Ridley Scott’s Napoleon hits theatres on November 22. Though the early reaction and enthusiasm surrounding the epic was predominantly positive, the reviews broke on Tuesday night indicate mixed reactions. Written by David Scarpa, the period film stars Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix as the titular character and Vanessa Kirby as his consort, Empress Josephine. The movie follows Napoleon’s rise from lowly artillery commander to the Emperor of France.
‘Napoleon’ Reviews Roundup – Positive Verdict All Around
Peter Bradshaw (The Guardian) – “Ridley Scott dispenses with the symbolic weight attached to previous biopics in favour of a spectacle with a great star at its centre”
Peter Debruge (Variety) – “Napoleon ultimately suffers from the same problem as its subject: The film’s ambitions are greater than the people demand, as Scott bites off more than he can manage.”
Catherine Bray (Empire Magazine) – “This is a historical epic which is constantly looking for subtle ways to undercut historical epics.”
David Rooney (Hollywood Reporter) – “For all its brawn and atmosphere and robustly choreographed combat, this is a distended historical tapestry too sprawling to remain compelling, particularly when its focus veers away from the central couple.”
Nicholas Barber (BBC.com) – “It’s an awe-inspiring achievement, although it may leave you with a greater appreciation of Scott’s leadership skills than of Napoleon’s.”
Kevin Maher (Times UK) – “The captivating power of Phoenix’s performance, delivered in his American vernacular, is that it hovers in a twitchy, shifty, grey zone between imperious outbursts, wounded vulnerability, and puckish charm.”
Alonso Duralde (The Film Verdict) – “While this sumptuously mounted production delivers as a sweeping war epic, one hopes Ridley Scott’s promised director’s cut will fill in the emotional and historical blanks.”
David Ehrlich (indieWire) – “Watching Napoleon, I couldn’t help but feel like Scott may have been caught off-guard himself. There’s no doubt he knew the film would be funny, but he seems to have been surprised by how far that funniness would take it.”
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