Dir. Ridley Scott

When ego is deconstructed.

One of the most emblematic, powerful and mysterious men in history was Napoleon. A man from an Italian background who became emperor of France.

Napoleon was a smart strategist, a Corsican who was taught by his parents to stand against monarchy.

Ridley Scott gives the audience that glimpse of Napoleon by showing these epic, brutal, extravagant and almost poetic battle sequences. The art direction and cinematography really make the viewer feel that he/she’s there with Napoleon and his army.

Now, for the intimate scenes, the ones where the viewer gets to see Napoleon “think” or “feel,” Scarpa (writer) and Scott give the audience an Emperor who pouts, shouts and whines when things don’t go his way. Scarpa gives us a man who loved his wife but he also wanted to be a father, so in retaliation to the world itself, Napoleon acts like a child.

The balance between intimacy and epic moments are cleverly balanced because the story is consistent in its structure. The chemistry between Vanessa Kirby and Joaquin Phoenix needs to be seen to be believed.

Is the movie historically inaccurate? Yes. Does it matter? No. Why? Because finding out what actually happened will make the viewer re-read history books, and that is a good thing.

Napoleon is a great movie made to study history itself.