By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
I would bet that most every English teacher who watches
“The Tragedy of Macbeth” would applaud the unique, bold, and dynamic perspective that Oscar-winning writer and director
Joel Coen (“True Grit” and “No Country for Old Men” ) brings to William Shakespeare’s classic tale.
“The Tragedy of Macbeth” stars Oscar-winning actor
Denzel Washington (“The Little Things”) slaying his role as Lord Macbeth. Coen’s wife, Oscar-winning actress
Frances McDormand (“Nomadland”) is also superb as Lord Macbeth’s deceptive and power- hungry wife.
Corey Hawkins (“In the Heights”) is a force too as Macduff and Ethan Hutchison, the adorable kid on TV’s “Queen Sugar” also has a brief moment to shine as Macduff’s son.
The stylized, black, and white film is visually stunning courtesy of cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, and envelops viewers with a dark, stirring, poetic grace.
Macbeth is the man who would be King, and he wastes little time in claiming the crown by killing the reigning monarch, King Duncan (a fine Brendan Gleeson, TV’s “Frank of Ireland”).
Although blood is literally on his hands, Macbeth blames the murder on the King’s guards, and it forces the King’s sons Donalbain (Matt Helm, “Greyhound”) and Malcolm (Harry Melling, TV’s “The Queen’s Gambit”) to flee and ponder their next move.
However, the new King of Scotland’s life is soon filled with schemes, betrayals and assassinations that destroys the heart and soul of him and Lady Macbeth and sends them into a whirling state of madness.
Aside from the top-notch performances, notably from Washington and McDormand, what is equally as striking in “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” are the lavish set designs. The grand pillars, arches and windows all add to the mystique and even dread of this masterful movie.
“The Tragedy of Macbeth” opens in limited theaters on
Christmas Day and will
premiere Jan. 14 on Apple TV+.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
