Revisiting History with Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix
One of history’s most celebrated military leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte, is soon to grace our screens, portrayed by none other than Academy Award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix. Ridley Scott, the acclaimed director behind masterpieces like Gladiator, teams up with Phoenix in this much-anticipated historical biopic, Napoleon. The film’s first trailer, revealed to the eager public on 10 July, promised a dynamic fusion of history and modern sensibilities, underlined by an unexpected musical score.
The film offers an intimate insight into Napoleon’s life, who, born in 1769, rose to power during the French Revolutionary Wars and ruled as the French Emperor. The film is crafted from a screenplay by All the Money in the World writer David Scarpa. It explores the seismic rise of Napoleon to power, punctuated with glimpses into his turbulent relationship with his wife, Josephine, played by Vanessa Kirby.
Embracing the Revolution: A Fresh Perspective on Napoleon
The film’s trailer whisks audiences into the heart of the French Revolution, the turning point in European history that transformed France’s political and social structure. In this turbulent setting, Napoleon is tasked with restoring order and appeasing the people.
While the film plunges viewers into the world of 18th-century France, a twist brings us back to the contemporary. Rather than adopting French accents to portray their historical characters, Phoenix and Kirby keep their Native American and British accents, respectively. This audacious choice garnered a mixed reaction from viewers, with some lauding Phoenix’s bold move:
“Joaquin Phoenix looking exactly like himself, doing no accent, a decade plus older than the character he’s portraying. Pure Marlon Brando stuff here. Incredible,” a Twitter user commented.
Visual and Auditory Drama: The Power of the Unexpected
The Napoleon trailer doesn’t merely rely on strong performances and compelling history to captivate audiences. Instead, it ups the ante with unexpected auditory drama accompanying the vibrant visual storytelling. The soundtrack underscoring the trailer is a slowed-down cover of Radiohead’s 2000 hit song, The National Anthem, creating an intriguing contrast between the historical visuals and the modern, haunting music.
Performed by Riaya featuring Kinnship, the cover sets the tone for the powerful scenes that unfold throughout the trailer. Viewers are given a peek into the bloody battles, the emotional, romantic encounters, and the grandeur of royal coronations. But not everyone was on board with this seemingly incongruous music choice:
“The Napoleon movie definitely looks cool but the Radiohead cover is a baffling music choice,” noted one viewer.
Anticipation and Apprehension: Public Reactions to the Trailer
As with any creative endeavor, the Napoleon trailer has evoked diverse reactions from viewers. Social media platforms were abuzz with strong opinions and hot debates post the trailer release. The audacious decision to maintain the lead actors’ original accents and the unconventional choice of music were hot topics among netizens.
joaquin phoenix looking exactly like himself, doing no accent, a decade plus older than the character he’s portraying. pure marlon brando stuff here. incredible https://t.co/M5jAvEH1zG
— doom boy (@femmedionysus) July 11, 2023
“Bro Radiohead playing over Joaquin Phoenix using an American accent to play Napoleon is insane,” another viewer exclaimed.
“It should be a criminal offence to give Radiohead songs the slowed-down indie trailer cover treatment,” a netizen declared. “This one is especially awful and is a really puzzling choice for a film about Napoleon.”
The Napoleon movie definitely looks cool but the Radiohead cover is a baffling music choice
— Luke Savage (@LukewSavage) July 10, 2023
These diverse viewpoints underscore the film’s capacity to provoke and engage, which is likely to make it one of the most debated films of the year.
Ridley Scott and David Scarpa: A New Creative Partnership
Napoleon marks the first collaboration between director Ridley Scott and screenwriter David Scarpa. The duo’s effective partnership is already hinting at more exciting projects in the pipeline, with plans afoot for Gladiator 2, the sequel to Scott’s Best Picture winner Gladiator. The filming is underway, with Paul Mescal leading the cast as Lucius, the nephew of Phoenix’s character, Commodus, from the original film.
A Cinematic Experience Awaits: Napoleon in Theatres Soon
Scott’s latest cinematic creation, Napoleon, is slated for release in the US on Thanksgiving weekend, 2023, with an Apple TV+ release to follow. The trailer has sparked anticipation, intrigue, and controversy among viewers, setting the stage for what is certain to be a film that will be hotly debated, widely watched, and keenly analyzed.
As we await the film’s release, we can expect that Napoleon, the man who left an indelible mark on history, will once again stir up conversations, but this time in cinema. As viewers and critics prepare to dissect the directorial choices, performances, and storytelling techniques, Napoleon promises to be a film that celebrates history with a touch of modern eccentricity, making it an unmissable cinematic experience.
