Brian Cox says Joaquin Phoenix was “terrible” in ‘Napoleon’

Succession star Brian Cox has slammed Joaquin Phoenix‘s “terrible” performance in Napoleon – see what he had to say below.

While attending HistFest earlier this week, Cox spoke about a number of films, actors, theatre critics, and politicians that he had deemed “terrible” – which included Napoleon and its star Joaquin Phoenix.

According from a report from The Standard, Cox said of Phoenix’s role in Napoleon: “Terrible. It’s terrible. A truly terrible performance by Joaquin Phoenix. It really is appalling. I don’t know what he was thinking. I think it’s totally his fault and I don’t think Ridley Scott helps him. I would have played it a lot better than Joaquin Phoenix, I tell you that. You can say it’s good drama. No – it’s lies.”

He continued: “I think he’s well named. Joaquin… whackeen… whacky. It’s a sort of whacky performance.”

Brian Cox then hit out at the lack of accuracy in Hollywood films: “Braveheart is a load of nonsense. Mel Gibson was wonderful but it’s a load of lies. He never impregnated the French princess. It is a bollocks [sic] that film.”

Recently, Cox said he was open to returning as Succession‘s Logan Roy in a film “if it’s good enough”. However, he also stressed that he felt show creator Jesse Armstrong ended the show at the right time: “What I love about it and what I love about Jesse Armstrong is we don’t go past our sell-by date.”

“A lot of American shows do go past their sell-by dates. We’ve left people wanting. You always want to keep people wanting.”

As for Joaquin Phoenix, the actor is next due to appear on the big screen in Joker: Folie à Deux alongside Lady Gaga. Phoenix will resume his unique and complex portrayal of the iconic DC villain, a performance which earned him the Oscar for Best Actor in the movie. In the second movie however, the character of Arthur Fleck/Joker is no longer alone, teaming up with his comic book sidekick and lover, Harley Quinn (Gaga).