THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH

 

The works of William Shakespeare have entertained people now for hundreds of years, rich in themes and full of memorable characters both to root for and turn on. There has been so many adaptations of Shakespeare's work on the big screen over the years, coming in all shapes and sizes and told across many an era, Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth being the latest and believe me when I say, something wicked this way comes.

Lord Macbeth (Denzel Washington) becomes convinced by a trio of witches that he will become the next King of Scotland, and his ambitious wife supports him in his plans of seizing power.

What makes Joel Coen's adaptation of Macbeth feel like an experience more than just a film is the stunning visuals utilised to maximum effect in creating such a tense and foreboding atmosphere throughout. Bruno Delbonnel's cinematography drenched in dark crevices as Macbeth's paranoia grows amidst Stefan Dechant's minimalised yet accentuated sets, making The Tragedy of Macbeth such a compelling viewing experience.

Adapting Shakespeare can be a daunting task yet Joel Coen, without the help of his brother Ethan, takes to it like a duck to water with a mightily accessbible screenplay that delivers Shakespeare so elegantly. As someone who studied English Literature up until university, Shakespeare can be frustrating to get into and I think Joel Coen's film does a concisely grand job in bringing it to life.

Leading the film is Denzel Washington in spellbinding form as Macbeth, the way he holds himself and is able to do so much with his facial expressions making it one of the more interesting performaces of the past year. We all know Washington is a powerful actor and he truly does bring that to the fore here as Macbeth. Frances McDormand is one of those actresses who just oozes screen presence and alongside Washington as Lady Macbeth, she proves once again to be a force to be reckoned with. Kathryn Hunter deserves a special shoutout for her performance as the three witches who set the events of Macbeth in motion.

While it may not be my favourite adaptation of Shakespeare's work, The Tragedy of Macbeth is a feast for the eyes as one half of one of the most exciting filmmaking duos works wonders with two of the best to ever do it in Washington and McDormand.

Verdict: ★★★★