“Napoleon” Review

Empty Theater Perfect for Seeing the Next Big Movie. Photo via Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels

Every Thanksgiving brings about the release of major movies, and this year, “Napoleon” arrived in theatres. Directed by Ridley Scott, known for many critically acclaimed works such as “Alien,” “Gladiator” and “Blade Runner,” it’s no mistake to assume his next project would be nothing short of phenomenal. With Joaquin Phoenix playing the lead role, “Napoleon” seemed bound for greatness. However, it ultimately fell short due to its slow pacing and bloated runtime.

The movie begins amid the Reign of Terror, where Marie Antoinette is executed through a bloody beheading, giving the film an exciting beginning. It then follows Napoleon Bonaparte climbing through the military ranks, winning battles, and gaining popularity until he eventually becomes the Emperor of France. The film takes off from there as the audience tags along with the notorious legend through his gradual conquest of various lands and through his passionate love life with his wife, Josephine. The film exceeded all expectations with its visuals, but the story’s deliverance is muddled.

“Napoleon'' is lavished with gorgeous sets, extravagant costumes, impeccable make-up and set designs that look almost too authentic to be seen in a motion picture. The acting adds to this with outstanding performances from Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby that can make one swear they might as well have been the actual Napoleon and Josephine.

Yet, the beauty is tainted by the film’s excruciatingly slow pacing that intends for a slow burn but results in a loss of time that could’ve been utilized for more action-packed scenes. On top of this, the 2:40:00 runtime feels stretched and unnecessarily long.

Although “Napoleon” has its evident shortcomings, it’s easy to notice the hard work put into each scene, as every individual sequence is intricately produced in more ways than one. It’s more of a misfire when compared to many other works by Scott, but it still has a lot going for it.

Whether “Napoleon” will stand the test of time is unknown, but the film’s breathtaking eye candy and revitalization of an unforgettable legacy is a guaranteed ticket to keep it afloat for a time. You don’t have to rush to theaters to see it – seeing it on a streaming service may be a better option – but it should be a must-watch for history buffs and anyone who wants to check out a solid biopic on the infamous Napoleon.