SHOT in stark black and white, amid avant-garde minimalist sets, the robust and full-bodied dialogue of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays stands out in Apple TV+’s The Tragedy of Macbeth – especially when spoken by such celebrated thespians as Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand.
Out of centuries-old superstition, Macbeth is often called The Scottish Play as it follows the story of a Scottish lord who becomes convinced by an encounter with three witches that he is to be the next king of Scotland. His wife, the embodiment of ambition, encourages him to seize power.
It is a story of madness, superstition, and revenge that has been acted out countless times around the world since William Shakespeare’s heyday.
This latest cinematic adaptation by Joel Coen – who along with brother Ethan has made some of the best American films of the last 30 years – stands out with its dramatic stylistic decisions, as well as the race-blind casting of Washington as Macbeth.
It should go without saying that Washington is one of the greatest actors of his era and is more than qualified for the role – he has also played Julius Caesar in a stage production. Now 67 years old, he is still very much a movie star, yet he carries with him the weariness of age that helps set his portrayal of the iconic role apart.
Opposite him is the equally venerated Frances McDormand, a winner of three Academy Awards – only the second actress in history to ever do it. She’s made a career out of playing headstrong and defiant women, and that experience is evident in The Tragedy of Macbeth. Here, she taps into a simmering rage that can leach into madness.
Brendan Gleeson, Alex Hassell, Harry Melling, and Corey Hawkins round out the cast. Hawkins, who plays MacDuff, a foe of MacBeth’s is also black, which puts an interesting twist to one of the story’s conflicts.
All the actors are adept with the dialogue, oftentimes having a meal with the prose. The black and white photography, along with the lighting, helps to sell the expressiveness of the actor’s faces.
What’s mindblowing about the film is how much it can accomplish with seemingly so little. It’s all shot on sets, but the spare quality of the production design – with the emphasis on light and shadow, enclosed spaces and impenetrable fog – the atmosphere of the production complements the actors’ performances.
All that being said, this is not Shakespeare for beginners – it will be helpful to know at least some of the plot of the play before starting The Tragedy of Macbeth. And for those looking for some revisionism or reworking or classic material, that’s not really to be found here. This is a concentrated dose of Shakespeare.
The film is definitely more of a feast for longtime lovers of The Bard who are more used to this style of prose. Other than that it is an acting showcase with Washington and McDormand delivering powerful performances. – The Vibes, January 20, 2022
The Tragedy of Macbeth is now available on Apple TV+
