William Shakespeare meant for his plays to be seen. It can be hard to grasp the stories through text alone, so it’s always an enlightening experience to see an adaptation or performance of one of his works. I recently had the pleasure of seeing “The Tragedy of Macbeth” directed by Joel Coen and starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand.
For those of you who don’t know the plot of Macbeth, a Scottish Thane named Macbeth is victorious in battle and is stopped on his return home by three witches who present him a prophecy. This prophecy states that he will become Thane of both Glamis and Cawdor and will eventually be king of Scotland. His right hand man, Banquo, is also told that his son Fleance will be part of a long line of kings. Upon his return Macbeth learns that at least one part of the prophecy is true: he has become Thane of Cawdor as well as Glamis. He decides to take the prophecy into his own hands and with the help of his wife, kill the king to take his place, and kill Banquo’s son to keep himself in power for as long as possible.
This 2021 adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic is in my opinion, by far the greatest adaptation of any of his works that I’ve seen. The dialogue is that of the original text, but visually this text is greatly elevated by the dark and somber tonality of the black and white cinematography and the brilliant lighting. This aesthetic really amps up the drama within each scene and showcases Macbeth’s internal struggle between light and dark, good and evil.
The production design is what really sold me on this film, with the far off locations as rickety structures that almost have the impression of a theater set, and large sleek locations that fill the viewer with a sense of grandeur within Macbeth’s castle.
With exemplary acting across the board Kathryn Hunter’s depiction of the three witches stands out amongst a talented cast. Her angular bird-like movements and haunting tone really set the tone of the film and showcased the terrifying power the witches hold.
One scene in particular I’d like to highlight is the procession following the death of Duncan. The water dripping like blood and booming through the theater's speakers, met with faced paced cuts like bated breath filled me with anxiety, almost as if I had been the one holding the knife.
Joel Coen has truly outdone himself with this production, stepping outside his usual oeuvre and creating a truly spectacular film, the likes of which are unparalleled.
