"Great Performances: Macbeth" (2010)

Director:  Rupert Goold
Patrick Stewart

This version of Macbeth is not for those who are squeamish at the sight of blood.  In fact, should you consider showing even a scene of this to a classroom, it would be wise to carefully consider twice-over what you would show.

That said, the interpretation of this Macbeth is the closest interpretation yet to how I read Macbeth's transformation:  unsure and hesitant some (while still a soldier) at the beginning, moving through the middle where he has power and "enjoys" being in charge at the top, and ending with a crazy man who let power go to his head from too much war/violence without it seeming only "psycho".  Unlike the 1983 interpretation of Lady Macbeth (who one could be sympathetic with for her plight regarding her changing husband), this Lady Macbeth is much less soft, but just as real a portrayal.  The repeated physical gesture [hand in hand we go in/out together] was noted and effective.

This version works more women characters in well (good!).  We see Macduff's family more than once.  Hear from them lines in more than one scene.  This version also has the three witches/weird sisters repeating appearances in different ways throughout the play.  The Siward and Young Siward scenes/moments are kept.  You have an invisible dagger (first vision), but a visibly demonstrated Banquo Ghost.  The last set of visions is a mix of invisible and visible representations.

Most lines are heard plainly, but the very first soldier's report and many of the weird sisters incantations are not understandable.  However, the sense of all these hard to "hear" lines are not lost.  The effect of the first soldier's report was clear enough.  The sense of the "double, double toil and trouble" song is clever; so was an effective delivery.  (The incantation hints of rap in style.)

The set and costume are reminiscent of 1940s war, though done well to keep the "country" of that of the world of the play, and none other (or none other as far as I'm concerned).  I saw a documentary not too long back about one of England's castles that during WWII had underground headquarters where much war time council and action was done.  This Macbeth set reminds me of that documentary--an underground "bunker" where most of the action takes place.

The play "takes its time" in that it does everything and it is a 3 hour movie; yet, it hooks so well that the time is not long, and I did not wish to hit "pause" at all (except to re-watch a scene or two here and there).

The warning at the beginning of this movie/play was well needed.  It is a bloody play, then it again it's a bloody story.  It was told very well.

Now I want to go watch something light and fluffy so that I'll actually fall asleep tonight.