dark stark take

Rating: 6/10 (14 December 2016)

This is a dark, bloody, stark take on the classic Shakespearian play. Michael Fassbender plays the iconic Macbeth and Marion Cotillard plays Lady Macbeth. In Scotland, Macbeth supports King Duncan (David Thewlis) in the civil war and comes out victorious. The witches make prophecies. It is a tale of ambition, power, and self-fulfilling tragedies.
The cinematic visuals take advantage of the stark Scottish landscape. It wallows in the blood and mud. Even the slow motion blood dripping add to the mood. However, it does feel like style over substance. Sometimes people mumble. Sometimes it just doesn't sing. I'm looking at the Out Spot speech and the emotional power is faded. I wouldn't say anybody is bad but I want to feel more from Fassbender and company. It does take the familiar material into more compelling spaces.