Napoleon (Soundtrack from the Apple Original Film) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Film score by | ||||
Released | November 24, 2023 | |||
Studio | Abbey Road Studios, London | |||
Genre | Film score | |||
Length | 47:31 | |||
Label | Milan | |||
Producer | Martin Phipps | |||
Martin Phipps chronology | ||||
|
Napoleon (Soundtrack from the Apple Original Film) is the soundtrack to the 2023 historical drama film Napoleon directed by Ridley Scott. Based on the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, the film stars Joaquin Phoenix as the titular character and featured musical score written and composed by Martin Phipps. It was released by Milan Records on November 24, 2023, two days after the film's release. [1]
Napoleon marked Phipps' maiden collaboration with Scott; [2] during the conversation with Deadline Hollywood 's Sound and Screen event, Phipps attributed that the conversation with Scott regarding the film's music was quite tough, but "when he did talk about [the score], he was really talking about the character and not being prescriptive about the music". He never indirectly attributed the specific instruments but wanted him to understand Napoleon's character and how he truly is, and added that: [3]
"[Scott wanted me] to understand that Napoleon was a character and that he was an outsider. He wasn’t a polished aristocrat like many of the officers were in the army, and that’s, in fact, why he escaped the guillotine because he was a low-ranking aristocrat. And he wanted me to represent that in music." [3]
He recalled Scott's ideas on how Napoleon was "not a super popular guy" but a relatively "simple, straightforward" person. This intended him to go with a gangsters-type of tune for the film. [3] Scott attributed the 1975 film Barry Lyndon directed by Stanley Kubrick, which he directed after his unrealized project of the biopic on Napoleon. Tonally the film did not have a score composed for it, but selections of temp tracks that Kubrick curated and edited. Hence, Phipps brought back the similar approach while scoring the film. Most of the pieces he wrote were almost the tracks that have a flavour of the time period that were not scored traditionally. He described it as a "step back" and a "chance to be more specific and particular" regarding the use of music. [4]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Napoleon's Piano" | 2:13 |
2. | "Toulon" | 3:25 |
3. | "Josephine" | 3:08 |
4. | "Soldiers of the 5th Regiment" | 4:22 |
5. | "Ladies in Waiting" | 1:52 |
6. | "Austerlitz Kyrie" (Martin Phipps and Ensemble Organum) | 2:55 |
7. | "We Are Discovered" | 6:04 |
8. | "Make the Rain Stop" | 2:07 |
9. | "Look Down" | 1:58 |
10. | "First Counsel" | 2:47 |
11. | "Russia" | 4:14 |
12. | "Return to France" | 1:47 |
13. | "Waterloo Requiem" | 4:24 |
14. | "Downfall" (Martin Phipps and Ensemble Organum) | 3:32 |
15. | "Bonaparte's Lament" (Martin Phipps and Ensemble Spartimu) | 2:43 |
Total length: | 47:31 |
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter called Phipps' score as "wide-ranging" and the use of period music as "inventive". [5] Manuel of FandomWire wrote "Martin Phipps' thunderous score also contributes to the cinematic experience that warrants a big screen". [6] Peter Debruge of Variety described Phipps' score as "epic". [7] Devansh Sharma of Hindustan Times wrote "Composer Martin Phipps replaces the celebratory music of the French Revolution with a more reflective score, as shots of blood diffusing into the water under the ice cover the screen." [8] Filmtracks wrote "Napoleon is one of the most interestingly unique, albeit brief scores to debut in this genre for many years. That alone earns it some goodwill, but its personality is too split, its discord too great for a recommendation on album." [9]
Sir Ridley Scott is an English filmmaker. He is best known for directing films in the science fiction, crime, and historical drama genres. His work is known for its atmospheric and highly concentrated visual style. He ranks among the highest-grossing directors and has received many accolades, including the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement in 2018, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003, and appointed a Knight Grand Cross by King Charles III in 2024.
Joaquin Rafael Phoenix is an American actor. Known for his roles as dark, unconventional and eccentric characters in independent film, particularly in period dramas, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2020, The New York Times named him one of the greatest actors of the 21st century.
Gladiator is a 2000 historical epic film directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson from a story by Franzoni. It stars Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou and Richard Harris. Crowe portrays the Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed when Commodus, the ambitious son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, murders his father and seizes the throne. Reduced to slavery, Maximus becomes a gladiator and rises through the ranks of the arena, determined to avenge the murders of his family and the emperor.
David Scarpa is an American screenwriter. He is best known for his collaborations with director Ridley Scott, writing the screenplays for All the Money in the World (2017), about the John Paul Getty III kidnapping, Napoleon (2023), a historical biopic centered on Napoleon Bonaparte, and Gladiator II (2024), a sequel to the 2000 film Gladiator.
Scott Free Productions is a British-American independent film and television production company founded in 1970 by filmmakers and brothers Ridley Scott and Tony Scott. They formed the feature film development company Percy Main Productions in 1980, naming the company after the English village Percy Main, where their father grew up. The company was renamed Scott Free Productions in 1995. Scott Free has produced films ranging from the 2000 Hollywood blockbuster Gladiator (2000) to "smaller pictures" like Cracks (2009). Between the productions of White Squall (1996) and G.I. Jane (1997), Ridley Scott reorganised the company.
