Seeking out the

5000 greatest films

in a century of cinema

Macbeth

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Directed by Justin Kurzel
Produced by Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, and Laura Hastings-Smith
Screenplay by Jacob Koskoff, Michael Lesslie, and Todd Louiso Based on the play The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare
With: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Paddy Considine, Sean Harris, Jack Reynor, Elizabeth Debicki, and David Thewlis
Cinematography: Adam Arkapaw
Editing: Chris Dickens
Music: Jed Kurzel
Runtime: 113 min
Release Date: 11 December 2015
Aspect Ratio: 2.35 : 1
Color: Color
It was hard not to have unrealistically high expectations for this rushed, anemic adaptation of Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest play. But the combination of slick looking, TV commercial style visuals and the hand-held, tight facial close-ups favored by unimaginative directors makes for a disappointingly bland and unsatisfying cinematic experience. The great Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, who normally make any film shine (even when it's a dud), cannot ennoble this uninspired telling of the dark tale. Director Justin Kurzel shoots the film on location in Scotland, but doesn’t capture the cold, damp, atmosphere the way Roman Polanski did so well in his 1971 film of this play. While that picture had its faults, it was never dull—which is more than I can say for this version. Macbeth requires a director with a subtle touch and a knack for shooting intimate conversations rather than an ability to stage impressive battle scenes (not that the battle scenes in this picture are anything to write home about). Considering the cast, this Macbeth is a real missed opportunity.