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I went to see Ridley Scott’s Napoleon biopic last night. I’d been primed by the early reviews to expect something on an epic scale, sweeping his fearsome military career, formidable years as emperor of France and lonely final days in exile. What I didn’t expect was to get the giggles.
David Scarpa’s screenplay is devilishly funny. And whip-smart too. His Napoleon whines with sexual frustration, stamps his feet when he doesn’t get his way and insists – with a straight face – that the very lamb chops he dines on were destined for his plate.
