Macbeth (2015) Review

 

Macbeth (2015)

Macbeth follows the rise of Macbeth, who after killing King Duncan and becoming ruler of Scotland, becomes paranoid and consumed with guilt in his tyrannical quest for power. 

Macbeth’s story is one of ambition, of greed, and of innocence being lost. Where wars are fought not by men, but of boys, of children. These wars define Macbeth and set his precedent of violence and lust for power. His ambition and greed are his downfall, killing whoever stands in his way, something that haunts him, quite literally. This war-bound retelling of the classic Shakespearian tale does something I once thought impossible, in that it adapts his work to perfection. It captures the olden style of dialogue, not truncating the classic monologues, but giving them a power and force that brings each scene to its knees in its’ viscerality. This expositional dialogue is done with such force that it doesn’t come off as corny, but of valiant and gut wrenching at times. 

The murky skies and sprawling Scottish highlands are captured in such muddy realism, that looks gorgeous, especially in it’s fiery scenes of war which bathe the surroundings with an otherworldly orange light. This is contrasted so well with its rustic, string-heavy score, which adds an uneasiness that lingers from the prophesies, to the brutal acts of murder which the film refuses to shy away from. It does an unbelievable job in revealing Macbeth for what he is—a paranoid, ruthless King driven to madness by his own actions. Actions that pit him against the viewers and all of Scotland, but still making you feel for him in the end, nonetheless. 

The cast of Macbeth is also terrific, including Marion Cotillard, David Thewlis, Sean Harris, and Michael Fassbender. Cotillard nails the role of Lady Macbeth, having just the right amount of pitiless love and condescending views to match Fassbender’s actions. And Fassbender...wow. He is a dominant force of despotism and fury that is plagued by the visions and reactions of those he tore down to be King. Easily one of the best performances of his career. 

Macbeth, directed by Justin Kurzel and based on the stage play by William Shakespeare, reinvents the play in the grandiose scope of film, using stark visuals and beautiful set pieces to bring the acts of such a tormented individual such as Macbeth to life. It brings about the dangers of knowing too much about ones destiny, and how the greed and ambition of it can destroy you from within, making Macbeth both the hero and villain of his own story. 

9.8/10