The Tragedy of Macbeth
It had been quite some time since I heard the words of Shakespeare so as soon as Joel Cohen's (one first solo outing as director without his brother Ethan) black and white adaptation of "Macbeth" got going, I had to adjust my ears and embrace the language and tragic circumstances that the famed playwright is known for. That's not a bad thing. In fact the worst thing about attending the premier of "The Tragedy of Macbeth" was the unfortunate circumstance of having to sit behind an old white critic who rudely dismissed an African American theater usher's request not to eat or drink outside food in the viewing room and then commented negatively on the usher's job. But kudos to #NYFF59 for playing zero games this year, similar to #TIFF, which I attended earlier this Fall. Although I will say that these festivals have to do a better job of being accessible to critics of color but that's a conversation for another time.
Led by a commanding, deeply layered performance by the greatest actor of all time Denzel Washington, "The Tragedy of Macbeth" is a haunting tale of betrayal, loyalty and regret. Having no deep familiarity with this particular Shakespeare play, I was captivated by Macbeth's drive to overthrow the King of Scotland, played with grace and wisdom by the always reliable Brendan Gleeson. I'd be remiss to not bring up recent Oscar winner Frances McDormand's intense performance as Lady MacBeth, who has a monologue in the third act that McDormand said in a recent interview was the main reason she was interested in playing the role. Denzel and Frances clearly have a deep respect for one another and that allows the audience to understand their relationship without showing any scenes of intimacy between the two lovers. Supporting actors such as Corey Hawkins as the vengeful Macduff, Alex Hassel as the manipulative Ross and Moses Ingram as Lady Macduff all add something unique and engaging to this complex story. While I am not the biggest fan of Shakespeare's work, I cannot deny that his plays give actors an opportunity to really push themselves to uncomfortable places and to command an old language that is easily fumbled. Trust me...I know from personal experience as a theater actor in a previous life who had to dabble in Shakespeare from time to time.
The main thing working against "The Tragedy of Macbeth '' isn't the fact that it is being released on Apple TV+...it's the choice to shoot the film in black and white by director Cohen and cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel. At times the film is visually stunning against the minimalist sets but during other moments, it was clear that the actors were on a soundstage making some of the scenes feel amateurish at best and lazy at worst. The poor choices of Delbonnel distract from the performances, which is unfortunate because Shakespeare's work is always focused on the characters, not the visuals. And maybe that was Cohen and Delbonnel's initial intent but it doesn't always come through from the viewer's perspective. This isn't to say that "Macbeth" isn't worth your time. It absolutely is for just seeing Denzel's masterclass in acting, especially when the weight of his actions begins to consume Macbeth's mind. The haunting images of the witches (played by contortionist actress Kathryn Hunter) who presented the prophecy of Macbeth's ascension to being King adds to the intensity of Denzel's performance. Surrounding Denzel with a fantastic cast more than makes up for the visual shortcomings that aren't enough to derail this bleak yet entrancing adaptation.
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- Brandon Collins
