Macbeth
Short description
Macbeth is a 2015 adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy, set in medieval Scotland. Macbeth, a commander in King Duncan's army, leads his forces to victory in battle. Afterwards, three mysterious women tell him he is destined to become king. Encouraged by his wife, Lady Macbeth, whose ambition exceeds his own, he kills Duncan and seizes the throne. His rule brings further violence, and his growing fear and suspicion turn former allies into enemies, among them Banquo and Macduff, while Duncan's son Malcolm gathers support against him.
Justin Kurzel directed the film, his third feature after Snowtown and The Turning, working from a screenplay by Todd Louiso, Jacob Koskoff and Michael Lesslie. Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard play the couple at the centre, with Paddy Considine, Sean Harris, Jack Reynor and Elizabeth Debicki in supporting roles. The film was produced by Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Laura Hastings-Smith for a reported budget of around 15 million US dollars, and it earned roughly 16 million dollars worldwide, a modest theatrical return.
Audience response was moderate: on IMDb it holds 6.6 out of 10 from around 62,000 votes, and on TMDB 6.4 out of 10 from about 1,550 votes, while the critics' rating stands noticeably higher at 7.3 out of 10 across 193 reviews.
What's left behind the scenes
- The trailer for the film was released on June 4, 2015, and garnered over a million views in just a few days. By December 12, 2015, there were already over three million views.
- Director Justin Kurzel was so impressed with seven-year-old Amber Rissman that he decided to definitely include her in the plot. The girl had only one line, but even that was cut during editing.
- Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, director Justin Kurzel, and cinematographer Adam Arkapaw also worked together on the film *Assassin's Creed*, which was released in 2016.
- Both Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard have played villains in films based on comics. Fassbender played young Magneto in the "X-Men" franchise films, and Cotillard played Talia al Ghul in "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012).
- The plot of the film differs somewhat from the storyline of Shakespeare's play. In the play, Banquo's ghost sits on Macbeth's throne during the feast (in the film he stands at the table). When Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill in Shakespeare, it is soldiers carrying branches to conceal their numbers (in the corresponding episode of the film, particles of ash are filmed instead of soldiers with branches). In the play, but not in the film, Macduff beheads Macbeth. The play features three witches, while the film features four, including a child.
- In the film, Lady Macbeth is often referred to as Lady Em. Marion Cotillard was similarly called in a documentary internet film released by Dior in 2011.
- Director Justin Kurzel was so impressed with seven-year-old Amber Rissmann that he decided to definitely include her in the plot. To give her the appearance of a witch, makeup artists drew a scar on the girl's chin and three more on her forehead, and braided her hair into a braid. It took four weeks to film the episodes with Amber. Her own trailer and a consultant were constantly on standby near the set. The girl had only one line, but it was cut during editing.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
