Napoleon
While I expect historians will have justification for complaint, I had an absolute blast watching this speed-run of the life of Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix). When our slightly odd-ball protagonist accepts a mission to re-take the French port of Toulon from the despised British, he kick-starts a chain of events that will eventually make him emperor of France. And then an exiled prisoner. Then emperor again.
Look, history takes a back seat here, as the real story concerns Napoleon’s twin passions: battle and Josephine. The latter is played by Vanessa Kirby, so one can understand his obsession. Frustratingly, we never really get to the bottom of their relationship, which causes some of the domestic scenes to drag a little. Nor do we really see what makes them tick. Watching their very public divorce, I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry. But their interactions, while funny, or shocking, or just plain weird, are never dull.
And on the battlefield, this movie really kicks up a gear or two. I’m very surprised this was only given a 15 certification in the UK, as the violence is extremely gory and intense. From the slightly chaotic seige of Toulon, through icy Austerlitz, to a final, staggering showdown at Waterloo, the battle scenes are equal parts beauty and horror, as the technial brilliance of military tactics meets the bloody simplicity of flesh and sabre. Also – slightly random thought – but the costuming for the men in this movie is astonishing. They all look incredible – the bright colours, the embroidery and ostentation, the capes and the boots and the hats! It all comes together wonderfully, and although the cinematic release ran to over 2 and a half hours, there is supposed to be a 4 hour cut that I cannot wait to get my hands on.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning
While not technically a flop, the latest installment of the Mission: Impossible series did get a little swept away by the cinematic onslaught that was Barbenheimer. Which is a shame, as this is one of Ethan Hunt’s strongest outings yet.
When a rogue artificial intelligence threatens global stability, Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team are tasked with tracking down two halves of a key which will, theoretically, disarm this technologically superior enemy. But when a ghost from Ethan’s past (Esai Morales) re-emerges, the line between enemy and friend becomes blurred, as Ethan starts to question what he is really fighting for.
Strong performances underpin a plot which barely pauses for breath, as we rattle through stunning set-pieces across a smorgasboard of gorgeous locations. Rooted in the ever-brilliant stunt work that has become the Mission: Impossible hallmark, Dead Reckoning is a stylish and absurdly enjoyable gem.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
While it failed to set the box-office alight, this fifth and final Indiana Jones film is a worthy swan song from one of cinemas greatest characters. Harrison Ford gives his best curmugeonly and vulnerable performance yet, as our now-retired archeologist finds himself dragged into a race against time to prevent a sinister plot by an old enemy, the Nazis.
While it lacks Spielberg’s directorial brilliance, there’s a lots to enjoy in this pleasingly old-fashioned, globe-trotting adventure. Mads Mikkelson is, of course, perfectly malign as the Nazi egg-head Voller, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge brings snark and energy as Indy’s new found side-kick. While the action is engaging, it’s the film’s willingness to wear it’s heart on it sleeve that really resonates. Nostalgia abounds, but doesn’t overwhelm proceedings, as faces from the past pop up to help out, while also reminding us how old we’re all getting. The film cheekily succeeds in having a finale that is both brilliantly overblown, and tenderly low-key. And that final acknowledgement of Indy’s aging, of all that he has lost, and what he still has to live for, gives the whole Indiana Jones saga a poignant and fitting finale.
Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse
My final word of 2023 has to go to my favourite film of the year. Following on from the practically perfect Into the Spiderverse is a nigh-impossible task, but this joyous, beautiful, endlessly inventive sequel over-delivers in every possible way. While it wasn’t easy, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) has finally found his feet as Spiderman. However, life as a superhero is just one damn thing after another. And what begins as a minor altercation with an adversary called The Spot, ends with Miles starting to realise just how complicated existance can be.
While the concept of the multiverse isn’t a new one to cinema, this is the most comprehensive and dramatically satisfying presentation of it that I’ve seen. It shows how diverse and downright perculiar life across the multiverse can be, and how all these seemingly disparate parts are intricately connected. Far from diluting the responsibility that comes with making choices, this multiverse actually makes choices even more important and potentially dangerous.
Yet characters and relationships are at the heart of the movie. The warmth and messiness of family life is wonderfully conveyed. How growing up is as much about loss as it is about gain. The way life always seems to run just ahead of our understanding, for parents as well as for the young. And it’s so stunning! Scene follows gorgeous scene, in a dizzying, almost outrageous display of visual storytelling. The film is stuffed full of images that couldn’t possibly be created in real life. Half a dozen times I remembered thinking, “That must be the most beautiful shot in this movie. Oh, no – THAT one is.” Yet it’s all so well managed, it looks effortless. Other superhero movies look lumpen in comparison. And the story isn’t over yet. As we left Miles trapped in the wrong dimention, and the whole multiverse on the edge of collapse, I cannot wait to see how this wonderful story ends.
Hope you had as much fun reading this as I did writing it. What did you enjoy seeing the most in 2023? What are you most excited for next year? Let me know, and best wishes for 2024!