Napoleon Review: Same Old, Same Old

Napoleon struggles to balance its ambitious scope with its execution. The film attempts to chart a grand historical arc through a personal lens, focusing on Napoleon’s relationship with Joséphine, but ultimately falls short of its epic aspirations.

Joséphine is portrayed as secondary and objectified which is a common issue in historical dramas where female characters are often reduced to mere reflections of their male counterparts. Scott’s film presents Joséphine primarily through Napoleon's perspective, it misses an opportunity to explore her as a fully realized character in her own right, which could have added depth to the story.

The depiction of Napoleon, on the other hand, seems to embrace a more nuanced approach, albeit with unintended comedic effects. Phoenix’s portrayal of Napoleon as childish and insecure offers a different angle on the historical figure, but it results in audience laughter rather than engagement, it suggests a tonal inconsistency that undermines the film’s intended gravitas.

By fixating on Napoleon’s negative traits without adequately addressing the consequences of his actions, the film reduces him to a caricature rather than a multifaceted individual. The casual treatment of his war crimes, in particular, is a missed opportunity to engage with the darker aspects of his rule more meaningfully.

For a film set in such a pivotal historical period, the lackluster sets and wardrobe detract from the immersion experience. The failure to create a convincing historical atmosphere through detailed and period-appropriate production design diminishes the film’s impact. When historical films lack this level of detail, it can pull viewers out of the story and reduce the overall believability. Martin Phipps’ score not contributing to the film’s emotional depth or atmosphere further compounds the issue.

Given Scott’s previous successes and the high expectations for Napoleon, it’s understandable that the film’s uneven execution is disappointing. While Scott’s historical epics like Gladiator have successfully blended character drama with epic scale, Napoleon appears to falter in balancing these elements, leading to a film that might be more amusing than profound.

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Napoleon is now streaming on AppleTV+.