The Tragedy of Macbeth

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.

  • Released: 2021-12-25
  • Runtime: 105 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, Thrillers, War
  • Stars: Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Brendan Gleeson, Corey Hawkins, Moses Ingram, Harry Melling, Ralph Ineson, Alex Hassell, Brian Thompson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Miles Anderson, Max Baker, James Udom, Ethan Hutchison, Jacob McCarthy, Matt Helm, Scott Subiono, Lucas Barker, Nancy Daly, Robert Gilbert, Richard Short, Kathryn Hunter, T.K. Weaver, Kayden Alexander Koshelev, Wayne T. Carr, Edward Headington, Tim Oakes, Peter Janov, Madison Randolph, Phil DiGennaro, Bertie Carvel, Stephen Root, Jefferson Mays, Olivia Washington, Susan James Berger, Ledger Fuller
  • Director: Joel Coen
 Comments
  • cricketbat - 11 January 2024
    A straightforward black & white adaptation of the Scottish play
    If you are a fan of William Shakespeare and his Scottish Play, then you'll probably enjoy The Tragedy of Macbeth. If not, well then, this straightforward black and white film adaptation probably won't do much to change your mind. Joel Coen has brought together a full cast of well-seasoned actors to this stark cinematic stage, and everyone brings their best dramatic performances to the table. Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand both deserve recognition for their efforts. To be honest, this isn't my favorite adaptation of Macbeth, but it's definitely one that brings the Bard's words to life.
  • bpolhemus - 8 March 2023
    To those defending the multi-ethnic cast, consider...
    Would a modern director cast a play set in China, or Africa, with a mixed-race cast? Why not?

    This is what us so annoying to many of us: not that "it shouldn't matter" but that it most certainly DOES matter to the casting directors who do this kind of thing. They aren't casting it regardless of race, they're casting it CONSCIOUSLY because of race. And it's offensive to those of us who really DON'T care about such things.

    The day you cheer enthusiastically when Othello is played by a white actor, or a third of the inhabitants of Wakanda are white or Asian, I'll believe your protestations that "it doesn't matter."

    But you know it does.
  • wackoreviews - 28 July 2022
    Another Mcbeth movie?
    The Tragedy of Macbeth:

    A 2021 movie in black and white with 1:1 aspect ratio? The Tragedy of Macbeth is the latest film adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth talking about a Scottish lord who becomes convinced by a trio of witches that he will become the next King of Scotland. His ambitious wife will do anything to support him in his plans of seizing power.

    It is a monochrome film with incredible use of lighting and very limited set and props, leaving the whole focus on the characters and the story. This stylistic decision also helps in making some really creative action sequences. Most of the cast is amazing from Denzel Washington (Macbeth), who has some incredible emotional scenes, to Frances McDormand (Lady Macbeth), to Kathryn Hunter (the witch) who is truly frighting in the role.

    Inspite of it's short runtime, the movie has a pretty slow start. However, it turns out to be pretty fast-paced, eventful, and intense especially towards the end. Maybe even a bit too fast-paced that some of the events feel really rushed making the movie emotionally distinct. The movie isn't for everyone as it is more theatrical than entertaining and because of the use of old English (obviously because its Shakespeare). Eventhough I wouldn't have understood a word without captions, I could truly watch this movie in any language and still comprehend what's happening. Additionally, the sound track and sound effects were very attention catching and amazing.

    While the cast is incredible and the visuals are very appealing, the movie fails to bring something new to the previous adaptation besides being quite boring.

    Score: 7/10.
  • david-meldrum - 14 April 2022
    A Bold, Tense, Energetic Adaptation That Lives In Liminal Spaces
    Strange, brilliant and bold, this is a take on Macbeth that lives in liminal spaces, the in-between of polar opposites. Between light and dark, night and day, this life and the next, flesh and spirit, real and imagined, even between film and stage play. The result - enhanced by the production design, sound design, exceptional score, lighting, performances and the choice to film in black and white - is a film suffused in unease and lurking fear, moving into the territory of horror. All this is suitable to the text which, of all Shakespeare tragedies, is perhaps the strangest and most horrifying. The tension is often palpable, reflected in the brisk (but clear) and clipped tones of the language. For all this , it's perhaps harder to discern what the film is trying to say; it may be that theme has become somewhat smothered by medium and style. But it's still a thrilling, gripping, haunting and energetic adaptation.