Joaquin Phoenix's new film hailed as 'captivating' as it's met with 5-star reviews

A new film from the brilliant Joaquin Phoenix has been hailed as 'captivating' as it is set to hit cinemas in the US from next Wednesday (22 November).

Ever since bagging his 2020 Oscar for Best Actor following his knock-out performance in Joker, fans of Phoenix have been desperate to see what he'll do next.

Napoleon, directed by Ridley Scott, is the next big release featuring the much loved film star as he plays the historical legend Napoleon Bonaparte.

The new movie - which will depict the French leader's rise to power, as well as his relationship with Empress Joséphine - has been hailed by industry critics with recent reviews.

An official synopsis for the film reads: "A look at the military commander's origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine."

As is usually the case ahead of any big film release, much of the media get the chance to watch the movie ahead of the release so they can inform their readers whether to take the plunge or not.

And it's certainly fair to say critics are loving Napoleon as it is awarded a ton of five-star reviews.

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Currently, Napoleon sits at an impressive 78 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, after reviewers watched through the 2 hour, 38 minute long film.

Peter Bradshaw, from The Guardian penned: "Scott has created an outrageously enjoyable cavalry charge of a movie, a full-tilt biopic of two and a half hours in which Scott doesn’t allow his troops to get bogged down mid-gallop in the muddy terrain of either fact or metaphysical significance."

Collider's Ross Bonaime added: "Napoleon is a grand film, both in terms of Scott creating a story with a size we’ve rarely seen from him, and the bold, large choices made by a completely game Phoenix."

While Kevin Maher from The Times said: "The captivating power of Phoenix’s performance, delivered in his American vernacular, is that it hovers in a twitchy, shifty, grey zone between imperious outbursts, wounded vulnerability and puckish charm."

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Regular movie geeks may not have had the opportunity to watch Napoleon yet, but that hasn't stopped them flocking to social media to express their excitement for the project.

"Finally a movie that is worth going to the cinema for. Thank god there are still filmmakers like Ridley Scott," one X, formerly known as Twitter, user wrote.

While another added: "Music, the cinematography, the action, how does Ridley Scott make the best big battle movies in cinema? He's one of the greatest artists of our lifetime."