When Macbeth (Denzel Washington), the Thane of Glamis, is told by three witches (Kathryn Hunter) that he will soon be the King of Scotland, he takes it upon himself to make that happen. Macbeth covets power and glory, but this is The Tragedy of Macbeth, and tragedy is sure to follow for someone who craves such things. This is the story of Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth (Frances McDormand), as they move toward the throne.
William Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers of all time. His many plays are full of passion, honesty, and emotion–and they continue to be prominent parts of middle and high school English curriculums to this day. The thing about Shakespeare, however, is that his language is quite convoluted and difficult to follow. For those unfamiliar with his works, it may be impossible to understand what he is saying; even for seasoned veterans of his writing it can be difficult to understand–and that alone is where the issue lies within The Tragedy of Macbeth. I think it may be safe to say that viewers under the age of eighteen will likely find it difficult to appreciate Joel Coen’s film. Furthermore, I believe that it takes a mature mind (which, of course, there are some under the age of eighteen) to appreciate this film and Shakespeare in general. The language is difficult to follow, but that’s not the fault of the filmmakers here, but, of course, the doing of Shakespeare himself. As a viewer you either have to understand what is being said or you have to look past the dialogue and appreciate the sentiment of The Tragedy of Macbeth–I’m not sure that there is any middle ground. I’m part of the group that understands the dialogue enough to appreciate the film and the emotion behind the story, and in typical Shakespeare fashion, there is something very cardinal about the words spoken throughout The Tragedy of Macbeth. However, in order to truly feel the emotion present throughout this play turned film the actors have to convey the intended emotion with accuracy.
I don’t think that anyone has ever questioned whether or not Washington is good at his craft, and his portrayal of the titular character in The Tragedy of Macbeth is another example of how talented he is. On paper he may not seem like the right person to play Macbeth, but the reality is that he can do just about anything. While the other actors on screen are incredibly talented and they convey emotion with great conviction, the obvious star of the show is Washington. His performance is dark and harrowing, presenting a level of terror and viciousness that transcends the entirey of The Tragedy of Macbeth. His passion for acting and his genuine ability to understand Macbeth allows him to bring this multidimensional character to life with great poise.
Coen makes the decision to film The Tragedy of Macbeth in black and white–giving the film a more classical feel and keeping it in tone with what many expect from a Shakespearean work. Viewers are quickly, through the combination of early modern English and lack of color, transported to a world that feels authentic. The Tragedy of Macbeth doesn’t feel like Hollywood, but rather an artistic representation of the classic play, Macbeth. For a story that has such a massive pop culture presence over the course of the past four hundred years, it seems not only like a good decision, but a necessary decision to pull viewers into this world–rather than attempt to reinvent what has already found success.
The Tragedy of Macbeth takes a very simple approach toward conveying a Shakespearean story of epic proportions to a new audience. Nothing about the production is done lavishly, and even the sets reflect what one may have seen at the Globe Theater back in 1611. The overall production of The Tragedy of Macbeth is raw, and the acting is perfect. This is a classic and artsy way of telling the popular story, and while Shakespeare and his projects don’t necessarily appeal to everyone, this is one of the most enjoyable renditions of one of his plays that I’ve seen in some time.
Directed by Joel Coen.
Written by Joel Coen & William Shakespeare.
Starring Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Alex Hassell, Bertie Carvel, Brendan Gleeson, Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling, Miles Anderson, Matt Helm, Moses Ingram, Kathryn Hunter, Scott Subiono, Brian Thompson, Lucas Barker, Stephen Root, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
I'm 67. I've done a fair number of the bard's plays. Although I wouldn't call myself an expert on his plays, I do know a few things, and after viewing this film I can honestly say I am stunned, hearing some of the speeches as if for the first time. Everything spoken is deeply grounded in all of the actors, from the tiniest of roles to the leads. This is phenomenal in every respect.