Joaquin Phoenix’s Napoleon has been getting a great amount of bittersweet comments. While some critics see the film as a great representation of the French Emperor, others regard it to be one of the lesser great works of Ridley Scott. Although there is talent in the film through and through, it failed in many ways, especially for the critics.
There were scenes depicting all sides of history with regard to the famous figure. From scenes of valor to that of war, it left no stone unturned. Although Vanessa Kirby’s character had a lot left unsaid, the story still moved on. However, it would seem that the film may have fooled a lot of fans and critics in the aspect of war and a military expert had a lot to say about it as well.
Napoleon Was a Complicated Figure
History is told by many. History is written by very few. If there is a tale to be told, whose perspective would it be from? Who would narrate the story without many flaws? If there was a man with power, how would he present himself? Napoleon Bonaparte was no different from other men in history. The only difference was that he knew how to bend his tale for the bards to sing ballads of him.
“Napoleon was famous for exaggerating his own victories and there were not many ways to verify or to challenge his version,” he continued. “He would write a letter after a sea battle claiming he had taken four ships, when in fact he had taken just one. He was a big bluffer and people believed him, so he got away with it. This is how he made his way up.”
Paul Biddiss, who is a military expert, commented via the Guardian about how despite all the hate that Joaquin Phoenix’s Napoleon is getting, there are aspects that have been captured just right.
Joaquin Phoenix played a Bold Faced Liar
Paul Biddiss elaborated on how things are never as they truly seem. He stated that Napoleon was far from someone who told himself to be. Specifically in terms of how he would exaggerate all of his wins. If it were a loss, he would portray it to be more than tragic. If it were a win, it would be grandiose and epic, enough to be written in books and told in tales.
Despite all the hate that the movie got because of its somewhat inaccurate display, Biddiss believes that it has been anything but that. Napoleon expanded on the emperor’s reality apart from what was taught in schools.
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