A Perfect Union?
When you might be thinking that you have already seen every version of the immortal Shakespeare's creation, the Tragedy of Macbeth and Joel Coen is quite a union. The key aspect here is the aesthetic of the play that reflects Coen's vision way more than the actual play. The purists might complain that the director has taken Scotland beyond the edges of classical playwriting, yet it was not the intention here. The presence of truly talented and unique actors quickly erases any other possible flaws. It's all in the perspective here, starting from the monochrome portrayal to the high contrasts that add emotion to the language that has been changed from poetry to prose. The dialogues, however, are not as expressive as they could possibly be.
Does the accuracy matter? It does matter when you are looking for an alternative way of delivery. It’s not yet another carbon theatrical copy but a deep cinematographic work for those who know and understand. It’s not simply a different version but a slightly deeper take on the problems that are discussed. You might not find the emotion and expressive poetic lines because it is not the purpose here. Joel Coen has spent months doing his homework with the light and the setting because it is exactly what a skilled director must do. Does it make it empty and disappointing? Definitely, not! Coen approaches the famous tragedy as a drama and a mixture of relationships that are seen through the lens of modern times.
The Macbeth Production
When you have big names like Denzel Washington for your cast, you are already in for success and recognition. Still, things would not work well if it wasn’t for Joel Coen’s attention to detail and his rather fearless attitude. He could have easily stopped and created a Macbeth movie 2021 style that would become yet another indie flick, yet he went much further than that.
First premiered on December 25, 2021, the movie has been filmed in Los Angeles. It took several months to plan all the staging because it was the primary point that Coen wanted to follow. The film itself took only 23 days to shoot with a budget that has been less than $200,000. At the same time, it does not look cheap or immature because we are not dealing with an adventure Hollywood-style take on things or discussing superheroes. It must be noted that it was the first time that Coen tried something like that by limiting himself to the black-and-white Academy ratio. According to Coen himself, it is only possible to create a gloomy atmosphere and drama when you are dealing with contrasts. Just like the play itself, Coen has kept the film dark.
Speaking of the cast of the Tragedy of Macbeth, we have already mentioned Denzel Washington (Macbeth), Frances McDormand (Lady Macbeth), Alex Hassell (Ross), and Bertie Carvel as the Banque. The other roles include Brenan Gleeson's portrayal of Duncan and Corey Hawkins's portrayal of Macduff. There is also an exceptional portrayal of Lennox by Miles Anderson and quite a reflection of Malcolm by Harry Melling or King Duncan by Brendan Gleeson. Those who are already familiar with the original play and the storyline will be satisfied. Turning to Lady Macduff, we have a beautiful Moses Ingram in her expressive style of play. It creates a special analysis effect as Coen tried to highlight the personal skills of every person. It allows Denzel Washington to be right where he belongs without being the only star of the show. Although it is the first film that has been done without Ethan Coen, Joel still spoke to his brother and asked for his opinion. Does it create a Scottish environment? In all honesty, it’s a movie that discusses ambition-driven relationships and does it with more humanity than what a person could meet in a theater staging where the actors simply follow the lines of the play.
What About Denzel?
After playing various Shakespearean roles on stage since he was only 20 years old, Denzel Washington is not a newcomer when it comes to showing expression and passion in those famous William Shakespeare penned roles. Still, this time he went even further and saw the genius behind Coen's approach. The presence of Frances McDormand as Lady Macbeth has also helped Denzel to see his role differently because McDormand is married to Coen. According to the famous actor, it was their perfect union that helped him to see and understand the motivation behind Coen's relatively bizarre actions that courageously went against those strict Shakesperean rules. Denzel Washington Macbeth is unique and powerful in its own way, yet it takes time and an effort to see and understand all relevant depth of the actor’s approach. For example, the presence of Kathryn Hunter who managed to play all three witches at once has helped Denzel to achieve that rare chemistry with the dialogues that have been transformed by Coen.
Rated “R” for violence, this movie is not all about bloodshed and horror, yet it has more thriller to it than the other famous portrayals. Did the critics appreciate it? It has received a fair share of critical acclaim and did well during the famous New York Film Festival. Coen's direction has been marked as brave and innovative, and the cinematography by Bruno Delbonnel has been praised for clarity and expressiveness. Although there are about fifty reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, they are all positive and the Macbeth movie has earned 98%, which is quite rare these days!
The movie was nominated for numerous awards, including AACTA International Awards, three times nominated for AARP Movies for Grownups Awards and thrice nominated for the Academy Awards. It won the African-American Film Critics Association Awards because of Corey Hawkin's supporting role and got into the Top 10 films by winning the American Film Institute Awards.
A Major Point in Director's Life
First of all, it was the first official movie that Joel Coen did without his brother Ethan. According to the director, Ethan decided to move on as he wanted to take a break. The world seemed a bit bleak at the moment, which has been expressed in the choice of a black-and-white cinematographic portrayal of Macbeth. It is also less dramatic in a theatrical sense but way clearer than the classic adaptation. It’s also more accessible for modern students and can act as helpful guidance for literature teachers as it shows the director's unique vision and explains the relationships in a clearer language than the books.
If we approach the educative role of Joel Coen Macbeth, we can see this interpretation is Coen's homage to learning and exploring beyond the comfort zone. Every emotion is analyzed, and the poetry is made accessible as people can finally relate and focus on the relationships instead of all the bloodshed and the theatrical outbursts. Taking a look at the trailer alone, one can see that it is a solid highlight of the director's career as he chose to work with the best by keeping things as simple as he could while still retaining depth and emotion.
