ActorBrian Coxhas become just as known for his, shall we say, very honest opinions when it comes to a variety of topics, from method acting, to terrible films and politicians. Cox isn’t one to suffer fools lightly, and with each passing day, proves he’s not one to bite his tongue. That’s why it should come as no surprise that he has recentlyshared his opinion on Ridley Scott’sNapoleonand took specific shots at the performance ofJoaquin Phoenixas the titular character.
During an appearance at HistFest, viaPeople, Cox went all the way in onNapoleonand was vocal about how he felt Phoenix gave a"terrible"performance in the film. The actor said"
“Terrible. It’s terrible. A truly terrible performance by Joaquin Phoenix. It really is appalling. I don’t know what he was thinking. I think it’s totally his fault and I don’t think Ridley Scott helps him. I would have played it a lot better than Joaquin Phoenix, I tell you that. You can say it’s good drama. No, it’s lies.”
Cox’s opinion of Phoenix even extended to his first name, Joaquin, with the actor saying,“I think he’s well named. Joaquin…whackeen…whacky. It’s a sort of whacky performance.“TheSuccessionactor then spoke about losing historical accuracy for the sake of good drama in films and even took a shot at 1995’sBraveheartby saying:
Braveheartis a load of nonsense. Mel Gibson was wonderful, but it’s a load of lies. He never impregnated the French princess. It is a bollocks [sic] film.
Napoleon Received Mixed Reviews From Critics
Napoleonwas directed by Scott and written by David Scarpa, with the film depicting the Coalition Wars of Napoleon Bonaparte (Phoenix). The movie primarily showcases his rise to power as well as his relationship with his wife, Joséphine Bonaparte (Vanessa Kirby).
Napoleon: Why Has the Film Received Mixed Reviews?
Ridley Scott’s historical epic, Napoleon, is loved by some and faulted by others. Here’s why the film has been attracting mixed reviews.
Much likeKillers of the Flower Moon,Napoleonwas financed by Apple TV+ but was given a theatrical release with a streaming date on their platform to be revealed at a later date. When it was all said and done, Apple providedNapoleonwith a staggering $200 million budget.
WhenNapoleonwas released last year, it was positioned as an early Academy Awards contender on a larger scale, but reviews quickly put an end to the discussion.Napoleoncurrently holds a rotten score of 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, while opening day audiences gave it a so-so “B-” on CinemaScore. That being said, most of the criticism wasn’t about Phoenix’s performance, which did receive positive notices, but because some felt the film was overlong and,at times, historically inaccurate.
The Oscar love wasn’t lost entirely, however, with the film being nominated for Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Visual Effects at the most recent Academy Awards.
