The Tragedy of Macbeth
Director: Joel Coen
Writer: Joel Coen (adaptor), William Shakespeare (original author) (duh)
Starring: Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Alex Hassell, Bertie Carvel, Brendan Gleeson, Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling, Moses Ingram, Kathryn Hunter
Reason for watching: Award-season new release
Number of times I’ve watched it: First-time viewing
***
William Shakespeare is a golden goose that just keeps on popping out those eggs. Seriously, his work is adaptable, relatable, and essentially timeless. Just look at this Wikipedia page with all the movie adaptations of his work. There was a Macbeth adaptation less than 10 years ago with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard. That’s a quick turnaround for the same story. We all get mad when Batman gets re-cast every other year. But for these stories of Shakespeare to be made over and over again especially after being written so many years ago, they have to be of some level of quality. The Tragedy of Macbeth proves that level of quality.
The billionth version of Macbeth follows Macbeth (Denzel Washington) and his descent into madness as he ascends to the throne of Scotland. Aided by his wife Lady Macbeth (Frances McDormand), he fights against Macduff (Corey Hawkins) and must kill King Duncan (Brendan Gleason) during his rise to power. In addition, the withces play a prominent role in this story. Look, I cannot really spoil this story because it was written at least four hundred years ago, but I will not break it down too much. Honestly, if you have not read it by now you may never read it.
Without question, this is the best-looking movie of 2021. The stark black-and-white setting really allows for some creative settings here. As Macbeth and Lady Macbeth travel the halls of their castle during their bouts with insanity it makes their plight feel a little more dower. The entire cast are giving strong performances here; particularly Washington. It’s a unique role for him to be playing at this stage of his career as it usually goes to a younger man seeking power. But he embodies the idea of a man who is swept up in the consequences of his actions very well. Had Will Smith and Andrew Garfield not taken up most of the space in my brain for great male performances this year, I would say Washington would be worth a Best Actor award. Anything to make up for this look he gave when Casey Affleck beat him in 2017.
All in all it is a worth awards-season movie. I hope it gets a nomination and that award for best cinematography.
8/10
Until I see another one.
PS - How I know that I am now a grown adult is I can understand what they’re saying in this movie without understanding half of the words they are using. Emotions don’t take a lot of words to be properly conveyed.
funny thought: I can understand what they are saying without understanding all of the words