STORYLINE: An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.

    It has been a year of long hustororocal epics.  Oppenheimer had a three hour runtime.  Killers of the Flower Moob checked in at three and a half hours. The Thanksgiving release Napoleon release checks in at two hours and forty five minutes. 

     Napoleon has that classic fifties epic vibe to it and that vibe works well,  The film sprinkles in a slightly bizarre since of humor.  This caught me off guard but I viewed it as a strength when breaking up the beautifully filmed yet brutal to watch battle sequences. 

      Joaquin Phoenix Was well cast as Napoleon. I have thought he has been a talent as an actor ever since he first collaborated with director Ridley Scott on Gladiator.  Walk the Line, The Master, and C’mon C’mon are exceptional performances.

     Additional Venessa, Kirby shined as Josephine, the woman behind the power.  She took a cookie cutter role and elevated it to a level her own.

    There is power in this movie beyond this movie beyond the battle sequences because the filmmakers crafted a strong story with interesting characters.

     Until next time I will see you at the movies!