The Stream: Disjointed storylines make the film drag.

The Big Screen: Incredible and dynamic battle sequences.

The Final Bill: An odd biopic/war movie that has great performances, battle sequences and a love story crammed in.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Ridley Scott
Writers: David Scarpa
Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Rupert Everett
Genre: Biography, War, Drama, Action
Rating: R for strong violence, some grisly images, sexual content and brief language
Runtime: 2 hours 29 minutes
Production Companies: Apple Studios, Scott Free Productions
Platform: In theaters November 22, 2023
Notable Trailers: Arthur the King, Ferrari, Argylle, Madame Web, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Alright, Streamers! Here’s another biographical film for you to consider this awards season. The master director of epic movies and battle sequences, Ridley Scott, has made a new film about the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, appropriately titled Napoleon. Unlike many biopics, this movie does not tell Napoleon’s story from cradle to grave, but it focuses on the years he actively participates in and benefits from the French Revolution. Here’s whether this epic earns its runtime.

Napoleon begins with Napoleon Bonaparte, played by Joaquin Phoenix, as a young army officer witnessing the throes of the French Revolution. There’s bloodshed and chaos. An ambitious Napoleon steps up to lead the army in multiple battles as part of the Revolution. The film depicts these epic battles and contrasts it with Napoleon’s tumultuous relationship with Josephine (Vanessa Kirby), who eventually becomes his wife. Love and war hijinks ensue.

Ridley Scott really is a master at directing battle sequences. These scenes are so epic. They fill up the screen. There is so much to look at, and Scott commands the action as deftly as Napoleon did during the height of his powers. Moreover, Scott does not shy away from how gruesome war can be. Some of these sequences can drag on, which is part of why the runtime is 2 and a half hours.  I’m sure some editing could have been done. 

The quieter scenes between Napoleon and Josephine are truly odd. There’s an odd tone and tension in the Napoleon and Josephine relationship. Phoenix does a great job of portraying the emperor as a controlling and petulant man. He has a perpetual sneer, but he’s also pretty pitiable. Kirby is great as a foil to Napoleon.  She’s self-possessed and strong. She goes toe-to-toe with Phoenix and makes these interactions compelling despite how dragged out they feel.

Production values are awesome, of course. The costumes are great. The setting and production design are opulent and a feast for the eyes. There also has to be some great visual effects going on. I can’t believe that they had a million extras playing soldiers. Nevertheless, Napoleon is exhausting and tiresome at the same time. It feels disjointed because it is part war movie and part love story when it should have chosen one or the other.

Ultimately, Napoleon is a sprawling, epic film with dynamic battle sequences and good performances. Because it wants to be a love story as well as a war movie, the film’s runtime seems just as epic making the film drag in places. Despite all of that, the production values are good, and the scale makes it worthy of seeing on the big screen at least at a matinee price. Grab a bowl of popcorn and a baguette.