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Monsieur N.
Metascore
65 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
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  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Ray Bennett
    80
    With some excellent staging, fine cinematography and first-rate acting, the film largely overcomes the awe it demonstrates for its principal character and succeeds in creating a mystery where perhaps there is none.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Thomas
    80
    An elegant, sophisticated mystery.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    80
    If it all adds up to too much for one film to encompass with ease, Monsieur N, is certainly richer than most of what you'll find on the History Channel.
  4. The New Republic
    Reviewed by: Stanley Kauffmann
    80
    The film holds us principally because of its Napoleon. Philippe Torreton doesn't perform the role: he exists.
  5. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    75
    Has a certain captivating quality about it.
  6. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ella Taylor
    70
    And though at over two hours the movie is too long and too slow, de Caunes sustains a sense of mystery and ambiguity to the end of what is both a satisfying character study and a stately quasi-thriller for amateur historians.
  7. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Noel Murray
    70
    De Caunes and screenwriter René Manzor do well when they dwell on history from a mundane human perspective, but Monsieur N. is too dry and too unsurprising for its two-hour running time.
  8. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Ben Kenigsberg
    70
    As modest conspiracy-mongering, the movie is perfectly robust, earning its dramatic impact from its classical sense of intrigue and Philippe Torreton's testy performance in the title role.
  9. Variety
    Reviewed by: Lisa Nesselson
    70
    An intricate, fetchingly lensed tale of historical speculation framed as a plausible thriller.
  10. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    60
    Even when the script takes a turn for the chatty, there's always something pretty to look at.
  11. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Michael O'Sullivan
    60
    In the end Monsieur N. could use a little less cloak-and-dagger and more of what made "The Emperor's New Clothes" work, i.e., heart.
  12. New York Post
    Reviewed by: V.A. Musetto
    50
    The film tends to be pretentious and melodramatic; and Grant, better suited to comic roles, gives a heavy-handed performance.
  13. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jack Mathews
    38
    The second half of Antoine de Caunes' Monsieur N., about the post-exile life and death of Napoleon, plays less like a movie than a suggestion for one. This is a great disappointment because the first half is very cinematic and very compelling.
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User Reviews

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User Score
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No user score yet- Awaiting 3 more ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. IgorC.
    5
    Beautiful to watch but script plods & steps on it's wank for more than 2 hours. I'll never get those 2 hours back!