YMMV / Napoléon (2002)

• Fandom Rivalry: Among modern French Bonapartists and French enthusiasts of The Napoleonic Wars, it's usually down to two portrayals about "Who's the best screen Napoleon?" — either Albert Dieudonné from the 1927 silent film for the more cinephiles or Christian Clavier from this miniseries for the more historical accuracy and Empire era-oriented. At least both sides have agreed that Joaquin Phoenix (2023's Napoleon) didn't cut it.
• He Really Can Act: The casting of Christian Clavier as Napoléon Bonaparte was initially met with quite some derision in France, not least because up to that point he had only played comedic film roles (the Medieval Moron Jacquouille and his Nervous Wreck of a descendant Jacquart in Les Visiteurs in particular). Critics and most audiences then found him surprisingly adept in the role, as had been the case when he played Thénardier in Les Misérables.

---