Tahar Rahim is a French actor. His breakthrough performance was in the 2009 French film A Prophet, for which he won the César Award for Best Actor and Most Promising Actor. He then starred as FBI agent Ali Soufan in the miniseries The Looming Tower and Judas in the film Mary Magdalene.
Daniel Pemberton is an English composer. Primarily working in film, television, and video games, he is best known for composing the scores for the film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the latter of which earned him a number of award nominations, including at the Golden Globes and the Critics' Choice Awards. He has also received recognition for his work in films such as Steve Jobs, Motherless Brooklyn, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Being the Ricardos, and The Rescue, as well as the LittleBigPlanet series of games. For The Trial of the Chicago 7, Pemberton was nominated for the Ivor Novello Award for Best Original Film Score as well as Academy Award for Best Original Song alongside Celeste for the song “Hear My Voice”.
Vanessa Nuala Kirby is an English actress. She made her professional acting debut on stage, with acclaimed performances in the plays All My Sons (2010), A Midsummer Night's Dream (2010), Women Beware Women (2011), Three Sisters (2012), and as Stella Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire (2014).
Mary Magdalene is a 2018 biblical drama film about the woman of the same name, written by Helen Edmundson and Philippa Goslett and directed by Garth Davis. It stars Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Tahar Rahim.
The following is a list of unproduced Ridley Scott projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, English film director Ridley Scott has worked on a number of projects that never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell into development hell or were officially canceled.
Joker is a 2019 American psychological thriller film directed by Todd Phillips from a screenplay he co-wrote with Scott Silver. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix and is loosely based on DC Comics characters, including the Joker. It follows Arthur Fleck, a failed clown and aspiring stand-up comedian whose descent into mental illness and nihilism culminates with the emergence of an alter-ego known as "Joker" and inspires a violent countercultural revolution against the wealthy in a decaying Gotham City. Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Frances Conroy appear in supporting roles. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, Joker was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Films in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, Bron Creative and Joint Effort.
Joker: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the original soundtrack album to the 2019 film Joker, based on the DC Comics character of the same name, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Frances Conroy. The record consists of seventeen tracks from a film score written and composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir which received critical acclaim from the film industry. Hildur's score was released digitally by WaterTower Music on September 27, 2019, with a vinyl edition later released on December 13.
Napoleon is a 2023 epic historical drama film directed and co-produced by Ridley Scott and written by David Scarpa. Based on the life of Napoleon and primarily depicting his rise to power as well as his relationship with his wife, Joséphine, it stars Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon and Vanessa Kirby as Joséphine.
The Wolverine (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2013 superhero film of the same name, directed by James Mangold. Featuring the Marvel Comics character Wolverine, the film is the sixth installment in the X-Men film series, the second installment in the trilogy of Wolverine films after X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), and a spin-off/sequel to X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). The film's musical score is composed by Marco Beltrami, who previously scored Mangold's 3:10 to Yuma (2007).
The Batman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score to the film of the same name composed by Michael Giacchino. The soundtrack was released by WaterTower Music on February 25, 2022, a week ahead of the release of the film.
Dark Phoenix (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2019 film of the same name, based on the Marvel Comics X-Men characters. It is a sequel to X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) the seventh and final mainline installment in the X-Men film series, and the twelfth installment overall. Directed by Simon Kinberg, the film's musical score is composed by Hans Zimmer; his first superhero film he scored after Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). The soundtrack album was released alongside the film on June 7, 2019, by Fox Music. The score received mixed critical response. A second album titled Xperiments From Dark Phoenix released in that August, containing unreleased music from the film, which garnered generally favorable response.
Gladiator II is an upcoming epic historical action film directed and co-produced by Ridley Scott. Serving as a sequel to Gladiator (2000), the film was written by David Scarpa from a story he wrote with Peter Craig. It stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington. Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprise their roles from the first film. It was produced by Scott Free Productions, Red Wagon Entertainment and Parkes+MacDonald Image Nation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The story follows Lucius, the former heir to the Roman Empire and son of Maximus and Lucilla, who becomes a gladiator after his home is invaded by the Roman army led by Marcus Acacius. Lucius seeks revenge against Acacius and fights as a gladiator for Macrinus, a former slave who plots to overthrow the emperors Caracalla and Geta.
American Gangster (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the Ridley Scott-directed 2007 film American Gangster. It consisted of fourteen tracks from blues and soul musicians such as such as Bobby Womack, The Staple Singers, Sam & Dave, and John Lee Hooker. The soundtrack was described as an introduction to the visual and sonic world that "contained entity of the 1970s". It also includes two cues from the film score Marc Streitenfeld, who also produced the soundtrack. It was released by Island Records and Def Jam Recordings digitally on October 23, 2007, and followed a physical release, the week later.
Joker: Folie à Deux is the film score soundtrack to the 2024 film Joker: Folie à Deux, composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir. The album featured 19 tracks which was released under the WaterTower Music label on September 27, 2024. It was preceded by the lead single "There Is No Joker" released on September 9.
Gladiator II (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack album composed by Harry Gregson-Williams for the 2024 film Gladiator II by Ridley Scott. It will be released on 15 November 2024, the same date as the film's theatrical release in the United Kingdom.