moon_custafer: ominous shape of Dr. Mabuse (curtain)
Andrew found it for us yesterday. Visually striking— I’m guessing it was shot in front of a green screen, but the stylized backgrounds justify it. (ETA— my apologies to the set designers— apparently some of those spaces were real, constructed on a soundstage, although there was a lot of post-production and VFX compositing) The story takes place in a world of mist exteriors and cyclopean stone interiors that somehow must also contain the occasional translucent screen when a dramatic silhouette is needed; it’s like a combination of Throne of Blood and the Welles Macbeth. The costumes are all quasi-medieval, but Lady MacBeth and Lady MacDuff’s gowns and hairstyles have a vaguely 1940s quality which fits with the black-and-white aesthetic (Andrew also thought one of the Murderers was playing his part in a very Elisha Cooke, Jr way). 

Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand are just as good as you’d expect. I like that Washington’s Macbeth definitely has that milk of human kindness his wife complains about, so he’s got a moral position to fall from. As Duncan, Brendan Gleason somehow manages to act average-sized and subtle. The performer who’s really stayed with me, though, is Kathryan Hunter as the Witches — according to Wikipedia, she’s mainly a stage performer, known for often playing male roles. Onscreen, the Sisters are sometimes three in one body, sometimes three separate figures, sometimes an old woman with two reflections in a nearby mire. Hunter bends her limbs in impressive ways and has a croaking little voice. No offence to Andy Serkis or Weta, but if she’d played a live-action Gollum the character would have been twice as creepy and twice as pathetic.

Date: 2022-01-24 05:33 pm (UTC)From: [personal profile] troisoiseaux
troisoiseaux: (Default)
Kathryan Hunter as the Witches — according to Wikipedia, she’s mainly a stage performer, known for often playing male roles

I was lucky enough to see Kathryn Hunter as the titular role in Timon of Athens (traditionally a male role, but played as woman in this production) just before All Theater Shut Down— she's so physically small but has such an incredible stage presence. I would love to see her take on Macbeth's witches— I'll have to check this movie out.

Date: 2022-01-24 05:43 pm (UTC)From: [personal profile] oracne
oracne: turtle (Default)
That sounds so excellent.

Date: 2022-01-24 06:59 pm (UTC)From: [personal profile] kore
kore: (Default)
I have been longing to see this!

Date: 2022-01-24 08:29 pm (UTC)From: [personal profile] sovay
sovay: (PJ Harvey: crow)
Onscreen, the Sisters are sometimes three in one body, sometimes three separate figures, sometimes an old woman with two reflections in a nearby mire.

I've heard wonderful things about this production, and your descriptions are changing nothing. [personal profile] nineweaving was very struck not only by the witches, but by this version's Ross.

Date: 2022-01-28 06:36 pm (UTC)From: [personal profile] cuddyclothes
cuddyclothes: (Default)
Interesting! It's on my list of films to see. I've been in a 1930s pre-Code phase.

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