Joaquin Phoenix delivered a ‘truly terrible’ performance in the film Napoleonaccording to Scottish actor Brian Cox, who believes he himself would have been much better in the role.
Star of the series Succession, Brian Cox was invited to discuss on a panel on Tuesday at London’s HistFest (a history festival). There was talk of historical drama Napoleonreleased in November 2023, and received by mixed reviews, with some seeing historical incongruities.
According to Brian Cox, it was firstly the interpreter of the title role, the American actor Joaquin Phoenix (Gladiator, Joker) who must be blamed.
“It’s really terrible,” he said after describing Joaquin Phoenix’s interpretation as “terrible.” “I don’t know what he was thinking. I think it’s totally his fault and I don’t think Ridley Scott [le réalisateur de Napoleon] ugly. I would have played him much better than Joaquin Phoenix, I tell you. It can be said that it is a good drama. No. These are lies,” said Brian Cox, quoted in the London newspaper The Standard.
Brian Cox played himself in the historical film: he played the role of Argyle Wallace in the film Braveheartin 1995. According to him, his playing partner, Mel Gibson, was “terrific”, even if Braveheart contains “a bunch of lies”. Brian Cox also attacked former US President Donald Trump. An “idiot”, according to him.
Brian Cox, 77, doesn’t have his tongue in his pocket. In recent years, he has attacked woke culture, criticized “The Method” (performing principles followed by many major American actors), and publicly supported writer JK Rowling in the controversy with the transgender community.