Most of us are familiar with the story of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, a story so prevalent that people will not utter the name of ‘the Scottish play’ whilst in the theatre, as by ancient tradition it is said to be cursed. For those of you who are not familiar with the story, it is a tale of one man’s hunger for power in a tyrannical society, and how he is pushed further and further down a descending path of hopelessness and insanity by his wife, a group of witches, and his own consciousness.
There have been many recreations of the play on stage and on screen, and this 2015 cinematic depiction of Shakespeare‘s Macbeth, directed by Justin Kurzel and starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Contillard, is on a platform so high that the other depictions are unable to reach it.
Perfect Casting
The performances in this film do not feel like performances. The Macbeth’s (Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard) were born for these roles. Every movement and word did not come across as actors following their scripts; it felt as if these characters were alive, and that would not have been achieved without the talented Fassbender and Cotillard taking centre stage. In this depiction, the Macbeth’s are portrayed to have a very close and loving relationship, as they plot to build their way up from Thane to King. It is this strong unity and bond that makes the ending even more powerful.
Fassbender and Cotillard‘s relationship on screen is like no other, as the duo have such a strong compatibility. From their performances in Macbeth, director Justin Kurzel has even cast them both in the new Assassin’s Creed film which is currently being filmed, set for release in December 2016.
Other cast members include Paddy Considine as Banquo, whose performance was an excellent representation of Macbeth’s right hand man, and the subtle acts of passive resistance translated well on screen. Sean Harris plays Macduff, who gives such a gritty and raw portrayal of a man who loses everything, in a way that tugs on the heartstrings. And Elizabeth Debicki plays Lady Macduff, and her performance is as riveting.
One actor that really stood out and will blow audiences away is the young boy who played Banquo’s son, Fleance (Lochlann Harris). When Fleance witnesses his father’s murder, Harris’ reaction appears so real and full of emotion that it is hard to understand how this is his first acting job.
Throughout the movie there are some mesmerizing performances; however, Michael Fassbender in the self-titled role is probably the best casting decision made by Kurzel. He completely absorbs himself into the role of Macbeth, portraying him as this melancholic, power hungry man who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. Such an idea was pitched to Fassbender from Kurzel, and it had never occurred to him before.
It is astonishing to know that Fassbender didn’t take the method acting approach, and that he could turn on this crazed man just at the word of ‘action’. Michael Fassbender has taken on a variety of complex and diverse roles before, for example in the Steve McQueen films 12 Years A Slave, Shame and Hunger. However, this is a performance that exceeds his previous works; he gives such a striking rendition that you cannot take your eyes off him. He puts a spell on the audience when he performs, and it allows you to fall deep into the narrative and lose yourself completely into this 17th century world. All hail Fassbender, who shalt win an Academy Award hereafter.
Outstanding Cinematography
One of the most striking aspects of Macbeth is the cinematography. Cinematographer Adam Arkapaw turned a two dimension movie into a 3D motion picture without audiences paying extra money for the experience. The battle scene in the first act paints a true portrait of war, with small particles of dust, fire, blood and other matter clearly envisioned on the screen floating around the soldiers.
While this occurs, certain parts of the battle are in slow motion, with close-ups of Fassbender‘s face as he hacks and slices up the Norwegians, allowing audiences to soak up the violence and brutal action. It enables us to understand how Macbeth so easily falls onto a path of decline when he is surrounded by savagery, as we watch him “unseam” men “from the nave to th’ chops” within the first ten minutes of the film.
Arkapaw‘s use of reds and oranges on the landscapes surrounding the viscous fighting reflect that of fire and blood whilst the men are in battle, giving representations of hell and corruption. These colours, paired with the surreal 3D war scene, create for a unique cinema experience, and the clarity of the conflict is portrayed so intrepidly. The beauty and attractiveness of the scene with all these components causes you to keep your eyes locked onto the screen, as the visuals are unbelievably striking.
Throughout the movie, establishing shots of the Scottish highlands are revealed, from the icy cold winter mountains to waterfalls and images of the sea. These iconic Scottish views set strong tones for each scene, as the landscapes often reflect the action, whether it’s the misty battlefield or bleak rainy nights symbolising Duncan’s murder.
