An evocative introduction to the play

Rating: 7/10 (3 October 2015)

Very good, within the constraints of 113 minutes. (Maybe should have been called 'The Essential MacBeth' or even 'MacBeth: The Highlights' ;-) Great for those without the stamina or education yet to handle the 'real thing', and the film medium suits the private conversations and soliloquies much better as the actors can speak with more subtle feeling. That said, whispering in a Scottish accent is never going to provide the clearest enunciation. Those unfamiliar with the text may struggle to comprehend occasionally, but hey that's Shakespeare for you ! Marion Cotillard does not disappoint, Fassbender retains his crown and there's good support from among the current cohort of serious British actors: Paddy Considine as Banquo; Sean Harris as MacDuff and David Thewlis as Duncan; also from some past the zenith of their careers, as well as a sprinkling of up-and-coming talent. Watch it and realise just how enormous an impact Shakespeare has had on British culture and language.