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Tribune News Service
Tribune News Service
It may be surprising to hear that Ridley Scott’s new historical epic “Napoleon” is funny—intentionally so. Utilizing the unique performance qualities of his star Joaquin Phoenix, and a screenplay by David Scarpa, Scott’s biopic of the famous French emperor and military commander is a political farce in the vein of Scottish satirist Armando Iannucci, the genius behind “In The Loop,” “Veep” and “The Death of Stalin.” That impish humor provides a tonal contrast to the look and feel of this sprawling film, in which Scott has put every cent of his substantial budget (courtesy of Apple Studios) on s…