RT Castleberry

Saw Napoleon at an early morning screening--and left after 2 hours (it runs just under 3). As the title character, Joaquin Phoenix gives one of the worst performances by a professional actor I've ever seen. He seems overwhelmed by the costumes and pageantry, coming across as stiff to the point of a waxen figure. The speeches are rendered like a frightened 5th grader reciting the Gettsyburg Address. He doesn't have a single believable--or lifelike moment in the movie. Vanessa Kirby, who's a fine actress, does as well as she can as Josephine, playing against the deathly awful Phoenix. The battle scenes are, per Ridley Scott, overwhelming. But why Scott allowed Phoenix to play Napoleon as a sleepwalker is something the box office will answer. Save your money.