Napoleon (2023)

‘Napoleon’ has sweep but lacks power as it packs in too much history. Ridley Scott brings an epic feel to much of ‘Napoleon,’ but the story and Joaquin Phoenix’s central performance feel unfocused.

Opening in theaters on November 22nd is Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon,’ starring Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, Rupert Everett, and Ludivine Sagnier.

With most of his last decade’s worth of films – including 'Exodus: Gods and Kings,' 'The Last Duel,' 'House of Gucci,' and the upcoming 'Gladiator 2' – director Ridley Scott seems intent on creating a series of historical epics both contemporary and classic. His new film, however, 'Napoleon,' may have exceeded Scott’s always admirable ambitions. The two-and-a-half-hour drama, does have a sense of grandeur and sweep, in addition to some intense battle scenes. But it suffers from an unwieldy script and a turgid central performance from Joaquin Phoenix as the French military leader and ruler, two elements which make this as dull as your junior year history class.