THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES -------------------------
As reimaginings have become popular in literature, so now too the movie screen offers us a historical reimagining - what if Napoleon had escaped his exile on St. Helena with the assistance of a double and made his way back to Paris in an effort to regain his throne? Ian Holm ("The Sweet Hereafter") stars as Bonaparte and the lookalike deckhand Eugene who grows too fond of Napoleon's lavish lifestyle in "The Emperor's New Clothes."
As adapted by Kevin Molony from Simon Leys' novel "The Death of Napoleon" and directed by Alan Taylor ("Palookaville"), Napoleon's journey is interesting but his Parisian rebirth is stillborn. It's a pleasure to watch Ian Holm in a double role and Iben Hjeile ("High Fidelity") is natural and well cast as his love interest, but the story is too slight, it's pacing too given to fits and starts, to make this a wholly satisfying experience.
Holm colors Bonaparte's imperiousness with shades of humorous empathy. When describing his boredom with the confines of St. Helena, he tells a faithful servant 'You're quite ugly you know. I didn't have the heart to tell you.' Upon meeting his coarser self at the shoreline, he seriously despairs as to how the charade will work with a man who looks nothing like him!
Horrified when his ship bypasses his arranged landing at Brest, where he was to meet a trusted emissary, Napoleon must take a coach from Brussels which travels to Paris via Waterloo. Sickened by the site of his battlefield turned tourist site, he oversleeps at the inn and misses his coach. After a small but touching scene with maidservant Adele Raffin (the notable Haley Carmichael), he's arrested, but Sgt. Bommel (Clive Russell, "Oscar and Lucinda") is an insider who provides a bear hug and a horse.
In Paris, Napoleon mostly waits for the unveiling of the imposter in order to make his move. The film rouses itself when Napoleon turns around Pumpkin's (Hjeile) fruit business with military strategy, but little else really happens. When the imposter dies, Napoleon can't convince anyone of his identity, which never rings true (as does his adjutants failure to expose his double before his death). The one man who had guessed it, Dr. Lambert (Tim McInnerny, "Notting Hill"), suppresses the information in a jealous pique. Pairing Napoleon with a strong businesswoman was a good idea, but there's no passion in the relationship. A young boy who lives with Pumpkin, Gerard (Tom Watson), serves no narrative purpose.
Director of Photography Alessio Gelsini Torresi ("La Scorta") props up the weak storyline with some gorgeous shots. Napoleon is awakened by another deckhand to enjoy the cloud-streaked, powder blue and peach sky of dawn. Napoleon strides towards a palace as two columns of guards march towards us. Silhouettes and a magic lantern are artfully employed.
"The Emperor's New Clothes" lacks the grandeur of its subject. It's a slight film held aloft by beautiful imagery and its engaging leads.
B-
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