After releasing two films back to back in 2021 – The Last Duel and House of Gucci – legendary British filmmaker Ridley Scott returns with one of the most anticipated productions of the year. His latest film is an epic historical drama that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
Napoleon features a breathtakingly precise performance by Joaquin Phoenix (Walk The Line, Joker, Beau Is Afraid) as the Corsica-born historical figure. Elsewhere, Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman, Dead Reckoning Part I) delivers an exhilarating turn as his wife, Empress Josephine. The film is a joint production between Sony Pictures Releasing and Apple Original Films, with a longer version of the production said to be making its way to Apple TV+ later.
After the French revolution of 1789, France was plunged into a period of chaos and anarchy which led to the demise of several French aristocratic families and their supporters. After a series of successful military wins against the Brits, a young Napoleon Bonaparte seeks to position himself as the new leader of the country. While not entirely convinced by his credentials to start with, the revolutionary committee has no choice but to award him the grand title of Emperor of France as a sign of respect for his numerous conquests in the East and in Europe.
Meanwhile, Napoleon meets and falls madly in love with French revolution widow, the fragrant libertine Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie. The two marry and Josephine becomes empress of France. Through the prism of his determination to conquer the world and his unhinged demands for adulation and respect, we follow their volatile relationship as a couple who can’t seem to live without one another.
Never known to do things by half, Scott delivers one of his best films since the release of Gladiator twenty-three years ago. Napoleon is not only incredibly precise and masterfully acted, it is also a film that knows its audience inside out. There is so much about Napoleon which feels so perfectly realised that one wonders if anyone but Ridley could have achieved such a task.
Expect Oscar nominations aplenty for everyone, including for Phoenix and Kirby, but one has to also spotlight Tahar Rahim for his beautiful depiction of French revolutionary figure Paul Barras. For his part, Ben Miles does a fantastic job as Caulaincourt, while Rupert Everett is suitably pompous and self congratulatory as Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington. This was genuinely thrilling!
