Much of the play's rich text has been truncated or moved about rather liberally in certain instances, and while this does give the movie a more concise and visually driven rhythm, I can't help but miss a lot of the excised material. With that said, the movie's emphasis on imagery over words does have some notable drawbacks - especially since those words happen to be Shakespeare's. A slow motion technique used during battle scenes is especially noteworthy, turning isolated moments of carnage into delicately shifting shots that look like paintings briefly brought to life. A quietly somber air flows over the gorgeously composed imagery of mournful landscapes, and potent stylistic bursts heighten key sequences and dramatic turns. Gently quivering handheld shots give the film a palpably intimate air while the decision to lay several soliloquies over drifting visuals presents a decidedly internalized version of the material. This focus on psychological struggles is further enhanced by the director's poetically visceral aesthetic. Likewise, a young soldier lost during the initial battle sequence makes a prominent reappearance as a ghostly apparition that carries Macbeth's infamous dagger, binding a tragically human face to the customarily floating weapon while shedding new light on the protagonist's increasingly fragile and scarred psyche. This motif of children continues to play on throughout the film, including the addition of a little girl to the traditional trio of witches who bestow Macbeth with his prophecy. For one, the director opts to open the film by revealing that Macbeth and his wife have lost a child - adding another layer to their relationship and subsequent decisions. But as the pair's actions grow more and more nefarious, guilt and paranoia begin to take hold, threatening to unravel everything the couple has worked so hard to attain.įor the most part, this is a pretty faithful adaptation of the original material, though Kurzel and his writers do make some notable embellishments and alterations that help to give this version a unique stamp. Spurred on by his ambitious wife (Marion Cotillard), Macbeth embarks on a dark and bloody journey to claim and maintain the throne. And while that does lead to some affecting imagery, one can't help but feel like there are some pieces missing between all of the "sound and fury."īased on William Shakespeare's famous play, the story focuses on Macbeth (Michael Fassbender), a Scottish General who plots to take the crown for himself. Namely, what are they supposed to do with all those "words, words, words?" In Justin Kurzel's 'Macbeth,' the director opts to take on an aggressively cinematic approach, trimming down and reconfiguring the play's lengthy soliloquies and dialogue in order to create a more visceral and intimate experience. After all, on the page or on the stage, the legendary playwright's poetic language is naturally given the proper emphasis that it demands - but film is an inherently visual medium, and this presents a specific hurdle for filmmakers. It can be a touch slow and can be hard to follow, but if you are willing to give it an attempt, your eyes will thank you for letting them gaze upon this gorgeous piece of eye candy.When it comes to big screen Shakespeare adaptations, the source material's greatest strength (the Bard's original text, of course) also often proves to be a director's greatest challenge. As a whole, Macbeth is a fantastic piece of film. For example, the battle sequences are brilliant and as hectic as they are, they pack a certain beauty and elegance. The direction from Justin Kurzel is fantastic and really gets your heart racing at times. Though the Shakespearean English being spoken through Scottish accents can prove to be a challenge at times, it is a challenge worth undertaking due to the brilliance of the film as a whole. This brilliance is accented by fantastic performances from Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, and Sean Harris.
Sporting gorgeous cinematography, brilliant lighting, great staging, and fantastic costumes, Macbeth is technically brilliant. Macbeth is one of the year's most beautiful films.
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