Joaquin Phoenix Photo: AppleTV+Joaquin Phoenix finds Napoleon morose, anguished, petulant and a bit childlike, which reminds me that although I enjoyed his morose, anguished, petulant and a bit childlike performance as the Joker, his decision to play Jesus Christ as morose, anguished, petulant and a bit childlike, in 2019’s little-seen “ Mary Magdalene ,” felt a bit off. Mr. Phoenix even appeared morose, etc. (Being 49, Mr. Phoenix is too old for all but the final moments.) Most of the movie is a vaguely comical swipe at Napoleon in domestic life—an awkward lover, a jealous husband, an inveterate complainer, and in sum an annoying twerp. Mr. Phoenix’s Napoleon could never have commanded so much as a squadron of the Salvation Army, and though the movie is sprinkled with a few reasonably hearty battle scenes, overall it’s something like Mr. Scott’s Waterloo.

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