Despite casting
two magnificently proficient actors in the iconic leads, there is little new
which can be brought to the words of William Shakespeare. Countless talented
actors have spoken these words, leaving only the awe of unique visual spectacle
for director Justin Kurzel to breathe new life into this age-old tale of
violent ambition and the madness that follows. On a bare stage it is only
Shakespeare’s words which paint the visuals into the viewer’s mind, but Adam
Arkapaw’s cinematography is a narrator that richly parallels these words with a
dreamlike landscape of imagery and ideas. This is still Macbeth, unlikely to
brings story surprises to anyone who paid attention in their high school
English classes, though the real shock is how engaging a familiar tale can be
in the hands of an ambitious young filmmaker.
Beginning with a
fiercely stylized battle led by Scottish General Macbeth (Michael Fassbender),
this cinematic incarnation begins taking subtle liberties with the classic
tragedy. Most of these changes are minor, including the addition of a fourth
witch, though some have subtle implications on the narrative. The most
noticeable is the decision to let Marion Cotillard retain her French accent for
the role of Lady Macbeth, adding layers of political implications to her role
as the one planting the seeds of betrayal. When their king arrives for a stay
in their camp, Macbeth and his wife make plans to steal the throne by way of
murder, as was predicted by the witches on the moors of Scotland
There are
additional changes made to the details of the final act climax, but the
important themes of greed and ambition remain faithful to the original text
even in these revisions. Many praised Fassbender for his work as Steve Jobs in
Danny Boyle’s unconventional biopic this year, but I would argue that this was
the more challenging role for the British actor. There was a forced
theatricality to Steve Jobs (mostly due to Aaron Sorkin’s rapid-fire
screenplay) which I found somewhat distracting, whereas Macbeth feels alive with authenticity despite the dreamlike
cinematic embellishment of the visuals. Whether onstage or screen, both
Fassbender and Cotillard were meant to play these roles, and their performances
are only enhanced by Kurzel’s bold directorial choices.
The Blu-ray
release comes with a Digital HD copy of the film. While most films are just as
effective on DVD as high definition Blu-ray, Macbeth has production design elements which are enhanced by the
sharper visual presentation. The special features are not quite so impressive,
with only a Q&A and a generic making-of featurette.
Entertainment Value:
8/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 8.5/10
Historical
Significance: 7/10
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