Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Brian Cox Called Out For Harsh Review Of Joaquin Phoenix's 'Appalling' Performance In 'Napoleon'

Brian Cox; Joaquin Phoenix in 'Napoleon'
Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images; Apple TV+/Columbia Pictures

The 'Succession' star is under fire from fans after saying he could've done a better job in the divisive film than Phoenix did during a discussion at the British Library in London.

Brian Cox, known for his brutally honest opinions, didn't hold back when criticizing Joaquin Phoenix's performance in Ridley Scott's Napoleon, calling it "truly terrible" during a conversation at the British Library.

Cox questioned what Phoenix was thinking, taking the role and making his unique acting choices.


“It really is appalling, I don’t know what he was thinking…I would have played it a lot better than Joaquin Phoenix, I tell you that.”

He even continued on to mock Phoenix's name, adding:

"I think he’s well-named. Joaquin...whack-een...whacky. It’s a sort of whacky performance."

The biopic, which follows the life of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, received mixed reviews upon its release last year, with some praising Phoenix's performance and others finding it lacking. Cox also criticized the film's historical accuracy, siding with critics who deemed it questionable and an insult French history.

His candid remarks sparked reactions from fans, with some wondering if he was channeling his character Logan Roy from Succession.

As a refresher, here's the trailer for the film in question.

NAPOLEON - Official Trailer (HD)www.youtube.com

Fans of Phoenix, and some of the movie Napoleon, immediately responded with criticism of Cox's words.

Many claimed that Cox sounded mean and a bit jealous.

However, many people agreed that, even if he was being rude—he might still also be correct.

And many defenders of Phoenix chimed in with the defense of the actor's performance as being due to poor script writing, not bad acting.



As Cox is most recently and widely known as his role as Logan Roy in the hit TV show Succession, people obviously compared his remarks to his character's notable bitterness and bad attitude in the show.

Other people were just so stunned they couldn't help but laugh.


Finally, there were those who characterized Cox's points as, well, unprofessional for a fellow actor to say.

Napoleon can be streamed on Apple TV+.

More from Entertainment/celebrities

Marjorie Taylor Greene
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

MTG Ripped After Vowing To Introduce Bill Making 'Weather Modification' A Felony

Republican state legislators in Louisiana introduced two bills this year banning "weather modification activities" primarily focused on "chemtrails"—things that don't exist. Florida's Republican-controlled state government signed a law banning weather modification activities and geoengineering.

Geoengineering is a term for large-scale to planetary-scale interventions in the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and soils to counteract some of the effects of climate change. There are no large-scale geoengineering programs in the United States as of 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
Megyn Kelly shamed Charlize Theron for her honest details about her sex life during an appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.
Gary Gershoff/Getty Images; Earl Gibson III/Deadline via Getty Images

Megyn Kelly criticizes Charlize Theron

Megyn Kelly shared her unsolicited opinion about Charlize Theron’s one-night stand with a man half her age, which Theron shared on Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast.

Theron discussed her sex life during the July 2nd episode while promoting her Netflix movie The Old Guard 2. The action film, starring Theron as Andy, is a sequel to the 2020 hit about a team of immortal warriors who protect the Earth with their superpowers.

Keep ReadingShow less
Brooks Nader at Wimbledon
Karwai Tang/WireImage

Model Praised For Candid Reaction After Getting Period Stain On White Skirt At Wimbledon

Model Brooks Nader got real at Wimbledon when she posted a TikTok video of her experience with a very common experience: menstruation.

In the video, she was absolutely serving in a long, white, fitted skirt, paired with a black polka dot shirt with sheer panels. She looked incredible with her wavy hair and sunglasses, but her two friends lowered their sunglasses and looked grossed out.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of press conference with Texas Governor Abbott, DHS Secretary Noem and Texas emergency services
KVUE/YouTube

National Weather Service Defends Forecasts After Texas Officials Tried To Blame Agency For Flood Deaths

On the 4th of July, an area west of San Antonio, Texas, suffered a series of flash floods in the pre-dawn hours.

Most of the devastation occurred in Kerr County in the Texas Hill Country, a popular area for hikers, campers, and summer camps. The counties of Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green, and Williamson were also affected.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @wolfiekahletti_'s TikTok video
@wolfiekahletti_/TikTok

TikTok Prankster Gets Hefty Prison Sentence After Spraying Walmart Produce With Insecticide

We've all known someone who tends to take pranks too far, but it's particularly taxing when we know someone who likes to film these pranks and share them online.

27-year-old TikTok prankster Charles Smith, known as Wolfie Kahletti on the platform (@wolfiekahletti_), is learning this the hard way.

Keep ReadingShow less