Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Get Your Comic On
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    • Hot Topics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Marvel
      • Power Rangers
      • Star Trek Universe
      • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
      • Titan Comics
      • Transformers
      • Universal Pictures
    • Features

      Roofman: The True Story Behind the upcoming film and other infamous prison breaks

      October 18, 2025

      Six Crime Films to Watch After ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE

      September 29, 2025

      Five Dark Knight Animated Projects to Watch This BATMAN DAY

      September 16, 2025

      Who Could Superman and Lex Team-up to Defeat in 2027’s MAN OF TOMORROW

      September 15, 2025

      The 10 Most Memorable Deaths In The ALIEN Series, Ranked

      August 15, 2025
    • Comics

      DC K.O. #1 Returns to Press for a Knockout Second Printing!

      October 31, 2025

      Dark Horse Books Announces FROM THE WORLD OF MINOR THREATS Library Edition Release for 2026

      October 31, 2025

      ABSOLUTE BATMAN 2025 ANNUAL #1 Review

      October 29, 2025

      SUPERNATURAL (2025-) #1 Review

      October 29, 2025

      Blumhouse Sets Film and TV Adaptions for Fan-Favourite Comic Book SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN

      October 27, 2025
    • Film

      Here’s Everything Coming to RAKUTEN TV in November 2025

      October 31, 2025

      Sidney (and Ghostface) Return in Fiery First Trailer for SCREAM 7

      October 30, 2025

      CHAINSAW MAN – THE MOVIE: REZE ARC (2025) Review

      October 26, 2025

      Here’s Everything Coming to STUDIOCANAL PRESENTS in November 2025

      October 26, 2025

      Here’s Everything Coming to ARROW in November 2025

      October 26, 2025
    • TV

      Here’s Everything Coming to RAKUTEN TV in November 2025

      October 31, 2025

      Shudder Debuts Official Trailer for THE CREEP TAPES Season 2

      October 31, 2025

      Vecna Unleashes his Final Attack in Explosive STRANGER THINGS Season 5 Trailer

      October 30, 2025

      Here’s Everything Coming to PARAMOUNT+ in November 2025

      October 25, 2025

      Here’s Everything Coming to PRIME VIDEO In November 2025

      October 25, 2025
    • Culture
      • Anime
      • Collectibles
      • Conventions
      • Gaming
    • Podcast
    • Interviews

      Anson Mount Breaks Down the STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS Season 3 Finale (EXCLUSIVE)

      September 12, 2025

      Richa Moorjani Breaks Down ALIEN: EARTH Episode 5 (EXCLUSIVE)

      September 3, 2025

      PEACEMAKER Stars Jennifer Holland & Frank Grillo Discuss Working Together on Season 2 (EXCLUSIVE)

      August 25, 2025

      Sol Rodriguez & Steve Agee Talk Dance Routines and Sharing Scenes in PEACEMAKER Season 2 (EXCLUSIVE)

      August 25, 2025

      Danielle Brooks & Freddie Stroma Talk Shooting Emotional PEACEMAKER Season 2 Scenes (EXCLUSIVE)

      August 25, 2025
    • Directory
    Get Your Comic On
    Home»Film»Film Review»THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH (2021) Review – London Film Festival 2021
    Film Review

    THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH (2021) Review – London Film Festival 2021

    Charlie McGivernBy Charlie McGivernOctober 19, 2021No Comments4 Mins Read
    The Tragedy of Macbeth
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

    William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is one of the most critically acclaimed plays of all time. That is the simplest way to put it. Since its debut in 1606, it has been brought to the stage hundreds of times and has had multiple adaptations to the screen – all of which being fairly divisive. However, the Coen Brothers have truly made a name for themselves in Hollywood over the past thirty years, from directing the likes of No Country For Old Men and Fargo to The Big Lebowski, so when one of the brothers, Joel Coen, decided to make another adaptation of the classic source material, it surely grabbed my attention. But, is The Tragedy of Macbeth a brilliant adaptation of the play?

    If you are reading this review or are interested in this movie, you probably know the plot of the film. However, for those not familiar with the plot, Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth follows the titular character, Macbeth (played by Denzel Washington), the Thane of Glamis, who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches (all played by Kathryn Hunter) that one day he will become the King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife (played by Frances McDormand), Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.

