A stunning re-telling without the Hollywood involvement
Added 12/29/2009
As someone who has read the play of Macbeth several times over the years, I appreciated it for it's work of art, but I must admit I always found it a little difficult to follow. Even though Macbeth is by far the easiest of the bard's plays to understand. But, after stumbling across this Geoffrey Wright gem, I finally get it! Now, I always knew the premise of the story, but I always found myself confused by the dialect, a 21st century girl lost in 17th century linguistics. Even with this film using Shakespeare's words (Aussie accents included), I completely understood everything being said and what Shakespeare meant by saying it.
Set in the underbelly of gangland Melbourne, you are introduced to Macbeth, played superbly by Sam Worthington, a cold-hearted sociopath on a quest for power and leadership among the cartel led by Duncan (Gary Sweet). By the enticing hallucinations of the three witches (no longer hags, but schoolgirls) and the encouragement of his drug addled Lady Macbeth (Victoria Hill), Macbeth's quest for control within the family is a violent path of destruction that ultimately spirals into madness, revenge and death.
By far, this is the best modernization of a Shakesperian play. I was not a fan of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo & Juliet, nor Hamlet. The Hollywood, big budget spectacle never really did it for me. This film, however, left me thunderstruck. The acting was stellar, the cinematography was gritty, and the score was first rate. My only wish, was that it was longer. But I will stress that this is definitely not something to be viewed in a high school setting because of the drug use, explicit sexuality and extreme violence. But, for anyone who appreciates the foreign, independent film genre, this is definitely something worth adding to your collection.
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NOT FOR HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH CLASS
Added 12/22/2009
Initially, I thought it did a great job of using modern-day with Shakespearean language. I watched closely for the first witch scene, which was not bad. I did not watch the movie in its entirety. Needless to say, there were racy- triple (xxx) rated scenes. Not even appropriate for a College class!!!
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Good version...not for classroom
Added 12/8/2009
Pretty good modern version. I was confused at the beginning and it took a little while to get the characters straight. The nudity excludes any use in the classroom at any level of high school.
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Something Ho-Hum This Way Comes.....
Added 11/2/2009
WARNING
******************* THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS ****************
I like "Macbeth" the best of Shakespeare's plays, partially because at least I can understand it. I'm college educated but not an academic, and unfortunately, with Shakespeare I usually only get about half of what's being said. (I'm sorry; I'm not so up on my 17th Century allusions.) But the play "Macbeth" is swift, clear, comparatively short, and the piece's themes are within grasp. Also, if properly done, its scary...which is involving.
I like when Shakespeare's plays are transported into non-traditional settings...THAT WORK. Moving this particular play to a modern-day, drug cartel environment -- as this version does -- doesn't quite snap into place, however.
The main problem with this adaptation is its actors, all of who, I am sure, have been or will be effective in other roles. But if this play is about Macbeth, then it seems to me you should have a very strong personality playing that role. Sam Worthington is handsome-ish, which is always nice, but seems too placid and withdrawn. Even if this king needs prodding from his wife to seize the day, he's still supposed to be a hungry and driven type. Worthington is neither of those things. The characterization of Lady M laid out here doesn't serve Victoria Hill any better. First she's shown weeping at her dead son's grave, which is an interesting touch...but then how does that merge with her later (famous) claim that she's sooner dash that baby's brains out than break a promise to her husband? There is simply no dynamic between this couple that conveys a deep partnership or shared destiny. Or even a mutual, morbid greed.
Just about the only addition to this version I liked was that King Duncan is put up in a separate guest house on the Macbeth's property when he visits, which allows for some sneaking around in the dark, and explains why the other guests don't hear anything. But in an example of how this setting doesn't serve the text, since everyone else is killed with guns, why would Macbeth and his wife choose to stab their guest to death??? It just seems awkward. (And why does everyone think it's natural for Banquo's sons to turn into a long line of drug "kings"; aren't most cartels wiped out before they become multi-generational?) Similarly, how can Macbeth repeatedly call the three witches "hags" when they're nubile centerfolds rolling around in bed with him? And how did all the gross ingredients get into Macbeth's kitchen for the "Double double / Toil and trouble" scene? It makes more sense if Macbeth travels to meet them on their own turf for that, as originally written. (There's also something more sinister and isolated about his having to travel into an otherworldly wasteland to see them.)
The final problem (which also crops up in Roman Polanski's FAR FAR superior version) is that many of the monologues are superimposed in voice-over while we watch closeups of the actors. There's something transporting and glorious about watching really well-trained actors dive into these speeches...but to watch a solemn face as the lines are recited on a separate track? Why bother?
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Bought this DVD purely after seeing Sam Wortington in Terminator: Salvation
While this is nothing great
It was entertaining enough and of course Sam W has charisma to spare and he does carry the movie.
The movie was a tad pretentious sometimes (eh the slowmo climatic gunfight) and the production wasn't that great but still not bad.
The dialogue was a bit hard to follow sometimes as it's Shakespear and there are no subtitles!
I found the changing of the 3 witches into young school girls a bit weird though
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