One of the surefire heavy hitters of awards season isThe Tragedy of Macbeth,一个新的适应苏格兰比赛from Joel Coen (working for the first time in his career without his brother, Ethan). Starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand, we now have our first, brief, look at the film, and of course it looks very beautiful and Shakespearian. Shot in black and white by Bruno Delbonnel, who has previously worked with the Coens onThe Ballad of Buster ScruggsandInside Llewyn Davis, but who also lensedAmelie, an immortal achievement,Tragedyhas a very plush look to it, as you would expect, given the film’s pedigree. Besides the presence of Denzel, Delbonnel, and prestige power couple Coen and McDormand,Tragedyis scored by Carter Burwell, with costume designs by Mary Zophres, editing by Ari Aster’s go-to collaborator, Lucian Johnston, and the whole thing is presented by A24, one of the few production companies to have its own fanbase (along with Laika and Marvel).
The trailer is not even a minute long, because this story and these people hardly need an introduction. It’s just beautiful shots of Denzel, Franny McD, and Brendan Gleeson while Kathryn Hunter (who played Arabella Figg in theHarry Pottermovies) intones the Witches’ famous line:By the pricking of my thumbs/Something wicked this way comes. I quote that line all the time, and I appreciate putting it in the trailer and not, say, “Out, damned spot,” or the Witches’ other, more famous line, “Double, double toil and trouble”.The Tragedy of Macbethwill open the New York Film Festival this Friday, then close the London Film Festival in October. Expect it to be a major contender as soon as it arrives.
