“NAPOLEON”, AN EPIC HISTORICAL DRAMA FROM RIDLEY SCOTT
Cinema Writer/Film Critic Efe TEKSOY; wrote the biography, action and history film “NAPOLEON” for America’s Los Angeles-based Internet Newspaper @alaturkanews.
NAPOLEON, THE ARCHITECT OF VICTORY
“Napoleon”, which premiered at the Salle Pleyel in Paris on November 14, 2023, is an epic historical drama with a budget of 200 million dollars, written by David Scarpa and directed by the master filmmaker Ridley Scott. Based on the true story of Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the most important commanders in history, the film centers on his relationship with Empress Joséphine and tells the ups and downs of the French leader, his rise and fall, and his relentless journey to power. The film, which was shot in 61 days, battle scenes utilized 11 cameras, all filming at the same time. In the movie, Oscar-winning director Ridley Scott; We see that the Napoleonic Wars Period, in which Napoleon quickly took control of the European continent under his leadership (until his final defeat in 1815) after the French Revolutionary Wars, is presented to the audience with a striking perspective and an impressive dramatic performance. The coronation sequence, presented with a magnificent visual atmosphere, is worth seeing. This scene is depicted as a complete recreation of the painting “Le Sacre de Napoléon” (an example of the Neoclassicism movement) by French artist Jacques-Louis David, Napoleon’s official painter, on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The leading role of the movie is; It is directed by Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, who The New York Times calls one of the greatest actors of the 21st century.
Stars; Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Rupert Everett, Mark Bonnar, Paul Rhys, Ben Miles, Riana Duce, and Ludivine Sagnier.
BEHIND THE SCENES
– Director Ridley Scott said he made a conscious attempt to keep the theatrical release cut of this film as close to 2.5 hours as possible. He said he feels this is the maximum length of time the average person can tolerate viewing a film without a break before feeling uncomfortable in the seat or starting to think a film is dragging. However, he did say he is planning a longer director’s cut for its streaming debut.
– The real Napoleon was 35 when he became Emperor of France. Joaquin Phoenix was 49 at the time of this film’s release. Also, the real Joséphine was 6 years older than Napoleon, whereas Phoenix is 14 years older than Vanessa Kirby.
Sir Ridley Scott had read the script Stanley Kubrick had written for his own unmade Napoleon film, although he found it underwhelming. Kubrick had a lifelong fascination with Napoleon, and began planning a film of his life after directing 2001: Uzay Yolu Macerası (1968). He did extensive research, and watched other Napoleon films, including Napoleon (1927) and Harp ve Sulh (1965), both of which he disliked. He intended to shoot on location in France and Romania, with the Romanian People’s Army providing 50,000 men. Jack Nicholson and Audrey Hepburn were eyed to play Napoleon and Joséphine, respectively. The project was canceled after the box office failure of Waterloo savaşı (1970), but Kubrick’s research went into Barry Lyndon (1975), which ended in 1789, 14 years before the Napoleonic Wars began. Steven Spielberg, a longtime friend of Kubrick’s, has been developing Kubrick’s script as a miniseries for HBO since 2013 and said it was still in development as of 2023.
NAPOLEON
The opening sequence begins with Napoleon witnessing the execution of Marie Antoinette, but French historians have argued that Napoleon was not present at the time. Shootings; It took place in Malta, France, England, and Morocco. The movie “Napoleon” reveals Ridley Scott’s mastery as a director and a cinema genius, and creates an epic production with Joaquin Phoenix’s unforgettable performance.
EFE TEKSOY
REFERENCES AND SOURCES
https://www.imdb.com/
