❗❗MILD SPOILERS SO BE WARNED IF YOU ARE YET TO SEE THE FILM❗❗
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Directed by Ridley Scott
Genre is war/action/drama/romance/biopic
Duration is 2hr 38min
Written by H.E. Smale
A few weeks ago, I ventured out to watch Ridley Scott's new blockbuster, Napoleon. A wartime biopic which follows French emperor and military commander Napoleon Bonaparte (played by Joaquin Pheonix) through his ruthless and swift climb to power and his turbulent relationship with his wife Josephine (played by Vanessa Kirby).
I was very excited to see this film, after first viewing the trailer around the time of Oppenheimer and being intrigued by the premise of another biopic film.
Like Oppenheimer, I had little to no prior knowledge of Napoleon Bonaparte, but I didn't see it as a problem, and instead saw it as an opportunity to learn about the man.
After seeing the film I can say that the lack of knowledge didn't serve me as well this time around. I had far more trouble trying to understand what was going on. While I did experience these issues with Oppenheimer I did still have some context to the events surrounding the atomic bomb and was able to piece events together by the end. Additionally, the film was visually stunning, so even when I didn't fully understand what was happening on screen, it was still a unique experience to watch.
That's not to say that Napoleon didn't leave me amazed. There were definitely scenes that blew me away. But overall, it was a more traditional biopic, and not having background knowledge left me stranded for answers in many scenes.
So, here are some of the main takeaways I had after watching Napoleon.
The Battle Scenes
Throughout the film, I found the most impactful scenes to be the battle sequences with their shockingly gritty and gory nature.
Simply put, the battles were graphic. No question.
From seeing a horse's chest blown open from a canon ball to hundreds of men sinking into the icy black depths of a frozen lake, these scenes left me speechless and stunned.
But I'm not saying this was a bad thing.
Yes, the scenes surprised me, but that shows how powerful they were and how ruthless and coordinated Napoleon was on the battlefield.
Now, there have been many disputes about the historical accuracy (or lack thereof) regarding the film, but as I am not knowledgeable on the history of Napoleon, I'm just looking at the film, and I think these battle scenes are where Pheonix's portrayal of Napoleon shines.
At the start, we see a younger man eager to rise in the ranks, and during the heat of battle he is scared, but he is also fearless, charging into the chaos alongside his men.
The Battle of Austerlitz (the best battle from the film, for me) is where I perceived his ruthlessness and gift at tactical warfare to be most prominent. Watching him drive the enemy troops right where he wants them - the frozen lake - all so that he can finish them off by unleashing a downpour of cannon fire was chilling but brilliant. And he does it all standing up atop a hill, watching the chaos down below with a blank expression.
You are gaping at the brutality but in awe of the design.
Finally, at Waterloo, we see the ego and hope shatter. Napoleon admits his defeat and surrenders with dignity - the only thing he can do as he is outnumbered and surrounded.
The sequences between the battles are where I found Pheonix's performance to be more stoic and harder to read. Or the complete opposite as Napoleon was almost wingy and egocentric. And since the film doesn't delve into his past or give much information into exploring why Napoleon was the way he was, it's interesting to see his personality shine more in the battles and reflect who he was at the different stages of his life.
The Tone
Shortly after watching the film, the first description that my brain came up with was 'comical absurdity interspersed with moments of intense brutality'.
By this, I was mainly referring to the battle scenes and moments of the film that would suddenly cut from a conversation to the middle of a very unromantic, animalistic sex scene that left me and others in the cinema laughing in awkwardness and shock. There was no build-up, no foreplay, no shared whispers between lovers in a warm embrace.
Nope just cut and BAM there they are.
People say that chivalry is dead, and in this film, it was. But then that is where the 'comical absurdity' is born. Instead of Napoleon taking Josephine in his arms and cherishing her, he stomps his foot like a horse, crawls towards her under a table growling, or makes an odd fish-like noise to approach her. And all the while, her response is either laughing at his nonsense or dismissing him before she finally relents and gives in.
Romance is nonexistent in this film. And yet, the obsession and "love" they share for one another is evident. At times, it appears they truly despise each other yet they cannot fathom leaving - they crave one another. It's hard to determine who holds the most power over the other.
Pacing
Overall, I did feel that the film dragged on, especially towards the end.
I think the changing of tones from one scene to the next so quickly and frequently left me feeling tired, and as the film is two and a half hours anyway, I was starting to feel it towards the end.
Moments in battle would have more urgency and pace, whereas other scenes would slow down. With all the stopping and starting, by the end, I was beginning to wonder when it would be over.
It's the type of film that, if I watched it again (which I would, to get a better understanding), it would be at home where I can pause if need be, and focus more on the film without my senses being overwhelmed.
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