Adaptations of William Shakespeare’s work have been a staple of cinema for decades upon decades. Shakespeare stands as one of the most adapted writers in cinema history. With those adaptations come various interpretations; some good like Much Ado About Nothing and some bad like The Tempest, some with a modern twist – Romeo + Juliet, and some that are downright awful, Macbeth (2006).
It’s safe to say that it’s hit or miss whether these adaptations always work. When it was announced Joel Coen would be writing and directing a new adaptation of Macbeth starring Academy Award winners Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand, I was entirely on board. Thankfully, Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth is a stirring, terrifying tale that justifies existence and fully places itself into the Oscar race.
I’m pretty sure we’ve all read Macbeth at some point in our lives. However, for those unfamiliar, Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth follows Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, whose lifelong goal is to rule Scotland as king and queen. The story is quite similar to Shakespeare’s Macbeth, first performed in 1606 and published in 1623. However, Coen’s adaptation’s tweaks and adds a unique twist to the tale.
While the story remains the same, it’s also quite different. Gone are a youthful Macbeth and his wife, but an older duo who aspire to rule with an iron fist. It’s a tale of an ambitious man and a woman hanging by a thread for one last shot at the throne. This choice allows the viewer to create a new perspective on two characters that may have already had an impression on the moviegoer before they walked into the theater.
Aiding Coen’s change in the leads’ ages is his choice to write and direct a more streamlined film that will provide accessibility to those who cringe at watching Shakespeare adaptations on the big screen. These adaptations rarely hit under 2 hours. At one hour and forty-two minutes, the film remains faithful to the source material while taking some meat off the bone.
Shot in 1:33:1 aspect ratio by Bruno Delbonnel, The Tragedy of Macbeth is one the most beautifully shot films of the year. There are moments within the film where it’s hard to focus on the performances because you’re sitting there wondering how Delbonnel captured some of these picturesque shots. Delbonnel perfectly uses the soundstage backdrop to shoot a film that mirrors some of the finest works of the ’30s and ’40s. An Oscar nomination is a lock, but a win is what should happen.
Bringing their Shakespearian background to the film, Academy Award winners Frances McDormand and Denzel Washington are electric in their performances. A few months after winning her third Oscar, McDormand is back with a version I enjoyed even more than her winning take in Nomadland. McDormand is determined and fierce and matches Washington’s charismatic performance to a tee.
Washington is one of the most beloved actors of our generation, so while this may be a hot take to some, Washington’s performance as Macbeth is one of the finest of his career. It’s a powerhouse performance that will leave you longing for Washington to enter the world of Shakespeare more often. Winning a third Oscar is a challenging task, but Washington has all the goods to lead him to that defining win.
The film offers an embarrassment of riches in its supporting players, who are no slouches either as Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling, Brendan Gleeson, Bertie Carvel, and Alex Hassell are all wonderful in their short term screen time. However, it’s Kathryn Hunter’s performance as one of the three witches that stands out from the pack. Hunter is downright frightening. Any moment Hunter is on the screen, you’re glued to her performance. From contorting her body to manipulating Macbeth with the idea that will ultimately lead to his downfall, Hunter commands her scenes.
The Tragedy of Macbeth was a film I expected to respect, but not love. Despite those expectations, Joel Coen’s film is brilliant. Its minimalistic approach balanced with powerhouse performances, infectious production design, and enchanting cinematography leads to one of Shakespeare’s finest adaptations. A scorching epic that is ripe for today’s cinephile and the Awards season.
The Tragedy of Macbeth premiered at the 2021 New York Film Festival. A24 and Apple Films will release it in theaters on Christmas Day. It will be available to stream on Apple TV+ beginning January 14, 2022.
