The idea of ‘Ridley Scott + Joaquin Phoenix + Historical Drama’ can make a day of a true cinephile. But who knew that the final picture wasn’t gonna be as exciting as the idea? Ridley Scott’s biopic “Napoleon” captures the enigmatic life of the former French emperor, portrayed with captivating intensity by Joaquin Phoenix. With promises of dazzling frames and stellar performances, “Napoleon” seemed like a cinematic feast. However, beneath the surface glamour, you find yourself frustrated due to missed opportunities in terms of painting a more candid picture of his life, by going deep into the complexity of his character and historical impact.
Plot
We have Marie-Antoinette’s chilling walk to the gallows, while an ambitious Napoleon is watching her closely, to start things off. ISTG, jo tone set ki thi first scene ne>>> From Napoleon’s early military successes to becoming Emperor, the narrative also explores his rocky romance with Joséphine, played by the fiery Vanessa Kirby. The screenplay is a history book revision that covers significant events, including Napoleon’s exile in Elba and the ever-famous Battle of Waterloo. Par the thing is, you get all of it bass surface level pe. This biopic isn’t big on giving you the nitty-gritty of Napoleon’s rule. It’s more like a highlights reel with a side order of frustration. Where did his harsh policies go? What about the reintroduction of slavery in his rule? Error 404: Not Found.
Performances
When it comes to acting, you can always, ALWAYS count on Joaquin Phoenix. Toh kya hua if he has to work with limited material? He breathes life into Napoleon, showcasing that unlike me who has just two moods, the conqueror had multiple ones. Vanessa Kirby is very impressive as she delivers a compelling portrayal of Joséphine. She’s both fire and ice and agar simp karne se time mile toh choose karlena which of her avatars is better, cuz I can’t. The supporting cast, including Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, and Rupert Everett, adds the needed silk to the narrative but has hardly anything to contribute to the character’s depth. It’s like they are there just to continue the story.
Direction and Writing
Now, this is where things start to go downhill. Ridley Scott’s direction reveals a visually stunning portrayal of Napoleon’s 30-year journey, no doubt. But the thing is, it feels more like a celebration of his life, and not really a biopic. Like, remember how Oppenheimer mein Oppie wasn’t glorified? Nolan showed us both sides of the coin and that’s why it worked. Agar school mein history dhang se padhi hai toh pata hoga ki Napoleon had fcked up big time, not once, but a lot of times during his reign. We’re missing the administrative reforms, the controversial policies—basically, the stuff that makes history spicy. And presenting military victories as luck? Come on, Ridley, we know Napoleon had some tricks up his hat!
Screenplay and Cinematography
Yaha par bhi things don’t go in favour of the movie. The screenplay runs past Napoleon’s key moments but lacks depth in exploring the motivations behind his actions. Wo exam ke pehle one-shot videos dekhte ho na where the teachers say, “Ab samjhaane ka time nahi hai, yaad rakhlo bass.”? It is kinda sorta the same here. The film touches on the French Revolution, with a low-effort text-based cameo just for the sake of it, but fails to connect the audience emotionally to the character’s journey. But here is the silver lining. EVERY shot in Dariusz Wolski’s cinematography is so beautiful, so elegant, just looking like a wowwww. The gut-wrenching battle sequences and the intimate scenes are visually captivating, but har baar ki tarah yaha bhi the emotional punch is MIA.
All in all, biopic banane ka tareeka thoda kezual hai. I mean, “Napoleon” succeeds in presenting a visually arresting summary of the French military commander’s life, thanks to Joaquin Phoenix’s remarkable performance and Wolski’s artistic frames. However, it paints a one-sided picture, ignoring all the horrible aspects of his life, which disconnected me from the movie. Ridley Scott’s director’s cut, running over four hours, hints at potential depth, but theatres mein bhi toh kuch dikhana tha naaa. A decent one-time watch at max.
