Much thanks to Jose (@HuatheAlgDemon) for pointing out that Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” seems to officially clock in at two hours and a half.
This intel comes from Scott’s epic having already been rated in South Korea from its official rating boards website — indicating that the film has been completed.
I would hope it’s been completed. Scott is currently in Morocco shooting his “Gladiator” sequel. I don’t believe that “Napoleon” will be going to Venice in September, but I’m ready to be proven wrong.
The “Napoleon” runtime is actually 157 minutes and 43 seconds, and it's been rated 18+ for VERY strong violence and sexual content, moderate-high amounts of language/drug use/subject matter.
That basically sets it up for an R-rating in the U.S.
There were two seperate test screenings for “Napoleon” in the Spring and I had reported that it was in the 150-minute ballpark, so this checks out.
I had published four reactions of Scott’s film, they were as follows: masterpiece, masterpiece, mixed and negative. Filmmaker/Screenwriter Matthew Wilder, who has no connections to Scott, also wrote on his instagram in April that “Napoleon” is “one of the best films I’ve seen in years”.
This was never going to be a critically-acclaimed triumph. When was the last time Scott released such a movie? Has he ever? But how can you not be intrigued at the prospect of seeing Joaquin Phoenix as Bonaparte. It’s a high-wire bit of casting on the part of Scott. I’m way more excited for this film than his “Gladiator” sequel.