Hitler was great for Napoleon's rep. In the 19th Century he was a contender for history's greatest villain (or, conversely, hero) in some circles until Hitler and Lenin came along and said, "Hold my beer." There used to be a lot of people who had very strong opinions on the guy. Not so much any longer.
Also, if anybody really wants to set the stage, highly recommend season 3 of the "Revolutions" podcast on the French Revolution. No Nappy Bones except as a reaction To The Committee of Public Safety.
I give Ridley Scott major props. Directing this sort of epic would have exhausted a man half his age; he's well into his 80s.
On the one hand I’m very interested because this is my field. On the other hand Ridley will likely butcher the history so I’m skeptical. The French Revolutions are such rich material for movies I wish there were more. I’d love to see a well done Revolution of 1830 movie.
1830 and not 1848? As for this movie, I think it'd be weird watching a movie set in the not so distant french past that's in English. I'd be excited for French actors and French locations.
If the mini-series of Chernobyl on HBO can prove to be great with British accents, I believe this can be as well.
1848 was obviously more important for history but I think 1830 would be more cinematic in the details. More battles, dueling monarch villains, a stupid Bonaparte, etc. The movie/revolution would have a cynical ending but perhaps lightened by an 1848 epilogue voiceover or something.
I feel you. Now, though, I'm thinking about 1870. An aging Napoleon III, coming off an embarrassing defeat in Mexico, getting outmaneuvered and captured by Bismarck, and the rise and fall of the Paris Commune. I mean, it'd probably be better as a movie about Bismarck, but there is something poetic about what a disaster that Nappy 3 was.
Yeah I almost suggested that, too. The mess of the Franco-Prussian war into the Commune would be intense. But I don’t know how much sympathy modern viewers would have for the communards when all their efforts get brutally put down.
I'm glad this movie will exist and with some production value, but I'm already a little disappointed at the casting. I think Napoleon's story provides a great opportunity for a relatively new face from the deep pool of acting talent available. J Phoenix gets so many parts, but he's always in a certain range of creepy/crazy/brooding/intense. So... only one of those facets would be relevant to the historical Napoleon, as far as I understand him. As you say, energy and charisma (and persuasive power, controlling a room or crowd)? Eh, Phoenix is probably the last guy I would cast for that. Oh well. I get why directors like their go-to actors after previous good experiences, but damn, stretch yerselves a little more. Even moar grumpy edit: Kinda hating the weird orchestral repurposing of a Black Sabbath classic in the new trailer. Boo.
Don't know much about Napoleon, but JP looked and came across as interesting in the trailer. I'm still in.
