The Tragedy Of Macbeth - Movie Review

Critics Score - 7 of 10

General Audience Score - 4 of 10

If you ever took a classic literature course in college, the name of William Shakespeare may have come up a time or two. He was born in England, lived from 1564 to 1616 and is widely considered one of, if not the greatest writer of all time. The new black and white film from one half of the Coen Brothers, Joel Coen, tackles one of the more popular plays from Shakespeare, The Tragedy Of Macbeth. This film is really something, in many ways this film is easy to be entertained by, in one massive way this film is terribly difficult to enjoy. This massive way I reference is in the screenplay and dialogue, it sticks closely to the old English the play was originally written in. That makes The Tragedy Of Macbeth almost like a foreign language film, only instead of subtitles you can understand, the subtitles only reinforce what you’re already confused by. While the performances are on point and the cinematography is to die for, it’s hard to get swept up in this story when you’re listening and reading something and trying to make heads or tails of what’s going on. Let me put this as simply as I can. Then is now vain my mortal heart, no recollect my thoughts contain, no secret musing of years long past, The Tragedy Of Macbeth.

SYNOPSIS - Our tale of confusion begins with a few post battle sequences, the first one of King Duncan (Brendan Gleeson) addressing a bloodied and battle weary troop. Then we skip over and meet Macbeth (Denzel Washington) and Banquo (Bertie Carvel) as they walk the battlefield, as a part of King Duncan’s army, they've helped ensure the victory over a traitor, Thane Of Cawdor. Three witches appear to Macbeth on the battlefield and inform him that he is going to be king. Again, most of this info the viewer isn’t able to discern from just watching the film, reading the cliff notes or another summary can help one to follow the story if you’re unfamiliar with it. But when King Duncan visits Macbeth’s home, Lady Macbeth (Francis McDormand) convinces her husband to kill the king and make a play for the throne. Macbeth goes through with the act but the move for power inadvertently sends the ill-fated couple on a collision course with paranoia, tyranny, bloodshed and a good dose of karma.

When the credits roll on this film, you’ll either breathe a sign of relief, like myself, or be ecstatic on the trip that Joel Coen  has taken you on into this tale from Shakespeare. More people will be among the former group than the latter. But being fair, I have to give this film credit for so many things. Joel Coen’s direction of the film is fantastic. The acting from Washington and McDormand is otherworldly. Visually speaking, the cinematography of the film is stunning, pretty much every shot in this black and white film is so meticulously crafted, it’s such stellar work your jaw drops. From a critics eye, this film is doing so many things right and I have to give it that credit. But this film is a terrible struggle from a screenwriting perspective, it’s almost like watching a foreign language film with no subtitles on. That doesn’t even mean it’s a bad screenplay! It’s probably great, but the old English works very much like a language barrier through which many story details will be lost. Macbeth delivers the goods in so many ways that a film can, especially visually, but the experience will try the patience of many a critic, cinephile or general viewer.

SUMMARY - It really is a tragedy that the latest effort from Joel Coen with Washington and McDormand at the helm will not be an enjoyable experience for many viewers. Unless you’re an English literature major, big fan of Shakespeare or acted in this play when you were in high school, much of the dialogue spoken in the film will lose and frustrate it’s viewers. For the few that can interpret it’s message, The Tragedy Of Macbeth speaks volumes.