Delving into Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power along with his relationship with Empress Joséphine, Ridley Scott’s latest feature film Napoleon starring Joaquin Phoenix is being criticized by historians. And somehow the director appears to be overwhelmed with the criticism.
Amid such difficult situations, Ridley Scott suggested that perhaps the historians are not as knowledgeable about what really happened as they think they are. However, later on, Scott confessed that he didn’t read the books narrating Napoleon Bonaparte’s story, instead he left that job on the screenwriter.
Historians’ Criticism Overwhelmed Ridley Scott
After delivering several renowned projects, Ridley Scott delved into a historical epic, after years. Coming up with his latest feature film starring Joaquin Phoenix, the filmmaker tried his hand at the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s life. Narrating the story of his rise to power and his relationship with Empress Joséphine, Scott tried making a masterpiece.
However, following the trailer release and the premiere of the film, Ridley Scott‘s Napoleon is getting slammed by historians for its inaccuracies. Picking at the movie’s most complex sequence, the Battle of Austerlitz, historians claimed that although it showed several soldiers drowning in the lake, in reality only a couple of bodies were recovered.
Getting constantly attacked for inaccuracies, Ridley Scott somehow lost his calm. Feeling overwhelmed with all the criticisms rushing in, the director began slamming the historians during interviews. Implying that perhaps the historians are not as knowledgeable about what really happened as they think they are, Scott slammed them for criticisms.
Ridley Scott Admitted Skipping Napoleon’s History
However, during a recent interview with Vulture, while slamming the historians for criticizing his movie, Ridley Scott spilled the beans. Slipping through his teeth, the filmmaker suddenly admitted how he took the shortcut and skipped reading the real history. Stating that there were numerous books with different realities, Scott confessed to dumping the responsibility on the screenwriter.
“Everybody has an opinion about what really happened, and I always ask, ‘Were you there?’. There are 10,000 books about Napoleon, and they’re full of both truth and conjecture. But I left reading the books to the poor b*stard who had to write the screenplay.”
Dropping the responsibility of skimming through thousands of pages from history, on his team, Ridley Scott simply avoided learning the truth. Therefore, the filmmaker faced issues with historical inaccuracies in his movie. And now as he is being criticized by historians, Scott appears frustrated with their constant bickering.
The kid who forgot to read the books pic.twitter.com/WxqZxEhc1C
— halacln (@halacln) November 22, 2023
If I want a fantasy, I'll watch a fantasy. If I'm watching a BIOPIC, I want the historical story.
Ridley Scott needs to just focus on GLADIATOR
— Joseph Jaho (@RealJosephJaho) November 22, 2023
I think Scott filmed the movie as a dark comedy satire kind of mocking Napoleon. It reads a lot better that way.
— Chris Lambert (Film Analysis) (@ChrisJHLambert) November 23, 2023
Alright Ridley we get it, you don't care for historical accuracy, writing, screenplay writers, historian, the French.. anyone else,
— Johnny Clark (@Johnny__Clark) November 22, 2023
The lack of passion Ridley has really shows in his output of boring soulless films in the last couple of decades
— Gramsci (@Chekhovs_WMD) November 22, 2023
That's one of the weirdest statements I've heard from a director.
— Trevor Williams (@TheFarmTraveler) November 22, 2023
Netizens on social media appear to be enjoying the fact that Ridley Scott skipped his history lessons and is now being frustrated with the questions. Gathering on X, fans took sides with the critics and further ridiculed Scott for the issues with Joaquin Phoenix‘s Napoleon. Slamming Scott’s sheer disinterest and arrogance, fans blasted the director on X.
Read more: Napoleon Review – A Dispassionate, Hollow Spectacle
