Brian Cox Says Joaquin Phoenix Was “Terrible” in Napoleon

The Emmy-winning Brian Cox had some things to say about the Academy Award-winning Joaquin Phoenix at HistFest, and they weren't too pleasant.

According to The Standard, Cox was vocal about not being a fan of Ridley Scott's latest epic, which saw Phoenix lead the charge as the infamous Napoleon Bonaparte opposite Vanessa Kirby, who played his wife, Josephine.

"It's terrible. A truly terrible performance by Joaquin Phoenix," Cox said of the Academy Award winner.

Phoenix wasn't the only recipient of his wrath. Director Ridley Scott also got a lashing. "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," Cox said.

Cox went on to say, "I would have played it a lot better than Joaquin Phoenix, I tell you that."

He didn't stop there, though. He continued by saying, "I think he's well-named. Joaquin. Whackeen. Whacky. It's a sort of whacky performance."

Phoenix is known for his affinity for the method, a form of acting which sees the performer dive into living as the character they are portraying.

Cox doesn't think much of the practice, saying, "That's all b******s. It's a kind of nonsense."

The star of Succession isn't alone in his thinking. Critics also didn't have high praise for Scott's Napoleon, giving a rotten rating of 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, with one critic equating Phoenix's performance to "an angry Donald Duck".

Nonetheless, the film secured three Oscar nominations for its technical accomplishments, even if it did fail to take home the gold.