Napoleon is the latest film by Ridley Scott. Aside from Oppenheimer, this was the film I was most excited to see this year. Happily, just like Oppenheimer, the film did not disappoint. While I didn't think this film was as good as Oppenheimer, it still met my expectations.
I'm a long-time Ridley Scott fan. He's still one of the best directors who ever lived, and one of the best still working. Not all of his movies are high quality. Prometheus and Alien Covenant weren't that great, admittedly. But, he has far more hits than misses in my book. Blade Runner, Gladiator, and Kingdom of Heaven are among my favorite movies of all-time. Alien is a classic. Black Hawk Down, Body of Lies, American Gangster, and the Martian are all good if not great. The Last Duel and House of Gucci are also really good, and I find pretty underrated by people. I don't even mind Exodus Gods and Kings or Robin Hood.
While I wouldn't say Napoleon is peak Ridley Scott, it's still a really good movie. It's a great-looking movie. Ridley Scott always delivers a visual spectacle in his pictures, even his lesser quality ones. The battles were also great. They're not the best I've seen in a Ridley Scott film, but they're fun and grand in scale.
Everyone turns in a great performance. I know people complain that almost no one in the film speaks French, or even attempts a French accent. But I can forgive something like that if the movie is working on the important levels. Joaquin Pheonix's performance through me off at first. He plays a more subdued Napoleon, for the most part, which I'm not used to seeing. I suppose that was how Napoleon truly was in life.
Another major complaint lodged at this film is how much focus the movie gave Napoleon's relationship with Josephine. Sure, some of those scenes were slow and sometimes unneeded, it didn't bother me that much. Aside from those scenes, I thought the movie went at a good pace. In fact, I wouldn't have minded if the film was a bit longer. Even if it was as long as Oppenheimer, I doubt I would've complained.
Overall, you should give this film a chance if you're a fan of historical epics or are just a fan of Ridley Scott. In a year of underwhelming blockbusters, it's both awesome and sad to see long-time filmmaking legends like Christopher Nolan Martin Scorsese, and Ridley Scott really keeping the industry afloat producing quality films and proving they still got it.
I'm a long-time Ridley Scott fan. He's still one of the best directors who ever lived, and one of the best still working. Not all of his movies are high quality. Prometheus and Alien Covenant weren't that great, admittedly. But, he has far more hits than misses in my book. Blade Runner, Gladiator, and Kingdom of Heaven are among my favorite movies of all-time. Alien is a classic. Black Hawk Down, Body of Lies, American Gangster, and the Martian are all good if not great. The Last Duel and House of Gucci are also really good, and I find pretty underrated by people. I don't even mind Exodus Gods and Kings or Robin Hood.
While I wouldn't say Napoleon is peak Ridley Scott, it's still a really good movie. It's a great-looking movie. Ridley Scott always delivers a visual spectacle in his pictures, even his lesser quality ones. The battles were also great. They're not the best I've seen in a Ridley Scott film, but they're fun and grand in scale.
Everyone turns in a great performance. I know people complain that almost no one in the film speaks French, or even attempts a French accent. But I can forgive something like that if the movie is working on the important levels. Joaquin Pheonix's performance through me off at first. He plays a more subdued Napoleon, for the most part, which I'm not used to seeing. I suppose that was how Napoleon truly was in life.
Another major complaint lodged at this film is how much focus the movie gave Napoleon's relationship with Josephine. Sure, some of those scenes were slow and sometimes unneeded, it didn't bother me that much. Aside from those scenes, I thought the movie went at a good pace. In fact, I wouldn't have minded if the film was a bit longer. Even if it was as long as Oppenheimer, I doubt I would've complained.
Overall, you should give this film a chance if you're a fan of historical epics or are just a fan of Ridley Scott. In a year of underwhelming blockbusters, it's both awesome and sad to see long-time filmmaking legends like Christopher Nolan Martin Scorsese, and Ridley Scott really keeping the industry afloat producing quality films and proving they still got it.
