Napoleon, a historical epic from director Ridley Scott, is now in theaters around the world. It’s a creation of Apple Original Films, and there are hopes it will clean up at the Oscar awards.
The movie stars Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor who conquered much of Europe. It details the tyrant’s ruthless rise to power and his obsessive love for his wife, Empress Josephine.
Napoleon hopes to conquer theaters
For the benefit of those who came away from history class with only vague memories of a short, French guy with a funny hat, the film captures Napoleon’s “swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine (Vanessa Kirby),” according to Apple’s description.
The French emperor conquered much of Europe, and the Apple TV+ film will include “Napoleon’s famous battles, relentless ambition and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader and war visionary.”
Joaquin Phoenix, who plays the titular ruler, also starred in Joker, Her and other films. Director Ridley Scott is known for Gladiator, Blade Runner, Aliens and Apple’s memorable 1984 advertisement for the Mac.
Oscar fodder
Whenever Apple CEO TIm Cook talks about the films and TV series his company has created, he emphasizes the number of awards and nominations they have earned. At last count, the total is 392 wins and 1,667 nominations.
Napoleon was clearly created to add to that total. That said, it’s apparently not as strong a contender as Apple might have hoped. The film currently has a 62% critics’ approval rating on the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes.
It seems Apple might have to look to Killers of the Flower Moon from Martin Scorsese for its Oscars this year. That film has a 93% critics’ approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes. (Read Cult of Mac’s review: “Apple TV+ movie Killers of the Flower Moon is grueling but important.”)
Napoleon: Only in theaters
Napoleon hit theaters on Wednesday, November 22. That’s in time to catch Americans heading to movie theaters after enjoying a hearty Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.
Although the film is from Apple, it’s not yet on the Apple TV+ streaming service. That will happen later, though a date has not yet been announced.
