Movie Review: Napoleon

I've written numerous posts now about French history and culture, so it should come as no surprise as to how excited I was for this film. Especially for this content pertaining to the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte (see French Revolution, French Revolutionary Wars, Napoleonic Wars) some of my favorite historical material. Even more so this film had two names from my all time favorite film of Gladiator, it's director Ridley Scott and the starting role of Napoleon played by Joaquin Phoenix. Then there was the stunning up-and-coming actress Vanessa Kirby who continues to allure on the big screen. The previews looked amazing, a true historical epic meant to be experienced on the big screen. I just saw the film yesterday with Philip and Shawnna and can gladly say it lived up to my high expectations. 

My general perception of Napoleon was that he was a conquering tyrant, no different than Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar. He restored France to the precipice of world power, following it's dissolution of their monarchy.  He was best renown for his genius military tactics and won many battles throughout Europe. However his thirst for power ultimately led to his downfall and the cause of many unnecessary deaths. There is often great debate as to whether Napoleon was good or bad, which surely would depend on who you ask. However one thing cannot be denied, was that he was a great historical military leader. 

The Premise

The movie begins with the public execution of Marie Antoinette, as she slowly approaches her historical fate with the guillotine. I have seen this historical event portrayed in various other films, but this was by far the best done. With top quality setting, costumes, and filming I could tell this film was going to provide some great historical insight. I love historical biopics mostly because they give us a real idea how the event might have looked and unfolded. Well that was certainly the case of this film. Following the death of Marie Antoinette, the title was revealed and the story began. 

At the time Napoleon was a young up-and-coming captain in the French Army loyal to the new council that had replaced the monarchy. He led an assault on the royalist fort Toulon in 1793 which captured his brilliance yet early nerves. His horse was blown apart in a very graphic scene. Following this successful siege, Napoleon is promoted to general of the French Republic Army. Meanwhile there is a political shift within the French Directory where the revolutionary leader, Maximilien Robespierre is overthrown and executed (in a rather graphic failed suicide attempt with a shot to his face). This ended the Reign of Terror and many political enemies were released from prison, including the widow, Josephine de Beauharnais. 

After Napoleon defends the Republic once again against a royalist insurrection, the 13 Vendemiarie  1795, he begins to court the beautiful Josephine. They quickly get married and have a complicated and sexual relationship that bears no children. In 1798 Napoleon leads the French Army to success in Egypt at the Battle of the Pyramids, however returns home when he discovers his wife has been sleeping with a lover. The Republic Council question him for deserting the Egyptian war, however he questions them with the poor economy of the nation. He then overthrows the directory and establishes the French Consultate which is split into three leaders, and later replaced by a French Empire in 1804 where Napoleon becomes the sole ruler and military dictator of France. 

During this time Napoleon continues to have a toxic relation with his wife Josephine, whom he loves yet desires an heir. He goes off to fight against Austria and Russia and achieves a monumental victory at the Battle of Austerlitz. He later realizes that Josephine is infertile and must divorce her, so that he can have a proper male heir to his throne. This is difficult for the both of them, but they get thru it and remain close friends exchanging letters. Napoleon marries the princess of Austria and she bears him a child in 1810. A couple years later Napoleon invades Moscow which begins his downfall. He first achieves a significant victory at the Battle of Bordino yet then arrives to an abandoned Moscow. The city mysteriously erupts into flames, and Napoleon must return home to France. During the harsh Russian winter, many of his soldiers die due to the harsh conditions, sickness, and starvation. 

His retreat from Russia in 1812, was Napoleon's greatest defeat and left him rather unguarded in the Sixth Coalition of 1813-1814. Napoleon did not have sufficient army to fight against the allied coalition of Russia, Prussia, and Britain, and was thus forced to abdicate his throne. He was exiled to the island of Elba, off the Italian coast. During this time his ex-wife Josephine grows sick and he becomes enraged and decides to return to France. He is somehow able to return to power, in a period known as the Hundred Days, thru loyalty of his army. Reinstated as emperor he quickly mobilizes his army after Britain, Prussia, and Russia declare war on France. This leads to the famous Battle of Waterloo in 1815, where Napoleon is finally defeated by the Duke of Wellington. He somehow survives the battlefield and is once again exiled to a far away island. On the Island of St. Helen he is left with fewer resources and spends his final 6 years of his life there. His final words before his death are France, army, and Josephine. 

The Review

I was greatly satisfied with the quality of this film, especially it's large scale battle-scenes. The battles of Austerlitz and Waterloo were very impressive to see on the big screen. I was also very intrigued by the historical content pertaining to the political infighting amongst revolutionaries such as Robespierre, the French Directory, the Royalists, and the establishment of the French Consulate, and finally the French Empire. I would certainly like to watch this movie several more times just to better understand the civil political conflict going on here. The acting, setting, costumes, and filming were all top quality with great performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby, worthy at least of Academy nominations in my opinion.

Aside from it's beautiful historical imagery, the biggest downfall in this film was a rather weak story. It was certainly nowhere near the artistic quality of Ridley Scott's Gladiator. Of course we knew it would be a rushed biopic about Napoleon's militaristic life, yet if only they could have driven deeper into his personal character. Instead we got a very complicated relationship with Josephine, where it was hard to understand if she really loved him or not. Napoleon was portrayed as a brute with a soft side for Josephine, who certainly loved her but he did not respect her. Josephine on the other hand was equally portrayed as conflicted with the relationship, at first disgusted by him but later unwilling to divorce him (likely due to the wealth and power she had acquired from their marriage). Their interactions with each other were shared more by intense looks rather than dialogue. 

Vanessa Kirby for me is a major appeal to this movie, not only for her sheer beauty but her overall performance. She was without question the right choice to play an empress of France, as she illuminated royalty with her powerful voice and stares. Joaquin Phoenix is also the right choice to play this rather dark figure of Napoleon, who ultimately was very self-centered and only cared about his own personal glory. I'm sure there may be some historical critiques who think Joaquin's physical appearance and performance wasn't suited for the real Napoleon (just by looking at art alone). But to counter that I would argue that Joaquin Phoenix is such a great and acclaimed actor that he can still pass off as this great French historical figure. It's no question that Joaquin has a very talented yet also dark side in the many roles he has played, which is way this role of Napoleon was perfect for him.