Napoleon * * * ½

I knew a little bit about Napoleon (who doesn't?) but this film from celebrated director Ridley Scott, prompted me to read more. So I got on to Wikipedia and this is what I couldn't help but notice - the way his life is narrated on Wikipedia is almost the same as the way this film tells his story, which is to focus on several significant events in chronological order.  

Now, I have to ask, is this inevitable, or does Wikipedia reflect the sum of their research, after which they just made stuff up?

In fairness, the stuff they made up is pretty good, especially Napoleons interaction with Josephine, who is played by the irresistibly beautiful Vanessa Kirby.  Napoleon is very well played by Joaquim Phoenix, and let's face it, he is always good.

Josephine: Bet you didn't expect this

We skip his beginnings in Corsica and start off with him as a senior officer and his first notable military success, which was to kick out the English at the Siege of Toulon. Shot in close quarter this would be one of the best battle scenes in this film. Particularly impressive is the palpable fear on Napoleon's face, which indicates real bravery: to determinedly push ahead even when shaking with fear.  It is probably the truth behind most heroic actions too.  

After that we pretty well follow the chapter headings on The Wikipedia page in the same order:
The Italian Campaign,
The Egyptian Expedition,
Becoming the Ruler of  France
Wars on the Front
Invasion of Russia
Exile to Elba
Meeting his Waterloo
Exile to St Helena

In between this we have his political maneuverings and his obsession with Josephine. He might have been crazy for her but she seemed to find him little more than amusing; yet, also jolly handy.  After all, he married her and made her a squillionaire and an Empress.  You can't beat that.  

The invented shenanigans between these two are some of the best scenes. She has him wrapped around her finger and they both know it.  I had to wonder at one stage if they were suggesting Josephine was a Ladyboy. "I have something special between my legs" she tells him, opening them Basic Instinct style. And he always humps her from behind , and she can't have kids no matter how much they get it on.  Got to make you wonder?  About half way through the film he dumps her and takes up with a teenage Austrian princess. She can have kids alright. But, he still sees Josephine on the side (or from the back). 

The panoramic bloody battles are impressive, but these days with CGI and all that, it's simply what we have come to expect I'm afraid.  Making us viewing ingrates I suppose.  Even TV Series can deliver similarly awe inspiring scenes now,  Talking of which, I've got my doubts about the commitment of this film being specifically made for a cinema audience.  With it's neat division of time and events you sense it's all set up for streaming in the near future.  Apple are the producers by the way, so there you go.

It might be better  to watch it that way because sitting through this 160 minute marathon is not that rewarding.  Despite Napoleon's huge gambles, other than the first battle, you rarely get that "Oh my God" feeling accompanied by the fear that the stakes are too high and everything could go wrong.  

I enjoyed it. I admired the convincing sets and scenes and fine acting, I appreciated the presence and diversity of important characters and the clarity of who they were, but it felt like a condensed dramatisation of the Wikipedia Napoleon biography. Very interesting, but it certainly didn't set my heart racing. (Well, other than the lusty bits with Josephine).