Weekend Watch: Wish, Napoleon
Disney's turning 100 and Ridley Scott's tackling more historical action
Image Credit: Walt Disney Pictures
Welcome to the latest edition of Weekend Watch, where I recommend (or occasionally warn against) movies or TV shows I’ve been checking out. This week, Disney celebrates its legacy and Ridley Scott chronicles history –– with tweaks. Follow James on Twitter: @jamwhite and Threads/Instagram: @jammerwhite
Disney, as a company, has never been afraid of nostalgia. In fact, it’s one of the key tenets of the brand. With its 100th anniversary this year, Wish is that ethos in cinematic form, turned up to an extreme degree.
Directed by Frozen veteran Chris Buck and rising Disney talent Fawn Veerasunthorn, the film follows Asha, a 17-year-old voiced by Ariana DeBose, who lives in the magical city of Rosas. King Magnifico (Chris Pine), who rules the city, periodically grants its citizens’ wishes. But when Asha learns that King Magnifico has no intention of granting the vast majority of the wishes and keeping them to fuel his own power and ambitions, she goes on a mission to free them.
Cue an encounter with an actual star (and riffs on ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’ littering the score) and chaos ensues. Magnifico, as it turns out is more conflicted baddie than grand saviour and…. Well, you can figure it out from there.
This is both the blessing and the curse here: in celebrating its vast back catalogue of animated fantasy (and other) tales, the Mouse House has fallen back into many of the narrative traps, producing something here that is about as surprising as learning that a politician lied.
DeBose, of course, has bags of charm and a singing voice to rival the best of past Disney heroines; and Pine makes good use of his own vocal talents to make Magnifico a fine baddie when the turn comes. Elsewhere, though, this feels like the studio on autopilot, as though it threw different past plots into an AI scriptwriting system and asked it to generate something new.
The songs, meanwhile, by Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, are a mix of memorable (Magnifico’s big ‘This Is The Thanks I Get?!’) and largely fun-but-forgettable.
Characters beyond Asha and her family, plus a couple of her more memorable friends (Alan Tudyk once more does stalwart work as pet goat Valentino, who thanks to Asha’s wish can now talk) are extremely basic and unlikely to linger in the mind.
The animation, which feels distinct from past adventures, is impressively watercolour-meets-CG and makes up for some of the plot’s shortcomings.
Despite its flaws, Wish is still an entertaining film. It’s a great choice for families who are looking for a light and fluffy animated frolic. Just don't expect to be blown away by the story.
Wish is in UK and US cinemas now.
Image Credit: Sony Pictures
Talking of history, Ridley Scott's latest trip back in time, Napoleon, is a grand spectacle that chronicles the rise and fall of the French emperor, played by Joaquin Phoenix. The film, while visually stunning and meticulously crafted, is ultimately weighed down by an uneven and often overly silly performance from its lead actor.
Phoenix’s portrayal of Bonaparte is undeniably ambitious, but it ultimately falls short of capturing the complex and enigmatic nature of the historical figure. His performance is too goofy, lacking the charisma and magnetism that one would expect from a leader of men. Phoenix seems to be trying too hard to be Napoleon, rather than simply embodying him.
In contrast, Vanessa Kirby’s performance as Empress Josephine is a revelation. Kirby is luminous and captivating, bringing a depth of emotion and nuance to her role. She captures Josephine’s strength, vulnerability, and (mostly) unwavering devotion to Napoleon, even in the face of heir issues and political turmoil. Kirby’s performance is the heart and soul of the film, even if she doesn’t get enough to do by far.
The film’s visual splendour is undeniable. Scott, a master of historical epics, recreates the Napoleonic era with breath-taking detail (there is plenty to quibble about with the authenticity, though as the director would swearily point out, this is not a documentary). The battle scenes are particularly impressive, capturing the chaos and carnage of warfare with brutal realism. However, the film’s visual beauty cannot compensate for its narrative shortcomings.
The film’s screenplay, by David Scarpa, is uneven, with some scenes feeling rushed or underdeveloped. Overall, Napoleon is a mixed bag. It is a visually impressive film with some powerful moments, but it is ultimately let down by an uneven performance from Phoenix. Vanessa Kirby’s performance as Josephine is the saving grace of the film, and she steals every scene she’s in.
Napoleon is in UK and US cinemas now ahead of it streaming on Apple TV+ at a later date.