Ridley Scott delivers a Napoleon film that feels almost out of time, a bold experiment that doesn’t neatly fit the era it portrays. Taking on such a big, audacious project is a testament to Scott’s stubbornness and to the idea of cinema as an extraordinary experience for contemporary audiences. The director’s Napoleon is interesting primarily because it refuses conventional paths, stubbornly pursuing a vision that feels offbeat and uncompromising. Yet this portrayal also carries other compelling layers that invite closer attention.
What stands out is the filmmaker’s open approach to the central figure. The film does not pretend to be a flawless, documentary-like history lesson; instead it treats its subject with a free-spirited, interpretive lens. Joaquin Phoenix embodies the character with a striking blend of intensity and volatility, capturing moments of childish stubbornness and self-centeredness that reveal a more human, flawed leader. This is not a polished hero but a complex person whose ambitions—driven by power, fear, and personal need—are laid bare in a way that unsettles and fascinates the viewer.
The relationship at the heart of the story, between the protagonist and Josefina, is equally charged and provocative. Vanessa Kirby delivers a fierce performance that anchors scenes filled with tension, attraction, and dependency. The film does not shy away from the darker sides of attachment, showing how dependence and control can twist love and loyalty into something volatile. Beyond romance, these dynamics illuminate how power can mold intimate bonds, shaping choices and risks in unpredictable ways. It is a narrative thread that adds emotional weight to the sweeping historical backdrop.
But the strongest aspect of Napoleon is its sequence work. The battle scenes are a sight to behold: expansive, meticulously choreographed, and visually striking in a way that stands out in a landscape where digital effects often dominate. Scott holds the camera with a confident hand, letting orchestration, mass movement, and sound design convey the scope of the conflict without losing the focus on character psychology. For audiences in North America, these sequences offer a vivid, cinematic experience that blends spectacle with a grounded sense of strategy and consequence. The result is a film that can be admired for its scale and its bold directorial choices as much as for its intimate moments of character study.