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The Tragedy of Macbeth | One Of The Best Adaptations Of Shakespeare’s Work

Published

2 years ago

January 15, 2022

Joel Coen’s first venture without his brother is the latest reincarnation of William Shakespeare’s classic play. The Scottish play was first performed 415 years ago and has since been adapted multiple times since its stage premiere in 1606 when King James ruled. Even the word “Macbeth” is strictly Taboo in theatres as it’s believed to bring bad luck or even disaster as according to folklore, the play’s history of bad luck began with its first perforce in 1606 when the actor scheduled to portray Lady Macbeth died suddenly, so Shakespeare himself was forced to replace him.

Then in another 17th-century production held in Amsterdam, the actor playing King Duncan was allegedly killed in front of the live audience when a real dagger was used instead of the stage prop during stabbing scenes.

The Tragedy of Macbeth tells the tale of a Scottish Lord convinced by a trio of witches that he will become the next King of Scotland, and his ambitious wife supports him in his plans of seizing power.

Coen provides masterful direction along with a technical achievement in filmmaking with a level of artistry rarely achieved in films, and it’s certainly one of the best Shakespeare adaptations. Coen also covers ground that was formally walked upon by Orson Welles, Akira Kurosawa, Roman Polanski and recently in 2015 Justin Kurzel. however, Coen surpasses them with his German expressionistic style which felt stark and severe as the noir aspects with the blades of light displayed onscreen by Coen and cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel. It’s theatrical and cinematic all rolled into one as it’s shot in black-and-white with a 1:33:1 aspect ratio that harkens back to the end of the Silent picture era. The frame is a neatly pictured square that is also reminiscent of classic Hollywood and truly evoked the filmmaking style of that golden age.

The film drops us instantly into a realm that reveals in the eeriness, ethereal and otherworldly which showcases the text becoming a provocative backstabbing historical epic that carries along with manipulation, soaring anger, and ambition and prophecy that embeds itself throughout the film creating stages of madness in each sequence further showcasing the loudness of power and how it succumbs you.

Fog and smoke obscure this silvery landscape as lights cast harsh shadows and silhouettes. The sets are stark and minimal and fade into each transition from one scene to the next which felt similarly theatrical as if watching sets being moved and repositioned on a stage, in fact, the Macbeth was filmed entirely on sound stages which also provides a hybrid between film and theatre and ultimately gives the film a dreamlike and hypnotic quality.

Many of the sets were built in sections and put together whilst relying on beautiful matte paintings to fill in the environments, which is also feels like another throwback to the multi-plane ingenuity reminiscent of Citizen Kane.

The score by Carter Burwell also plays a part in this Shakespearean story as he delivers a genre-filled symphony that intertwines with the story as it serves the purpose of making the audience uncomfortable and essentially drives the story forward. He uses the dialogue himself as a melody.

The real component of what makes all the above work so remarkable is the cast, made up of an ensemble of incredible actors who’ve made their names both on stage and screen. Leading them are Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. They truly bring the best of both worlds here as they understand what works for the camera. Washington is magisterial in the title role, he brings a vocal flavour to the dialogue and he beautifully shows Macbeth losing his ways. Though he also gives Macbeth a quality of vulnerability as he grows more desperate in covering his tracks.

McDormand (who also produces) meanwhile brings an element of desperation to Lady Macbeth’s ambition, as she grasps for power that has long eluded her. She is his hard-edged conspirator- turned madwoman.

The casting of Washington and McDormand both in their sixties truly brings a sense of stifled ambition and a generational power grab. Both have a familiarity with Shakespeare as having done adaptations of his work before and it truly shows how powerful and award-winning their performances truly are.

Then there’s Kathryn Hunter who astonishingly plays all the three witches who prophesy Macbeth’s ascension and doom. A physical performance with limbs contorted as she shapeshifts with twisted movements using a deep, booming voice which is sinister as their nature and motivations are unknown. Hunter’s character is the first witch we meet and she brings this world of supernatural dark magic to life as she manifests her gaunt form into a trio of shrouded silhouettes. Hunter’s physicality and presence are utterly captivating.

The other actors are well cast and truly bring their skills to Shakespeare’s work. From Brendan Gleeson’s quietly prestigious King Duncan to Corey Hawkins’ Macduff, an antagonist fired by the youthful integrity and then vengeance. Carvel’s Banquo felt very sympathetic whilst Alex Hassell portrays the nobleman Ross with intrigue.

Overall every element of the Tragedy of Macbeth, from the hard, cold furniture to the swirling crows and drifting fog. The film truly gets to grips with the tales dark emotions as it’s one of the best adaptations of Shakespeare’s work I’ve seen recently.

FILM RATING

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The Changeling | Official Trailer – Apple TV +

When Apollo Kagwa’s father disappeared, he left his son a box of books and strange recurring dreams. Now Apollo is a father himself–and as he and his wife, Emma, settle into their new lives as parents, exhaustion and anxiety start to take their toll. Apollo’s old dreams return and Emma begins acting odd. At first Emma seems to be exhibiting signs of postpartum depression. But before Apollo can do anything to help, Emma commits a horrific act and vanishes. Thus begins Apollo’s quest to find a wife and child who are nothing like he’d imagined. His odyssey takes him to a forgotten island, a graveyard full of secrets, a forest where immigrant legends still live, and finally back to a place he thought he had lost forever.

