Genre
Drama | War
Director
Justin Kurzel
Country
UK | France | USA
Cast
Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Paddy Considine, Sean Harris, Jack Reynor, Elizabeth Debicki, David Thewlis, David Hayman, Maurice Roëves, Ross Anderson, James Harkness, Seylan Baxter, Lochlann Harris, Hilton McRae, Scott Dymond, Rebecca Benson, Gerard Miller, Roy Sampson
Storyline
Macbeth (Michael Fassbender), 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.
Opinion
Of all the tragedies William Shakespeare has written Macbeth is not my favourite. By far. And I would have avoided this adaptation if it wasn't for Michael Fassbender. And I would have probably made the right decision.
In fact, Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth" is a watchable interpretation elevated by a spectacular Michael Fassbender and a magnetic Marion Cotillard.
One of the characteristics of Shakespeare's tragedies is their actuality, and Kurzel took advantage of it to tell the story of the valiant Macbeth who falls victim to an unbridled thirst for power. The themes of greed and success to be achieved at any cost are relevant today more than ever, as well as is the matter of soldiers hunted by war.
The decision to stick to the play is one of the film's strengths, as it's its fidelity to the Shakespearean drama, especially from the point of view of language, that allows the film to portray the drama so well. But at the same time it is a weakness because the purely Shakespearean dialogue is quite difficult to follow - especially for non-native English speakers -, and it shows complete lack of originality.
From the aesthetic point of view, the slow motion in the battle sequences, the desaturation of colours, and the slowness of movements recalls Zack Snyder's "300", and while they highlight the bloody path of Macbeth, they don't leave much room for feelings.
However, the cast makes it worth it. Michael Fassbender portrays the deterioration of Macbeth beautifully, communicating the evolution of his character with his intense expressivity. Marion Cotillard is sublime as Lady Macbeth and she is not overshadowed by Fassbender.
In fact, Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth" is a watchable interpretation elevated by a spectacular Michael Fassbender and a magnetic Marion Cotillard.
One of the characteristics of Shakespeare's tragedies is their actuality, and Kurzel took advantage of it to tell the story of the valiant Macbeth who falls victim to an unbridled thirst for power. The themes of greed and success to be achieved at any cost are relevant today more than ever, as well as is the matter of soldiers hunted by war.The decision to stick to the play is one of the film's strengths, as it's its fidelity to the Shakespearean drama, especially from the point of view of language, that allows the film to portray the drama so well. But at the same time it is a weakness because the purely Shakespearean dialogue is quite difficult to follow - especially for non-native English speakers -, and it shows complete lack of originality.
From the aesthetic point of view, the slow motion in the battle sequences, the desaturation of colours, and the slowness of movements recalls Zack Snyder's "300", and while they highlight the bloody path of Macbeth, they don't leave much room for feelings.
However, the cast makes it worth it. Michael Fassbender portrays the deterioration of Macbeth beautifully, communicating the evolution of his character with his intense expressivity. Marion Cotillard is sublime as Lady Macbeth and she is not overshadowed by Fassbender.
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