Well it's not as if Napoleon spoke English anyway, so while I understand the question, one might argue that French-accented English is not really more authentic than Joaquin speaking English with his own accent.
I suppose we are to understand that in reality Napoleon would be speaking French but for this film we are substituting English.
Napoleon was French so why isn't the dialogue in French?
Because it's a big, glossy Hollywood blockbuster made (primarily) for a mainstream American audience. Authenticity probably wasn't the goal.
The mainstream American audience is smart enough to comprehend that it would have been silly to have made this movie with everyone speaking French. Let French film makers do that version for the mainstream French audience.
shareUm. I wasn't advocating that the film should be have been made in French. I was taking the OP's rather silly premise -- 'Napolean [sic] was French, so where is the French accent?' -- to its logical conclusion.
You're right though. It would be silly to make such a film in French. Because it's for a mainstream American audience who mostly wouldn't go to see a film in French. With these kinds of budgets, the filmmakers can't afford to limit its appeal in that fashion.
And if you're not going to make it in French, there's really no point in making it with French accents.
Picard in trek has a English accent.
shareNapoleon actually spoke French with what we would call an Italian accent.
He was bullied for it as a child while growing up in France.
Ridley probably got tired of those braindead people who complaint about Depardieu's accent in 1492.
shareThe whole casting of him is ridiculous. He doesn’t look a thing like Napoleon. He looks like some guy dressed like Napoleon for a Halloween party.
shareOMG. This is Alexander-sized disaster all over again...
shareHe kinda looks like Abel Gance's Napoleon, though.
shareEven the French had trouble casting Napoleon. He had such an unusual round face with sharp features. You also need a seasoned actor to play him, not a young newcomer chosen for his look only.
Christian Clavier playing him in the 2002 French mini serie:
https://cdn.happygeeks.com/media/04ed318720f904a230143a7be7be32ae.jpg
The closest physical ressemblance was Marlon Brando in Désirée (1954), but it was a romance movie and his voice didn't work at all.
https://images-cdn.bridgemanimages.com/api/1.0/image/600wm.XXX.73615040.7055475/4048458.jpg
Joaquin might as well be speaking French, because I ain't gonna see/hear it!
shareNapoleon was NOT French, moron.
share