Published

1 month ago

August 9, 2023

Staff

Genre:

Drama, Fantasy, Horror

Release Date:

September 8, 2023

Streaming:

Apple TV+

Cast:

LaKeith Stanfield, Amirah Vann,

Plot Summary:

FILM RATING

Apple TV+

The Crowded Room…Is It Worth A Watch?

Published

2 months ago

July 29, 2023

Rimsha Ali

The Crowded Room, Apple TV series has notoriously been trending on socials for multiple reasons whether it is divided opinions between the critics and the fandom, Tom Holland’s resilience promoting the show and finally, the most recent viral scene that was trending.

Did you know that James Cameron, the mastermind behind Avatar, was originally set to write and direct The Crowded Room? However, it turns out that the screenplay was actually written by Todd Graff (The Abyss). You can easily find the script online, as it’s been plastered all over the internet. Cameron actually acquired the rights to adapt The Minds of Billy Milligan written by Daniel Keyes. The initial story revolves around a serial rapist who has an extreme case of multiple personality disorder, set in the 1970s. Cameron even met with Billy Milligan himself and the two became friends. The talented John Cusack (Say Anything) was set to play the lead role, but unfortunately, the project fell through when Milligan filed a lawsuit and tried to change the storyline. Since then, many people have tried to revive the project, including David Fincher with Leonardo DiCaprio as the main lead.

The Crowded Room [credit: Apple TV+]

In April 2021, Akiva Goldsman, who won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for A Beautiful Mind, announced that he will adapt The Crowded Room as a TV series instead of a film. The show will focus on the complex issue of mental health and how it affects young men who have experienced trauma. Goldsman was drawn to this theme and hopes to explore the impact of trauma on the brain of an adolescent. This was reported in an article by the Hollywood Reporter.

The Apple TV series revolves around Danny Sullivan (Tom Holland) who gets arrested due to his participation in a shooting incident that took place in New York City in 1979. In the series, curious psychologist Rya Goodwin (Amanda Seyfriend) conducts a series of interviews with Danny, which reveal his mysterious past that influenced him and led him to a life-changing realisation.

The Crowded Room’s opening credits are a work of art, with mesmerising colours and drawings that become a part of the story. The cinematography of the first episode is also outstanding. The lighting and set locations are spectacular and leave you in awe. One set location, a barn filled with broken scaffolding, is particularly impressive. The camera work allows the audience to see from a subjective point of view.

Critics and audiences have questioned the pacing of the show, wondering if it should have had fewer episodes or if it dragged on for too long. Some have also discussed whether the storyline should have grabbed the audience’s attention sooner. However, the slow pacing at the start allows viewers to take the time to understand each character presented on screen, which is similar to a great TV series. Although it may seem slow at first, it may ultimately enhance the viewing experience.

Previously, Goldman wrote for the film, which has a different structure compared to TV series. This particular show requires patience from the audience, as they need to pay attention to the timeline of Rya and Danny’s interview. That’s why weekly episodes give the audience time to process and enjoy each episode. Otherwise, watching the entire series in one sitting could be mentally taxing.

The Crowded Room [credit: Apple TV+]

The talented Tom Holland not only played the lead role in the show but also served as an executive producer. He displayed his impressive acting skills by utilising his dialect, body language, and delivery to convey every emotion experienced by his character, Danny. The final episode, which includes the challenging courtroom scene, has now been released. According to Holland, this was the most difficult scene he has ever filmed in his career. In a previous interview, he mentioned that he listened to his friend Stormzy’s song “Mel Made Me Do It” to help him get into character and stay focused mentally.

It is important to recognise not only Holland’s acting skills but also Amanda Seyfried’s notable performance. During that time, women in psychology were often dismissed, but Seyfried’s portrayal of a caring and compassionate psychologist truly embodies the essence of the profession – to genuinely care for others.

The series displays a deep understanding of the complexity of each mental health illness, and this is not solely due to the excellent acting performances, but also the editing work of the crew. The transitions of the stunt work and the emotional aspects of the plot provide a layer of empathy that Goldman aimed to achieve.

For those who have not started the series, there may be confusion about whether to bother. The final episodes of The Crowded Room have left the audience, including myself, emotionally enthralled, staring into the abyss each time. With the series coming to an end, Holland’s best performance to date stands out, given the toughest script that physically and mentally drained the actor.

The entire cast and crew deserve appreciation for coming together to bring forth this storytelling with compassion and empathy. The show does an excellent job of focusing not only on one character’s mental health but also on multiple characters and how they handle their mental health.

Have you checked out The Crowded Room? If so leave a comment below on what you thought about the series!

FILM RATING

Apple TV+

Tetris | Official Trailer | Starring: Taron Egerton

An American and Russian computer geek form an unlikely friendship as they try to evade the KGB and smuggle the world’s most famous video game out of the Soviet Union.

Published

7 months ago

February 16, 2023

Staff

Genre:

Biography, Thriller

Release Date:

March 31, 2023

Director:

Jon S. Baird

Cast:

Taron Egerton, Toby Jones, Sofya Lebedeva

Plot Summary:

An American and Russian computer geek form an unlikely friendship as they try to evade the KGB and smuggle the world’s most famous video game out of the Soviet Union.