Napoleon: Joaquin Phoenix's Imperious Portrayal of France's Emperor
Bombs showering down, annihilating horses and soldiers, decaying corpses bobbing beneath the frigid water beneath the ice: Grandiose battle scenes, juxtaposed with intimate depictions of Napoleon Bonaparte, six years Joséphine de Beauharnais' elder, and his obsession. The legendary French emperor's fixation with both power and his wife mirrored in the same canvas, painted by Ridley Scott, a prestigious director in his eighties.
In "Napoleon", Ridley Scott breathes life into the iconic figure of Napoleon, highlighting both his craving for power and his turbulent marriage with Joséphine. The director, in his interview with Deadline, stated that his objective was to illustrate the connection between Napoleon's conquest of the world and his personal battle with Joséphine.
Production of "Napoleon" cost approximately 130 million dollars, with Ridley Scott manufacturing a major war film, resulting in Joaquin Phoenix's re-emergence on the cinematic stage following a 23-year hiatus. Phoenix, best known for his role as the deranged and merciless Emperor Commodus in Gladiator, 2000, appeared alongside Vanessa Kirby in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning.
Austere and Dour Presence
Scott was emphatic in asserting that only Phoenix could embody Napoleon perfectly. He was convinced that Phoenix's masterful performance as Commodus in Gladiator made him uniquely qualified to capture the complexity and nuances of the historical figure.
The 49-year-old actor radiates an austere and morose image on the battlefield, evoking reminiscences of his depiction of the tempestuous Commodus in Gladiator. But Phoenix is equally adept at playing the jester, as he flees from politicians and gazes deep into the eyes of an ancient Pharaoh's mummy.
Familiarity with Historical Canvas
Scott's aptitude for depicting historical events is well-established, dating back to Gladiator, originally starring Russell Crowe. Further, the director's contribution to 1492 – The Conquest of Paradise, featuring Gérard Depardieu, underscores his knack for visually entrancing epics, although lacking in impressive and awe-inspiring sets, like those in Gladiator.
Napoleon's Renowned Battles
The film spotlights Napoleon's most notable battles: the impressive triumph against the British army in Toulon in 1793, the Egyptian campaign, the revolutionary coup d'état in 1799, and the harrowing Russian campaign. Imbuing these scenes with the aesthetic grace of painters such as Jacques-Louis David and Jean-Léon Gérôme contributes to its visual appeal.
Controversial Scenes
Indeed, any on-screen representation of such an emblematic figure as Napoleon inevitably invites scrutiny from the general public and academic circles. Predictably, this was no exception, with Napoleon specialists offering criticisms, including the scene displaying Napoleon during Queen Marie-Antoinette's execution. Although such scenes serve high visual impact, they are historically anachronistic.
Character-Driven Film
Scott approaches the film from a fictional perspective, concentrating on the characteristics of the protagonists and their emotions. Phoenix revealed to DPA that the movie is not a historical biography, rather a portrayal of the characters and their sentiments, making it more relatable.
Scott has long harbored a fascination with Napoleon, attributing the man's captivating nature to his role as Empress of France and subsequent exile on the remote Atlantic island of St. Helena. With spirited intentions to revisit this subject matter, the film engages the audience in a war of ambition, love, and desire for power.
A Love Story Gone Sour
Napoleon met Joséphine at a ball in 1795, immediately captivated by the 32-year-old widow with two children. Within a year, the two had exchanged vows. Their daughter, Hortense, married Louis-Bonaparte, who later became the king of Holland. Due to lack of children, Napoleon divorced Joséphine in 1810, thereby allowing him to marry Marie-Louise of Austria. Napoleon penned over 200 love letters to Joséphine, many of which factored into the film's narrative.
Scott punctuates the story of the duo with an intriguing blend of romance and tragedy, with their relationship serving as the emotional core. Regrettably, the intimacy between the two main characters never fully materializes, leaving the audience somewhat underwhelmed.
Two-and-a-half hours, teeming with grandiose battle scenes and the tumultuous love affair between Napoleon and Joséphine, invites the audience to the theater once more, presenting Joaquin Phoenix's glorious interpretation of the infamous emperor. Masterfully directed by Ridley Scott, the movie introduces Phoenix as a forbidding and solemn figure on the battlefield, echoing his performance as the Roman emperor in Gladiator.
For admirers of historical epics and Ridley Scott's cinematic legacy, "Napoleon" ushers in exclusive viewing opportunities, offering breathtaking visuals drawn from renowned paintings like Jacques-Louis David and Jean-Léon Gérôme, raw reoccurrence of Napoleon's tortuous love affair with Joséphine de Beauharnais.