    As the closing film for this year’s London Film Festival, anticipation was high for Joel Coen’s Macbeth movie and sadly, I have found myself to be incredibly mixed overall. By technical standards, it is a perfect film. The monochrome cinematography by Bruno Delbonnel is absolutely gorgeous from beginning to end and truly creates the entire atmosphere for the film. By telling this story in black and white is so effective and works incredibly well. Coen deliberately uses lighting in such a way that makes each set piece feel chilling and establishes a dark mood that is consistently shown throughout the film. The production design from Nancy Haigh is exquisite too. Most of the story takes place in Inverness Castle and the way the entire building looks is amazing. Every single frame in the building is filled with detail and creates this epic feel to the whole movie.

    Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand are also flat out fantastic as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. They truly embody the characters that Shakespeare created over four-hundred years ago. Every single time they appear in the movie, they command the entire screen and deliver haunting performances that are some of the best I have seen all year. Denzel, in particular, deserves an Oscar nomination for his performance here that is unlike anything we have seen from the actor before, as he slowly descends into madness, and his delivery of seventeenth century language felt fluent in such an indescribable way. While McDormand isn’t in the film as much as Washington, she also gets to thrive as the Queen of Scotland.

    However, that’s where my positives end for The Tragedy of Macbeth. The film feels like it was made for Shakespeare lovers, and Shakespeare lovers only. From the language down to the monologues, it will certainly divide audiences. As someone who has only done the basics for Macbeth in high school, I would certainly be lost if I hadn’t read the book. I genuinely didn’t understand roughly seventy percent of the dialogue due to the old-English dialect, and that is not a joke, it truly tampered with my viewing experience with the film. I felt like I was playing catch-up for most of the runtime instead of being able to sit back, relax and enjoy the film.

    The Tragedy of Macbeth is a love letter to Shakespeare fans and they will absolutely adore it! The production design and black & white cinematography are jaw dropping to look at while the entire cast are fantastic, especially Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand who both deliver awards-worthy performances. Casual viewers will certainly be disappointed due to the old-English language but it is still worth a watch for the performances alone.

    A24 and Apple’s The Tragedy of Macbeth will be available to stream exclusively on Apple TV+ from January 14th.


    Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @GetYourComicOn, or on Instagram at GetYourComicOn. If you have a story suggestion email feedback@getyourcomicon.co.uk.

    A24 Apple TV Denzel Washington Frances McDormand London Film Festival London Film Festival 2021 The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021 Film)
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Charlie McGivern
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • X (Twitter)
    • Instagram

    Charlie McGivern is a Manchester, UK based writer, film & television critic and journalist for Get Your Comic On. He is a massive fan of blockbusters but also likes to discuss the latest indie releases.

    Related Posts

    Apple TV Debuts Trailer for Vince Gilligan’s Hotly Anticipated PLURIBUS

    October 24, 2025

    FunPlus Debuts FOUNDATION: GALACTIC FRONTIER on iOS, Android and PC

    October 24, 2025

    FRANKENSTEIN (2025) Review

    October 17, 2025

    A24 Shares Bittersweet New Trailer for Romantic Comedy ETERNITY Starring Elizabeth Olsen

    October 17, 2025

    Apple Shares First Trailer for THE FAMILY PLAN 2

    October 14, 2025

    Sky Picks up FRIDAY THE 13th Prequel Series Crystal Lake for UK Audience

    October 14, 2025
    Latest

    DC K.O. #1 Returns to Press for a Knockout Second Printing!

    October 31, 2025

    Here’s Everything Coming to RAKUTEN TV in November 2025

    October 31, 2025

    Dark Horse Books Announces FROM THE WORLD OF MINOR THREATS Library Edition Release for 2026

    October 31, 2025

    Shudder Debuts Official Trailer for THE CREEP TAPES Season 2

    October 31, 2025

    MY HERO ACADEMIA “Quirk: Explosion!!” Review

    October 31, 2025
    Latest Podcasts
    News

    Spooky Season 2025 Recommendations

    By Neil VaggOctober 30, 2025
    News

    Join us to Visit the Warner Bros. Prop Archive for BATMAN DAY 2025 Celebrations

    By Neil VaggSeptember 20, 2025
    News

    ALIEN: EARTH and the Return of PEACEMAKER

    By Neil VaggAugust 20, 2025
    News

    Superman ’25 & the Future of the DCU

    By Neil VaggAugust 6, 2025
    News

    The Best of 2025… So Far

    By Neil VaggJuly 23, 2025
    X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook LinkedIn
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Community Guidelines
    • Directory
    • Pitch to Us
    • Advertise
    GetYourComicOn.co.uk is a property of Get Your Comic On Ltd. © 2025 All Rights Reserved. Images used on this website are registered trademarks of their respective companies/owners.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.