Remember those English Lit lessons at school which required cocktail sticks being stuck to your eyes to physically stopping them from dropping down and causing your body to switch into a coma state? That happened far too many times when I was at school. I didn't have much interest in the complex intellectual world of William Shakespeare. We spent a year planning and analysing Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet, the intricate hidden messages and meanings, why was it important to have this act structured in this particular way etc etc. Honestly, I couldn't give a shit. As a 14 year old, I just wanted to get home and play PS3 games all evening and lock myself away from the rest of society whilst being glued to my virtual reality. Then we watched Romeo + Juliet starring a young Di Caprio who at the time still screamed like he was a 12 year old girl. And the only name he knew was Rose because repeated it 1000 times during Titanic. It's a decent film, bringing the iconic play into the modern age. Two rival gangster families at war and firing AK-47's at one another. Sounds good to me. Macbeth is a play that I've never read fully but I know the basics of the story. We haven't seen a Macbeth film for over 40 years which was directed by Roman Polanski. From what I've been told it's more of a horror adaptation. If this new film followed the horror genre trends nowadays, Macbeth would be running around holding a chainsaw and for some random reason, a grouse would aimlessly fly in front of him and cause a jump scare. Really sums up horror films today. However with Michael Fassbender starring as the leader of men, Marion Cotillard as Lady Macbeth, this has plenty of potential to be an acting masterclass. And it certainly is.
The new adaptation doesn't try anything out of the ordinary. The film tells the classic story of Macbeth and the prophecy he receives from witches that he is destined to be King of Scotland. From then on his life descends into a world of mayhem as he struggles to contain the guilt that consumes him. I really enjoy the direction that the film took. This didn't feel like I was back at school. The film made me feel like I was watching parts of Braveheart, incorporating the heart and soul warrior grit, mixed with 300's stylistic action sequences that the director Justin Kurzel manages to craft expertly. The cinematography is sublime. It captures the heart of medieval Scotland. A cold, damp war torn battlefield placed on picturesque countryside. What stood out to me most about the film was the story arc that Macbeth goes through, from the respected masculine warrior to a witless worm. He isn't just a simple, mindless, jealous man who takes too much advice off his nutty wife. Due to the endless years of enraging war, the battle scars takes its inevitable toll on the man he once was. In essence this is Macbeth with post traumatic stress and that interesting aspect of the character allows Fassbender to shows off his incredible acting talent. Marion Cotillard as Lady Macbeth was an unusual casting choice. Could she pull of a Scottish accent? Not quite. But the weird sort of English accent doesn't suck you out of the movie to the point of cringing. It's not Angelina Jolie Tomb Raider horrendous. However during the infamous Lady Macbeth's sleep walking scene she pulls of the best piece of acting I've seen all year. The ambition and hatred that flows through her veins just pours open and it's magnificent. She might not have such a major role as she does in the the play but she dominates her screen time and her presences engulfs the screen. Superb.
I'll admit though for all the perfection, the film might not appeal to the average film goer. Macbeth is a theatre experience transferred to the big screen. I'm not always a fan of period pieces as they can be too pretentious and full of themselves at times. This take on Macbeth is a breath of fresh air that fits into the visual style of modern cinema. Even if you're like me and don't adore Shakespeare, I think you'll find enjoyment from this. A message to all schools, please take note. This is the film for your Shakespeare lessons. It will keep the students engaged without them making pea shooters or throwing rubbers at the whiteboard. Damn, I wished this film came out 7 years ago.
8/10
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