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MacBeth
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Went to see this on the weekend, i liked the cinematography and the acting. But all the dialogue went over my head, I knew nothing of the story going in really and that was my downfall.
I would recommend at the very least, reading what the story is about so you know whats going on before going in, unless you have an ear for old English.. To me it was like watching a foreign movie without subtitles, i could only gather what was going on based on the actions and facial reactions of the cast. And i did well having read the gist on the net afterwards
Its odd that i had so much trouble understanding anything said in this but having watched Joss Whedeons modern day telling of much ado about nothing, in which i was able to follow the story just fine.0 -
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Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 29,129 CMod ✭✭✭✭
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This was a refreshingly striking effort from Justin Kurzel. Less showy than its trailers suggested (outside of its appropriately blood-red titles and coda, and the heavily stylised battles), Kurzel maintains an admirably miserable, uninviting mood throughout. Adam Arkapaw's cinematography, assisted by exemplary art designers and set dressers, is drenched in shadows and mist, capturing the film's relentless foreboding from the very first frame. The sound further amplifies the discomfort - the scratchy, whispered dialogue; the ambient soundtrack; the deafening chants, sword clashes and battle cries. This all helps the supernatural elements blend smoothly in - the fantasy and reality exist on the same general plain for much of the film, which is a perfect way to put across the increasingly vulnerable states of mind of Macbeth and his wife.
Yet, at the same time, it's a film I regularly felt distant from. I could almost always admire the craft and mood-building, but the pacing came across as plodding at times - strangely enough for the material, it felt some of the monologues in particular needed an extra spark to properly ignite. The performances seemed to be on an unusual middleground between understated (for the material) and melodramatic, and it didn't always quite work (although I think Cotillard powerfully captured the internal conflict and uncertainty of Lady Macbeth around the midpoint). It's a film in some ways to admire rather than enjoy - impeccably put together, but almost - and in a sense, this seems to be part of the point - chilly and unwelcoming.
Edit: Ha, just had a look back about what I wrote in the Snowtown thread, and very similar response. Kurzel definitely has his own distinct directorial signature
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johnny_ultimate wrote: »This was a refreshingly striking effort from Justin Kurzel. Less showy than its trailers suggested (outside of its appropriately blood-red titles and coda, and the heavily stylised battles), Kurzel maintains an admirably miserable, uninviting mood throughout. Adam Arkapaw's cinematography, assisted by exemplary art designers and set dressers, is drenched in shadows and mist, capturing the film's relentless foreboding from the very first frame. The sound further amplifies the discomfort - the scratchy, whispered dialogue; the ambient soundtrack; the deafening chants, sword clashes and battle cries. This all helps the supernatural elements blend smoothly in - the fantasy and reality exist on the same general plain for much of the film, which is a perfect way to put across the increasingly vulnerable states of mind of Macbeth and his wife.
Yet, at the same time, it's a film I regularly felt distant from. I could almost always admire the craft and mood-building, but the pacing came across as plodding at times - strangely enough for the material, it felt some of the monologues in particular needed an extra spark to properly ignite. The performances seemed to be on an unusual middleground between understated (for the material) and melodramatic, and it didn't always quite work (although I think Cotillard powerfully captured the internal conflict and uncertainty of Lady Macbeth around the midpoint). It's a film in some ways to admire rather than enjoy - impeccably put together, but almost - and in a sense, this seems to be part of the point - chilly and unwelcoming.
Edit: Ha, just had a look back about what I wrote in the Snowtown thread, and very similar response. Kurzel definitely has his own distinct directorial signature
I would agree with a lot of this actually. It certainly was a fine visual adaptation of the play if a few of the stagings of scenes were a bit jarring. The whispered dialogue that you mention I think may have contributed to why I was disappointed. This was obviously a different take on the norm but I think speaking a bit more clearly would have helped the overall spectacle and allowed a bit more emotional resonance from the characters.
The shots of the country were wonderful and the score added to this but I felt it didn't need to somewhat cloud the dialogue. I did Macbeth in school and this is the 4th medium I've experienced it in and the first that the dialogue bothered me. That could just be my increased lack of a listening ear for the language in the last few years but I don't think so. It was kind of like being in a trance at times watching the film, being taken in by the atmosphere but the characters leaving me cold.
It was a bit strange that they gave the bloody-red text context shot at the start in modern English and then didn't go back to that method throughout. I felt that it may have helped with the changing of scenes and acts. The film was very visually satisfying which is obviously a plus to the viewer but a bit more assistance to the audience would not have gone amiss.0 -
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