Hacker Cinema
Macbeth
2021 · Film
Directed by Arnalda Canali
As per tradition, the 2021/22 season opened in December at La Scala in Milan, this time with a new production of Giuseppe Verdi's 'Macbeth' directed by Davide Livermore and conducted by Riccardo Chailly. Verdi's Shakespeare drama features a star-studded cast: Anna Netrebko and Luca Salsi embody the regicide Macbeth and his lady.
3 positivefrom 3 commenters
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3 comments on Hacker News
This is less a response to the piece than the inciting thread(s) on X.
Successful art doesn't have to be accurate. Successful entertainment even less so!
It's super telling that you get people essentially complaining about AAVE like it's an existential issue for the movie, but silence on any other anachronisms not related to race.
Denzel played a great Macbeth in the recent Joel Coen movie, despite not once being Scottish. Acting!
Macbeth is probably one of the more accessible Shakespearean tragedies. There are also many good film versions including the latest on with Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. Personally, I'd recommend watching one of the films before reading it.
Absolutely you should watch it. Your comparison is apt; you're missing most of it if you're just reading the script. The sights and sounds of a good performance make it much easier to follow.
Reading the script is an advanced skill. I think we do a real disservice throwing unedited scripts at students.
As for what to watch, there are many great film versions. Branagh's Henry V and Much Ado About Nothing were my gateway. There is a stunning Titus by Julie Taymor, especially if you like horror -- it's an obscure play but Taymor makes a spectacle of it. There have been several very good Macbeth adaptations recently; I need to catch Denzel Washington's because I've heard it's great. There was also a very good Coriolanus recently (another obscure play given a very modern and relevant performance).
I would watch a film, and if you love it, read the play to find out how it works.