With “Napoleon,” Ridley Scott has become the Cecil B. DeMille of contemporary cinema.

DeMille (1891-1959) directed some 52 silent films, including “The Virginian” (1914), “The Ten Commandments” (1923) and “King Of Kings” (1927), and some 18 sound films, including “Dynamite” (1929), “Cleopatra” (1934) and “The Ten Commandments” (1956).

Scott has directed 23 films, including “Alien” (1979), “Blade Runner” (1982), “Thelma & Louise” (1991), “Gladiator” (2000), “The Martian” (2015), ”House of Gucci” (2021) and, upcoming, “Gladiator 2” (2024).

“Napoleon” has the epic sweep of a DeMille Golden Age of Hollywood classic in direction, screenplay, cinematography, production design, art direction, sound design, costumes and soundtrack.

Look for multiple Oscar nominations for “Napoleon,” which should compete in the best picture category with “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Oppenheimer.” Put “Napoleon on your Oscar watch list.

“Napoleon” is paced by an understated Oscar actor nominee-worthy performance by Joaquin Phoenix (Oscar recipient, actor, “Joker,” 2020; Oscar nominee: actor, “The Master,” 2013; “Walk the Line,” 2006; supporting actor, “Gladiator,” 2001) as Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821, French emperor and military commander).

Phoenix emotes in an often soft-voice, sits or stands in repose with his steely eyes staring down some future conquests in his head, his mouth riveted in a scowl, and rarely cracking a smile. Look for an Oscar actor nomination for Phoenix for “Napoleon.”

Napoleon’s march across Europe, generally known as the Napoleonic Wars (1799 - 1815), resulted in an estimated 3 million soldiers killed in combat and possibly another 3 million civilians fatalities.

In the movie, “Napoleon,” several of the war campaigns led by Napoleon are depicted on huge landscapes and swaths of battlefields under leaden skies and against fog-covered mountain backdrops with tremendous scenes of musket and cannon firing, hand-to-hand combat, charging infantry and much blood-letting. The battle scenes are vast in scope, horrific in presentation, and realistic in uniforms, armaments and strategy. The battles are gripping, compelling and tension-filled for the movie-goer.

The movie, “Napoleon,” depicts the palace and court intrigue following the French Revolution (1789 - 1794). The sets are ornate, the costumes are lavish, and the ceremonies, dinners and dances are beyond self-indulgent. The carriages, liveries and castles are magnificent. The refinement of the royalty barely masks the grisly battlefields beyond, the battlefields where Napoleon risked it all.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the movie, “Napoleon,” is the portrayal of the relationship and marriage between Napoleon and Josephine. Their love is presented as operatic, exalted as the ultimate love for each and as the ultimate tragedy for each. Napoleon and Josephine are inextricably bound to each other. Their love, as the song goes, is a battlefield.

If Phoenix impressively underplays Napoleon, Vanessa Kirby (Oscar nominee, actress,” Pieces of a Woman,” 2021; TV’s “The Crown,” 2016-22; “Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part One,” 2023) as Josephine is often over-the-top in a good way. Hers is the grand gesture, the inappropriate laughter, and the winking eye, even to wandering to others as if she can’t help herself. Kirby portrays this mix of best and worst intentions brilliantly. Look for an Oscar actress nomination for Kirby for “Napoleon.”

“Napoleon” is cinema on the order of the great films of David Lean (“Lawrence of Arabia,” 1962), Stanley Kubrick (“Barry Lyndon,” 1975), Lewis Milestone and Carol Reed (“Mutiny on the Bounty,” 1962) and Scott’s own “Gladiator.”

Scott (four-time Oscar nominee, motion picture (“The Martian,” 2016); director (“Black Hawk Down,” 2002; “Gladiator”; “Thelma & Louise,” 1992) directs from a screenplay by David Scarpa (TV’s “The Man in the High Castle,” 2019) with a self-assuredness that shows his finesse in every scene. Look for an Oscar director nomination for Scott for “Napoleon.”

Worthy multiple Oscar nominations should include: Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (Oscar nominee, cinematography, “News of The World,” 2021; cinematographer, “House of Gucci,” 2021; “The Martian, 2015); Composer Martin Phipps (TV’s “The Crown,” 2019-23), and Costume Designer Janty Yates (Oscar recipient, costume design, “Gladiator”) and David Crossman.

Under Napoleon’s watch, France sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States in 1803, doubling the size of the U.S. Viva La France.

The Napoleon, also known as “mille feuille,” is a French pastry of flaky layers separated by rich pastry cream.

Napoleon had his Waterloo, ceded territory to the U.S. without a fight and got his just desserts.

“Napoleon” the movie adds another chapter to the lore and legend of one of the world’s most complex, controversial and fascinating historic figures.

“Napoleon,”

MPAA rated R (Restricted: Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.) for strong violence, some grisly images, sexual content and brief language; Genre: Action, Adventure, Biography; Run Time: 2 hours, 28 minutes; Distributed by Sony Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

Edith Piaf sings “Ça ira” during an early scene in “Napoleon.” “Napoleon” was filmed in Malta, England, France and Morocco.

At The Movies:

“Napoleon” was seen in Imax at AMC Center Valley 16. The film was worth the premium screening.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Weekend Box Office,

Dec. 8-10: “The Boy And The Heron,” a feature animation film by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki (Oscar recipient, “Spirited Away”) and Studio Ghibli, opened at No.1, with $10.4 million in 2,205 theaters.

2. “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” stayed in place, $9.4 million in 3,665 theaters, $135.6 million, four weeks. 3. “Godzilla Minus One” stayed in place, $8.3 million in 2,540 theaters, $25.3 million, two weeks. 4. “Trolls Band Together” stayed in place, $6.2 million in 3,451 theaters, $83 million, four weeks. 5. “Wish” stayed in place, $5.3 million in 3,410 theaters, $49.4 million, three weeks. 6.“Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” dropped five places, $5 million in 2,542 theaters, $28 million, two weeks. 6. “Napoleon” dropped one place, $4.2 million in 3,350 theaters, $53 million, three weeks. 8. “Waitress: The Musical,” opening, $2.5 million in 1,214 theaters. 9. “Animal” dropped two places, $2.2 million in 622 theaters, $11.5 million, two weeks, 10. “The Shift” dropped two places, $2.1 million in 2,415 theaters, $8.5 million, two weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Dec. 10 is subject to change.

Unreel,

Dec. 15:

“Wonka,”

MPAA Rated PG: Paul King directs Timothée Chalamet, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant, Sally Hawkins, Keegan-Michael Key, Rowan Atkinson, and Calah Lane in the Comedy Fantasy. The movie is about the early days of Willy Wonka, a character in the 1964 novel, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl.

Movie opening date from Internet Movie Database as of Dec. 6 subject to change.

Five Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes