In this podcast, the hosts discuss the lack of imagination in Ridley Scott's movie about the French Revolution and Napoleon. They also analyze the leadership styles of Stephen Harper and Pierre Polyevre, critique the inaccurate historical depiction in the movie, and delve into Thomas Carlisle's influence on historical perception. Additionally, they provide a detailed account of a failed insurrection and the fall of the sacred rite.
57:17
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Quick takeaways
Ridley Scott's Napoleon biopic lacks coherence and fails to delve into the complexities of the main character's motivations.
The film showcases Ridley Scott's lack of interest in history and his reliance on anglosphere perspectives about the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.
The film 'Napoleon' directed by Ridley Scott inaccurately portrays historical events, taking artistic liberties and omitting important details for a more sensationalized narrative.
Deep dives
Ridley Scott's Napoleon biopic lacks coherence and clear vision
The podcast episode discusses Ridley Scott's Napoleon biopic and highlights its lack of coherence and clear vision. The film jumps from one famous episode of the Napoleonic Wars to another, without delving into the motivations or complexities of the main character. The podcast hosts expected the film to explore how Napoleon's relationship with Josephine impacted his governance, but felt disappointed by the lack of development in that regard. They also noted the film's mixed signals, oscillating between a straightforward great man biopic and moments of attempted satire or critic. The hosts ultimately felt that the film fails to coalesce its competing instincts, resulting in a lackluster portrayal of Napoleon and his era.
Ridley Scott's lack of interest in history leads to reliance on anglosphere perspectives
The discussion also points out Ridley Scott's lack of interest in history, which manifests in his reliance on anglosphere perspectives and received wisdom about the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Despite the highly debated and studied nature of this period, Scott fails to offer a coherent and unique perspective. The hosts mention the influence of influential conservative figures like Edmund Burke and Thomas Carlyle, whose writings shaped anglosphere understanding of the French Revolution. Furthermore, the podcast highlights how Scott leans into a Cold War-inflected interpretation of the French Revolution, which portrays it as a cautionary tale of mass democracy and dangerous utopian ideologies.
The episode dissects a pivotal scene in the film and its historical inaccuracies
The podcast episode analyzes a pivotal scene in the film where Napoleon fires at a crowd during a Royalist uprising in 1795. This moment is depicted as an act of raw brutality. The hosts compare this scene to a famous passage from Thomas Carlyle's 'The French Revolution,' noting its inaccuracies. The discussion explores how Ridley Scott's lack of historical research and reliance on received wisdom result in a film that lacks depth and fails to provide a clear perspective on Napoleon and the era.
Inaccuracies in Historical Events
The podcast episode discusses the film 'Napoleon' directed by Ridley Scott, criticizing its inaccurate portrayal of historical events. The film takes artistic liberties and omits important details, such as the fact that the execution of Marie Antoinette happened years after 1789. It also overlooks the period of constitutional monarchy in France, depicting the king and queen as innocent victims. These inaccuracies contribute to the film's coherence and lack of depth.
Conservative Ideas and Historical Misrepresentation
The podcast highlights the film's underlying conservatism and its tendency to showcase certain conservative and reactionary ideas. Ridley Scott incorporates received wisdom about the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, expressing skepticism towards mass democracy. The film also presents a distorted view of Napoleon Bonaparte, portraying him as a stoic and uncharismatic figure. Additionally, the film's depiction of the Royalist uprising in 1795 omits crucial historical facts and distorts the events for a more sensationalized narrative. This blending of conservative viewpoints and historical misrepresentation diminishes the film's quality and makes it politically problematic.
The French Revolution and the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte have inspired a lot of takes... so, of course, you can depend on Ridley Scott to find the least imaginative one. We discuss his lugubrious NAPOLEON (2023). PLUS: An update on Canadian politics, and some thoughts on the man who may be Prime Minsiter, Pierre Poilievre.
Michael and Us is a podcast about political cinema and our crumbling world hosted by Will Sloan and Luke Savage.
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