Review: Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' proves to be a dispassionate experience

More than 200 years after his death, Napoleon Bonaparte still looms large as a historical figure.

But cinematically, in director-writer Ridley Scott’s survey of the man and his perceived legend in "Napoleon," which hit theaters nationwide Nov. 22, we’re given a definitively understated portrayal from a unique perspective.

For a figure that possesses legend to go with deed, "Napoleon" features subtlety over spectacle as Scott, directing from a script from David Scarpa (“All the Money in the World”), tells the story of a man whose war efforts accounted for 3 million dead soldiers.

Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix, who previously worked with Scott on “Gladiator,” stars as the famed French emperor.

But “Napoleon” lacks the epic quality the audience might be anticipating with the subject matter. To be sure, the movie is gorgeously made with well-staged battle scenes, but they feel pedestrian, as if there’s not much at stake, when we know there’s plenty on the line as Napoleon looks to leave his legacy on Europe and the world.

That may be due to the way Scott and Scarpa chose to filter the story, doing so by taking us into the inner workings of Napoleon and his soulmate Josephine’s (Vanessa Kirby) time together as spouses and post-divorce “friends.”

We’re meant to believe theirs was an obsessive love, and that passion seemingly served as one of the prime motivations in Bonaparte’s ascension to the French throne as emperor and everything he attempted — and accomplished — in his country’s name.

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Their relationship proves fascinating as it alternates between that passion and mutual loathing that manifests when Napoleon realizes Josephine cannot provide him with the male heir he — and his mother — desperately crave and views as necessary to keep France and its lineage strong. No, it’s not really surprising to see mommy issues depicted given that situation.

What is surprising, however, is the fact that “Napoleon” possesses a lighter-than-expected tone to go with the exploration of obsessive love and the blood and guts of the battle scenes.

It’s an interesting choice that doesn’t ultimately serve the topic or the film well. However, to Scott’s credit, he directs those battle sequences well, and in Phoenix as Napoleon, he has a seemingly enthusiastic collaborator.

Phoenix’s Napoleon, for want of a better term, is an odd duck, distant and seemingly incapable of any outward display of emotion. He’s dispassionate during intimacy with the alleged love of his life. He’s emotionless when talking about the glory for which he fights. He’s even stoic while divorcing Josephine. It’s an interesting performance.

Countering him is Kirby as Josephine, who is his opposite in almost every way. Watching their interplay proves intriguing.

However, “Napoleon” lands with an epic thud as opposed to just being epic. That’s disappointing for anyone who had this one circled on their calendar for the holiday movie-going season.

George M. Thomas dabbles in movies and television for the Beacon Journal.

Review

Movie: “Napoleon”

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Rupert Everett, Ian McNeice

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Running time: 2 hours 38 minutes

Rated: R for strong violence, some grisly images, sexual content and brief language

Grade: B-

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Review: Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' proves to be emotionless experience