In a momentous revelation sure to appease fathers who have longed for a sequel to the illustrious Master and Commander, the weight of anticipation has been somewhat alleviated with the announcement that Ridley Scott, the acclaimed director, is embarking on a cinematic endeavor revolving around the enigmatic Napoleon Bonaparte. The esteemed Joaquin Phoenix, renowned for his transformative performances, assumes the titular role of the revered emperor. Today, the world is privy to the premiere of the first trailer for Scott’s opulent and exorbitantly lavish cinematic spectacle, aptly titled Napoleon, set to grace the silver screen this forthcoming Thanksgiving season.
Penned by the adept David Scarpa, the mastermind behind critically acclaimed screenplays such as All the Money in the World and The Last Castle, Napoleon signifies a significant milestone for Ridley Scott, marking his return to the director’s chair following the release of his twin masterpieces in 2021, The Last Duel and House of Gucci. Furthermore, this cinematic opus symbolizes the reunion of Scott and Phoenix, whose collaboration on the legendary film Gladiator catapulted Phoenix into stardom twenty-three years ago. His portrayal of the treacherous Commodus garnered him the first of his four esteemed Oscar nominations, ultimately leading to a triumphant victory for his compelling portrayal of the malevolent clown in Todd Phillips’ Joker. Meanwhile, the illustrious Ridley Scott, an industry veteran at the age of 85, has garnered four nominations, thrice as a director for Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, and Blackhawk Down, and once for Best Picture with The Martian, although the coveted accolade has thus far eluded him. In Napoleon, his twenty-eighth directorial endeavor, Scott delves into the captivating life of a figure who has long inspired numerous visionary filmmakers, including the eminent Stanley Kubrick, who harbored intentions of crafting a Napoleon-inspired masterpiece in 1969, only to face financial setbacks that thwarted his artistic aspirations.
Produced by the esteemed collaboration between Sony Pictures and Apple, the official synopsis of Napoleon tantalizingly reveals a spectacle-filled action epic that meticulously chronicles the tumultuous rise and fall of the indomitable French Emperor. The film promises to captivate audiences with its enthralling depiction of Napoleon’s visionary military strategies and political machinations, punctuated by awe-inspiring and meticulously choreographed battle sequences that are destined to go down in cinematic history as the epitome of realism.
A brilliant ensemble cast graces the screen in Napoleon, led by the talented Vanessa Kirby, who flawlessly embodies the role of Napoleon’s esteemed wife, Josephine. The trailer cunningly features a mesmerizing and pivotal scene depicting a serendipitous encounter between the couple, akin to a grandiose tableau etched into the annals of history. Nestled amidst Napoleon’s meteoric ascent during the French Revolution and subsequent triumphs on the battlefield, this poignant moment takes center stage as Josephine, adorned in a resplendent ensemble, inquires about Napoleon’s distinctive attire.
“Why, pray tell, is this extravagant garb you don?” inquires Josephine, her voice tinged with intrigue.
“This, my beloved, is my attire befitting the illustrious French victory at Toulon,” retorts Napoleon with unyielding poise, in a remarkable exchange that evokes reminiscence of the immortalized scene from Rushmore, wherein the protagonist muses upon a nurse’s uniform.
The mesmerizing clip also unveils Josephine’s unconventional punk rock-chic hairstyle, which seemingly transports the audience to one of Paris’ renowned bals à la victime, fabled gatherings said to have transpired in the aftermath of the Reign of Terror. These legendary balls, steeped in myth and shrouded in historical obscurity, paid homage to the fallen victims, thereby necessitating a distinctive dress code. Many women donned crimson chokers or ribbons, symbolizing the fateful slice of the guillotine’s blade. Both men and women embraced a cropped hairstyle at the nape, reminiscent of the victims’ pre-execution preparations, ensuring a swift and uncomplicated severing of their heads. The scene, drenched in symbolism and suffused with historical richness, encapsulates the essence of the French spirit. It is worth noting that Napoleon himself hailed from the Corsican island, where his formative years were immersed in Italian culture, bearing a surname initially inscribed as “Buonaparte.”
The trailer seamlessly transitions into an awe-inspiring portrayal of Napoleon’s relentless pursuit of victory on numerous battlefields, spanning from the majestic pyramids of Egypt to the snow-laden expanses of… Russia? Much akin to the legendary opening crawl of Master and Commander, wherein it is proclaimed that “Napoleon reigns supreme over Europe, transforming the very battlegrounds into arenas of conflict,” Scott’s magnum opus thrusts viewers into the tumultuous atmosphere of a rapidly changing Europe, shaped and molded by the indomitable will of this extraordinary conqueror.
In the concluding moments of the trailer, a whisper escapes the lips of Josephine, her voice carrying an air of both defiance and vulnerability. “Do you truly believe yourself to be great?” she utters, her words etching themselves upon the viewer’s consciousness. “You, my dear, are naught but a diminutive brute, devoid of significance in the absence of my presence.”
Indeed, as Scott eloquently elucidated in an interview with Deadline, “Napoleon has forever held me in his grip, an enigmatic figure whose rise to power defied all odds. However, beneath the veneer of conquest lies a poignant tale of love and betrayal. Napoleon, in his quest for eternal adoration, conquered the world, only to obliterate himself and everything he held dear when he failed to capture the affections of his adulterous spouse, Josephine.”
In essence, Ridley Scott’s Napoleon is a magnum opus meticulously crafted to transport audiences into the realm of an extraordinary figure who emerged from the shadows to commandeer the destiny of nations. Scott’s visionary direction, coupled with Phoenix’s unparalleled talent, guarantees an unrivaled cinematic experience that will etch itself indelibly into the annals of film history.
