If You Can Feel It, Then See It
Once upon a time, a valiant general was flattered by three witches. They saw a future king of Scotland, but he was misled to believe that regicide was the only way to the throne. This was Macbeth's story. His reign lasted seventeen years, so it wasn't hard to imagine a (short) period of bliss. William Shakespeare depicted a different version of the man, who was tormented by his crime. Greed pushed him to commit the ignoble deed, with an ambitious wife by his side.
Justin Kurzel, a young Australian filmmaker, thought of a visceral approach to the tragedy. A different take would be welcomed, as the play was adapted many times. The native of Gawler, South Australia should know, as one version was set in Melbourne's underbelly. Let's not forget a younger (and slimmer) Orson Wells opposite Jeanette Nolan in 1948. And Roman Polanski's adaptation, released in 1971, turned out to be an excruciating experience for those who saw it.
Kurzel's "Macbeth", which was based from a screenplay by Jacob Koskoff, Michael Lesslie, and Todd Louiso, would prompt some viewers to look through the pages of the play again. Did the Bard omitted something? Dead men won't tell a word, but it won't hurt to speculate. Here are some intriguing ideas:
Grief drove Macbeth to kill King Duncan. The opening shot of "Macbeth" was a bird's view of a young boy's funeral. It was a stark, haunting image, which set the tone for the entire picture. He turned out to be Macbeth's son. The screenplay didn't reveal the cause of his death, but this kind of tragedy could be too much for some parents. Some thought that Shakespeare portrayed an inaccurate picture of Macbeth, and Kurzel tried to make him sympathetic at first. But the road to hell was paved with gold and glitter.
The Scottish Highlands must be viewed from a distance. Kurzel should be credited for filming in Scotland. The craggy terrain and snow-capped peaks were stunning, but the landscape was damp and cold. The highlanders expected gray sky. And it was hardly inhabitable. These features would influence the attitude of the Scots, who weren't a cheerful lot. You couldn't blame them.
Lady Macbeth could have a French accent. Some saw Marion Cotillard as a bold choice for the role of Lady Macbeth. The purists would point out her French accent, and the Oscar-winning actress conceded (in one interview) that attempting a Scottish accent might ruin the film. But she wasn't the first French actress to play this famous character. (Simone Signoret, the first French actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, complained about the difficulty of mastering the Scottish accent.) But this highlighted the Auld Alliance, a friendly coalition between France and Scotland during the Middle Age. Not a few would scoff it, as union between cousins was common during that time. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth might be related at all.
The Middle Age was a violent era. Sunshine bathed the battlefield during the final scenes, but it was bloody red. Many saw a cycle of violence, which would be unbroken for generations. Hell was a murky place.
