- Title: The Tragedy of Macbeth
- IMDb: link
Joel Coen‘s take on William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a stylish affair with minimal but visually stunning sets and striking cinematography by Bruno Delbonnel that boils down the five-act play to 105-minute black-and-white cinematic experience. The story is Shakespeare’s, but Coen and Delbonnel’s presentation sets a standard for Macbeth which will likely lead it into both homes and classrooms for decades to come.
Denzel Washington stars as the Scottish Lord and Frances McDormand his ambitious wife, convinced by a witchy prophecy (Kathryn Hunter) that Macbeth will become the next King of Scotland. What follows is one of the most famous tragedies in literature which Coen takes care to pare down while still keeping to both the text and texture of Shakespeare’s work. It’s a terrific play presented by a talented group both behind and in front of the camera leading to one of the best films of the year.
