridley Scott
Writer:- David Scarpa
Running time:- 157 minutes
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Plot Synopsis (Napolean Spoilers Ahead)
The movie shows how misery led to the French Revolution, which, in turn, led to even more misery. Marie Antoinette is shown being guillotined, with a young Napoleon Bonaparte watching.
Napoleon rose to power by successfully managing the Siege of Toulon in 1793 and other battles. After the Reign of Terror, Napoleon and other leaders sought stability instead of terror or chaos.
Napoleon falls in love with Josephine de Beauharnais and marries her despite their inability to have children. However, when Napoleon hears of Josephine's infidelity, he rushes back from Egypt to confront her.
Napoleon became First Consul and later Emperor, crowned by the Pope in 1804. He won many battles, including the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 and the Battle of Borodino in 1812, but also suffered heavy losses.
His mother has him impregnate a mistress to prove he is fertile. He divorces Josephine in 1810, publicly slapping her in the face when she refuses to read her portion of the decree, though she eventually complies. Napoleon divorces Josephine and marries Marie Louise of Austria, who bears him a son. However, Napoleon's love for Josephine continues.
The Allied Powers forced Napoleon's abdication in 1814, exiling him to Elba. However, he escaped and returned to power, only to be defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Napoleon is exiled to the island of St. Helena and presents to his listeners a version of history where he is always right and others are wrong. He dies in 1821, as he hears Josephine beckon him to meet her again.
The movie ends with words on the screen noting that roughly 3 million people died in Napoleon's wars.
Napolean Movie Analysis and Breakdown
Ridley Scott's Napolean is a 2-hour, 40-minute feature with historically inaccurate moments. The development of Napoleon's life in the movie feels disjointed and lacks flow. The movie skips through periods and battles without seamless transitions. The long runtime doesn't provide enough time to tell the story effectively.
Napoleon Movie's hunger and love for France led to his downfall and exile. The Battle of Waterloo was the movie's highlight, showcasing Napoleon's love for France. Napoleon's invasion of Russia in winter resulted in a significant loss of men.
Napolean Movie's battle scenes are some of the best war scenes in cinema history. The movie emphasized Napoleon's intelligence in planning battles, even in enemy territory. The battle scenes showed the death and devastation, capturing the claustrophobic nature of close-range combat.
Joaquin Phoenix's performance as Napoleon was visually appealing and impressive. Napoleon's character in the movie portrayed him as a cold and emotionless individual, except for moments when he showed true emotion. The movie effectively conveyed Napoleon's presence on the battlefield and his ability to influence others, as demonstrated in various scenarios, such as his return from exile to Elba.
Vanessa Kirby's portrayal of Empress Joséphine is one of the best in the movie. Despite the presence of Director Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix, she has done a great job and, in some scenes, has a standout performance. However, her character's death is depicted differently compared to real life. Napoleon learned of Josephine's death while he was in Elba. Despite their divorce, Napoleon continued to write to Josephine, showcasing his unconditional love. Her name was one of his last words before he died, highlighting the depth of their connection.
Historical Inaccuracies and Inconsistency
The movie is filled with historical inaccuracies and a lot of inconsistencies. Such as In real life, Napoleon learned of Josephine's death while he was on Elba. One of the inaccuracies in the movie is the depiction of Napoleon's invasion of Russia. The movie shows the campaign in winter, resulting in a significant loss of men. However, historically, Napoleon's ill-fated Russian campaign took place during the summer. This deviation from reality might disappoint history enthusiasts but serves to enhance the film's dramatic elements.
Despite the movie's strengths, it does suffer from some inconsistencies. Characters are introduced with importance, but their storylines are not followed up on, leaving the audience wanting more. The inconsistent accents add to the confusion, making it harder to connect with the characters. Additionally, the grading of the film sometimes feels modern and dark, slightly detracting from the historical setting.
Conclusion
Despite its flaws, the Napoleon movie provides an intriguing glimpse into the life and impact of Napoleon Bonaparte. Its highlights include the unconventional love story with Josephine, the portrayal of Napoleon's strategic brilliance, the unwavering loyalty of his soldiers, and powerful battle scenes. However, inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and a disjointed narrative detract from the overall experience. Approach the movie with an open mind, and you'll find moments that captivate and inspire or wait for its Apple TV release if you are unsure about watching it on the big screen. The movie should have worked as a TV show much better.
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