Macbeth

A generally faithful retelling of Shakespeare's famous tragedy.  Scotland is in a civil war, King Duncan (David Thewlis) against Thane Macdonwald.  Macbeth (Michael Fassbender), Thane of Glamis, is Duncan's leading general.  Their forces clash in a bloody and gory battle where Macbeth slays the rebel thane but finds that his only remaining son died during the battle.  In the aftermath of this battle, he encounters the witches who foretell that he will be Thane of Cawdor and then rise to kingship.  He dismisses them but, when he is granted Cawdor by King Duncan, he is set on a dark path.  His wife (Marion Cotillard) embraces the idea of kingship and pushes her hesitant husband to slay Duncan.  Long a loyal and honorable warrior, Macbeth's sanity cracks in the days and weeks after his foul deed.

 

The story is powerful and there are lots of opportunities for action but the movie somehow runs at a snail's pace.  The overwhelming score is all whole notes that only increase the feeling of slow and ponderous motion, even during battle scenes.  However, the breakdown of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is done quite well.  Macbeth's fracturing sanity soon spreads to his wife.  Her pleasure at their new status is quickly destroyed as she sees what a monster her husband has become.

 

No reason to see this on the big screen.  Wait for cable.