Macbeth (Justin Kurzel) Film Review - It is SO CLOSE! And yet...

Even though I’m not at Shakespeare nerd, I’m always curious to know more about his work and you do a fabulous, interesting job with this channel. Thank you.

Morning. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the 2011 version starring Patrick Stewart Kate Fleetwood. Or maybe I don't, since I liked it quite a bit in my naive eyes.

I have not seen this adaptation but your comprehensive and thoughtful analysis has convinced me that I must see it.

Appreciate your expertise as well as your ability to take us on an emotional journey imparting knowledge and understanding. Scorpions 🦂

David and you should write a film adaptation in which you play Lady M. You two would create a Masterpiece! Pick your MacBeth.

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I couldn't agree with you more on Francis McDormand's portrayal of Lady Macbeth.

She being one of my top five favorite actresses to watch on film is well deserving of her accolades and Oscars, but I must admit and agree with you that she was not a good fit here as Lady Macbeth, though when watching the film I hadn't focused that much on her. But also I must be fair to say that at that time neither did she detract nor distract me from enjoying the film. Only later after reflecting on her performance did I come to this conclusion.

One thing about Francis McDormand is that she's very "stoic". In that I mean to say there's not very much range of expression coming from her "facially speaking" as a role such as this should require. I'm sure you know what it is I'm talking about.

McDormand to me has flat features (for lack of a better term) along with eyes that seem always wide open as if in a search; and a mouth seemighly shut as if a lock when not speaking. She has that look in many of her films. But please don't misconstrue, I am not saying that she's un-attractive.

An "automaton"? You said it, perfect analysis!

Facially in my mind this was not a role best suited for her due to this aspect now that I've thought about it.

But I must admit from what I see of you, I think your range of expression (facially) is broader. I think you would have been a better Lady... in my opinion.

Maybe you agree? Keep up the good work... you are a joy! 🌷

I really enjoyed this version of Macbeth. Its always fascinating to see how Shakespeare is adapted in cinema. How malleable it becomes to the form. Incidentally I just listened to the Folger library podcast interview with Ian McKellen and he mentions how Shakespeare's scripts are almost cinematic, in that they have jump cuts and continuities that are quite cinematic technically, as well as there being a scope that is cinematic. By the way McKellen's Richard III is a great, great cinema adaptation of Shakespeare

To see why Lady Macbeth snapped upon seeing the Macduffs' death by burning, go watch Game of Thrones, a kid got murdered by her father by burning at the stake in season 5 and the main fallout lasted through the end of season 6.

Lovely, thoughtful and insightful review of (as you say) a flawed but powerful film version....maybe the closest film to Shakespeare's vision of the play I've yet seen. I agree, the slowness of the cues and the dialogue is a HUGE problem throughout, and it makes me wish that there had been an actor-friendly Shakespeare nerd on set to keep poking Kerzel about it as it was directed and cut. The editing exacerbated the problem even more. Too often, it deflates the tension at key moments

HOWEVER.....like you, I thought the characterizations were mostly brilliant, and the scenes of the massacre of Lady Macduff and her children, and Fleance watching his father butchered, both brought me to tears, and will haunt me forever. And you're right: the "full of scorpions is my mind" moment is as perfect as it gets. As impatient as I get with the slowness of the pace, I keep coming back to this film. I've now seen it three times since its release. It has an aura of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness about it. "The horror! The horror!"

Now on to Polanski's version....? :-)

Thanks for sharing your passion, Shelby. As always, it's contagious!