A few words of praise for "He whose name must not be mentioned" revisited

I finally got the chance to watch the 2021 "The Tragedy of MacBeth" starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand as Mr. and Mrs. Aforementioned Villains and have to say it is one tremendous rendition--not only because of its two principals but the other cast members as well.

 

Actually, McDormand may be the weakest player in this version, but that is probably due more to my own personal prejudice. Ever since I witnessed Akira Kurosawa's "Throne of Blood" and Isuzu Yamada's take on the soulless and cold Lady MacBeth, I've been sort of spoiled on that character.

Perhaps the two actors who surprised me, but shouldn't have given their individual talent and range, were Brendan Gleeson as Duncan and Stephen Root as the drunken porter. 

But this "MacBeth" offers more than stellar performances. It's a visual tour de force. Of course, any project involving the Coen brothers (this time out it's only Joel) is always a joy to watch; just recall how well they revamped "True Grit." 

Still, this version packs its greatest punch in Coen's cinematic decisions here. It blends German expressionism with film noir in terms of its use of light and shadow as well as its off-kilter framing and camera placement.

And I haven't seen black-and-white look this surrealistic since Luc Besson gave us "Angel-A" in 2005. That may be thanks to some special effects wizardry, which is especially obvious whenever the witches make the scene (all played by Kathryn Hunter for Harry Potter fans).

Minimalist yet saturated with lots to see, Coen, Washington, et al prove that at times less is indeed more.