MOVIES That I Just Saw: “Napoleon.” “Finch.”

“Napoleon” (2023, Apple TV+) epic historical drama, based on the story of Napoleon Bonaparte and primarily depicting his rise to power as well as his relationship with his wife, Joséphine Bonaparte, it stars Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon and Vanessa Kirby as Joséphine. Directed by Ridley Scott, who is at ease with grand historical epics or futuristic panoramas. Recommended: “The Duellists” (1977), “Blade Runner” (1982), “Gladiator” (2000), and “Alien: Covenant” (2017). Not recommended because it is his worst: “Black Hawk Down” (2001). Recommended for discussion sake: “Exodus: Gods and Kings”(2014).

       I am a sucker for anything “historical” so waited for Apple TV+ to finally stream “Napoleon.” Although I still have hangovers of Mr Scott’s flawed facts or distorted facts in his incursion into the Battle of Mogadishu of 1993 via “Black Hawk Down,” so be it. I don’t care. Napoleon is Napoleon. 

       The journey started in 1793, amid the French Revolution, as young army officer Napoleon Bonaparte watches Marie Antoinette beheaded by the guillotine. That actually didn’t happen. I mean, Nap wasn’t there. He was commanding forces at Toulon at the time. The movie ends with Napoleon in exile on the island of Saint Helena. Etc etcetera. For sure, there are some more inaccuracies but we need to read back history books to know, who cares. For example, Napoleon never met the Duke of Wellington in person. Who cares. 

       Joaquin Phoenix as the Emperor of the French is fine. We knew he’ll do fine. But it is Vanessa Kirby as Empress Joséphine that moved me more. The performance is understated but gnawing with seductive allure and decadent fierceness. Of course, the production design was awesome and the battle scenes, stellar. Although, we already saw lots of the kind. 

       Still, “Napoleon” is highly recommended for an after-watch discussion. But then do people still do that? The endearing part of collective movie watching is the discussion part. I guess, I need to create my own Jeff as in “Finch” to be able to relive the past? 🎥💻📽

“Finch” (2021, Apple TV+) post-apocalyptic survival film, starring Tom Hanks, a robot, and a dog. That’s pretty much it, 1 hour and 55 minutes. 

       Plot: Fifteen years have passed since a massive solar flare destroyed the ozone layer, turning the planet Earth into a largely uninhabitable wasteland ravaged by extreme weather events while being scorched by the sun's ultraviolet rays, increasing surface temperatures to 150 °F. One of the few survivors, robotics engineer Finch Weinberg, lives alone with his dog Goodyear and a helper-robot Dewey in an underground St. Louis laboratory once owned by the company he worked for before the cataclysm. Finch only ventures outside, wearing a protective suit, to search for supplies.

       Soon, Dewey “died” or malfunctioned. Jeff was “born.” Of course, we have seen this kind of futuristic/apocalyptic movie before, countless times. So we know how all these are going to play out. Yet still, “Finch” manages to touch hearts. I was particularly heartbroken to hear Goodyear, the dog, howls and weeps when Finch passed away. Caleb Landry Jones is the real actor behind Jeff yet all we see is Jeff. So be it. And yes the real name of the dog is Seamus. 

       Fine for a weekend family view, with your 7-year olds. 🎥💻📽