You could argue that every Ridley Scott film is a coin flip, but we’ll always turn up when the Alien and Blade Runner director turns his hand to a sweeping historical epic. And so, we are deathlessly excited about Napoleon.
How to watch Napoleon in the UK
Napoleon is currently screening in UK cinemas.
What is Napoleon about?
We’re onto a good thing here; the last time Scott dealt with the Napoleonic era we got The Duellists. This time we’re getting the Emperor himself, with Joaquin Phoenix essaying the title role in a film that follows Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power in post-revolutionary France, promising “a spectacle-filled action epic that details the checkered rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.”
Indeed, a good six of Napoleon’s 81-odd battles are included, which sounds like a good chunk of its generous 157-minute running time. It also purports to be a pretty merciless psychological portrait of the Emperor, so that should be fun.
The cast of Napoleon
Joaquin Phoenix is Napoleon Bonaparte; Vanessa Kirby is Empress Joséphine, replacing original choice Jodie Comer; and Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, Ludivine Sagnier, Matthew Needham, Youssef Kerkour, Phil Cornwell and Ian McNiece round out the sprawling ensemble.
Napoleon trailer
What are the critics saying about Napoleon?
Generally favourable, with some caveats, which is about what we expected, to be honest. While Sir Ridley brings all the requisite sturm und drang, people seem to be surprised that it’s apparently very funny, perhaps having missed that about half of Scott’s filmography is devoted to satirising the powerful and self-aggrandising. Just look at House of Gucci and All the Money in the World. Best case scenario is that it’s another historical banger from the cigar-chomping legend that will be critically reappraised in about a decade or so.
