The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
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A nobleman's ambition is fueled by supernatural prophecies, leading to a violent and paranoid descent into power.
The story
After being hailed as the future king by three mysterious witches on a battlefield, Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, becomes consumed by ambition. While his peer Banquo is promised a lineage of kings, Macbeth sees a path to the throne that is currently blocked by the prince of Cumberland. Encouraged by his wife, Lady Macbeth, he commits regicide to seize the crown. However, the act of taking the throne plunges him into a world of paranoia and violence as he attempts to secure his position against rivals and the haunting weight of the witches' prophecies.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth takes the throne but becomes increasingly paranoid regarding the prophecy that Banquo's descendants will rule. He orders the murder of Banquo and his son Fleance. Later, the witches provide a cryptic warning about Macduff, stating Macbeth cannot be harmed by anyone not born of woman until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill. Lady Macbeth descends into madness and dies, while Macduff, who has fled to England, raises an army with Malcolm. The soldiers camouflage themselves with branches from Birnam Wood, moving toward the castle. In the final confrontation, Macduff reveals he was 'untimely ripped' from his mother's body, and he defeats and beheads Macbeth. Malcolm is crowned King, while Fleance is revealed to be alive and spirited away.
- First release year
- 2021
- Runtime (minutes)
- 105
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Joel Coen
- Writers
- Joel Coen · writer
- Cast and characters
- Denzel Washington · Macbeth; Frances McDormand · Lady Macbeth; Bertie Carvel; Alex Hassell; Corey Hawkins; Harry Melling; Kathryn Hunter; Brendan Gleeson
- Genres
- tragedy; thriller
- Themes
- ambition; paranoia; fate
- Tone and mood
- ominous; haunting
- Premise and plot tags
- Shakespearean adaptation; black-and-white; historical
- Source material / true-story basis
- Macbeth by William Shakespeare
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 87 · scale: 100 · review count: 49
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Actor · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Cinematography · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Production Design · Nomination; Screen Actors Guild Award · Best Actor · Nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Actor · Nomination; Critics' Choice Award · Best Actor · Nomination
- Production trivia
- First film directed by a Coen brother without the other's involvement.; Shot entirely on sound stages to appear 'untethered from reality'.; Visual style intended to evoke German Expressionist filmmakers.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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