Pathetic fallacy is one of Shakespeare‘s trademarks in setting the tone and mood for his plays, and it was nice to see Kurzel include this. This modernisation uses a combination of traditional and contemporary methods in all aspects of the film, which gives it more depth and exploration since we aren’t just witnessing another regurgitated performance of a classic story.
Intense Soundtrack
Music is an incredibly important and somewhat overlooked aspect of filmmaking, and non-diegesis music is what can turn a good film into a spectacular one. The soundtrack for Macbeth blows you away. Justin Kurzel‘s brother Jed Kurzel provided the soundtrack for this movie, and it appears that the brothers have filmmaking in their blood. Firstly, what grips you with this soundtrack is how it is perfectly matched to the social and environmental aspects of the setting. Bagpipes and stringed instruments are the base for all the songs on the soundtrack, giving it a Scottish essence.
Every song has a dark and ominous feel to it, keeping it in tone with the themes and overall nature of the film. One song on the soundtrack called ‘The Child – Part 2’ has a slow decline in notes and pitch, which infers insanity, and it mimics musically Macbeth’s dwindling mental stability. The song alone causes goosebumps; however, when it is paired with the images of death, it leaves a strong and hard hitting impression on the audience.
Diverse Exploration of Shakespeare’s Text
Shakespeare is known for being a man whose words have many meanings and interpretations, and for some of the things his play hints at, Kurzel deeply explores and gives another dynamic to the story. He makes the film not entirely about Macbeth, but also about the Macduff’s. In the original play, Lady Macduff is only present for one scene, and she is portrayed as this fierce woman who is brutally murdered in her own home.
Kurzel decided to give her more of a voice in this adaptation, which therefore allowed audiences to become attached to the character. This only makes it more emotional and hard to watch when she meets her demise, and even harder when we see Macduff’s reaction to this news. Also, with the talented Elizabeth Debicki playing her, it created an incredibly moving piece of film.
This is a cinematic representation of a classic piece of English literature which doesn’t necessarily stick to the original story, and that is something to be praised. This isn’t William Shakespeare‘s Macbeth which we have seen 100 times before, it is Justin Kurzel‘s Macbeth. Something interesting about this version is the way the Witches are portrayed. The Witches did not come across as the stereotypical evil demons in the way that Shakespeare suggests they are. Instead, they were a gentle symbol of death, almost a warning sign for the inevitable instead of being one of the causes/blame for his decline.
Another thing that is hinted at within the original text is that the Macbeth’s are either infertile, or have had children who died. Kurzel recognized this, and created two grieving parents who have lost their children. In the very first shot of the movie we are presented with a dead child, which is a harsh image to be confronted with, especially at the start of a motion picture. Therefore, we instantly understand and feel sympathy for the Macbeth’s, and it also lets audiences know (especially those who aren’t familiar with the story), that this is going to be a dark tale of tragedy and loss.
The ending of this film is what stands out most in retrospect; audiences expect to see the typical beheading of Macbeth, however it is not what one would expect. Without giving anything away, it leaves room for many possible sub-plots to be explored, and the way it is executed leaves you wanting a definitive answer; however Kurzel, like Shakespeare, leaves that open to interpretation.
Conclusion
It is hard to believe that this is only Justin Kurzel‘s second feature film, as it holds parallels in terms of quality with the works of the greatest in the business. It is possible that this film might not go down as well with certain audiences who are not familiar with Shakespearean language or with the story, as the dialogue can be hard to understand at times. However, the performances are so clear and strong that even if the language isn’t clear, the motives and development of the narrative is.
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare‘s timeless plays, and it will always have a prominent place in society, as the story is cherished and loved by many. It was brave of Kurzel to take on such a huge project with this adaptation, as it is always a worry for anyone who modernizes a Shakespearean text that they will not do the piece justice. But it definitely paid off.
Baz Luhrmann‘s 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet has always been my favourite re-telling of a classic Shakespearean story, yet as of October 2nd, that was bumped down the rankings. I might even go as far to say that Justin Kurzel‘s Macbeth is one of the best films I have ever seen.
What did you think of Justin Kurzel’s Macbeth? Leave your thoughts and comments below!
https://youtu.be/oyFAn5IaFS0
(top image source: The Weinstein Company)
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