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September 21, 2021 9:23 PM Subscribe
The Tragedy Of Macbeth from Joel Coen and A24, with Denzel and Frances and others. The teasingest of teaser trailers at 55 seconds.
It will have blood, they say. Blood will have blood.
posted by Wallace Shawn at 10:02 PM on September 21, 2021
posted by Wallace Shawn at 10:02 PM on September 21, 2021
You know, if you're shooting in black-and-white, you can use chocolate syrup for blood.
posted by mr_roboto at 10:14 PM on September 21, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by mr_roboto at 10:14 PM on September 21, 2021 [5 favorites]
Who knew the old man had so much chocolate syrup in him?
posted by emjaybee at 10:20 PM on September 21, 2021 [47 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 10:20 PM on September 21, 2021 [47 favorites]
Is this a squeeze bottle I see before me?
posted by vrakatar at 10:39 PM on September 21, 2021 [21 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 10:39 PM on September 21, 2021 [21 favorites]
I have not seen it where Macbeth is an old man before.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 10:48 PM on September 21, 2021
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 10:48 PM on September 21, 2021
That's an interesting casting of Kathryn Hunter to play the three witches.
posted by Wordshore at 11:11 PM on September 21, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Wordshore at 11:11 PM on September 21, 2021 [2 favorites]
I have not seen it where Macbeth is an old man before.
Unlike, say, Hamlet.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 12:15 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Unlike, say, Hamlet.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 12:15 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
"Written for the screen by Joel Cohen."
Interesting that they don't mention Shakespeare anywhere in this. I wonder if they thought adding his name would actually put some people off?
There's an old story about a film of one of Shakespeare's plays whose director was crass enough to give himself a co-writer's credit alongside the Bard. I'd assumed it was an urban myth, but this site's turned up some hard evidence.
posted by Paul Slade at 1:18 AM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
Interesting that they don't mention Shakespeare anywhere in this. I wonder if they thought adding his name would actually put some people off?
There's an old story about a film of one of Shakespeare's plays whose director was crass enough to give himself a co-writer's credit alongside the Bard. I'd assumed it was an urban myth, but this site's turned up some hard evidence.
posted by Paul Slade at 1:18 AM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
another recent Shakespeare film that I thought was really good was the King Lear that Amazon did, with Anthony Hopkins.
There's an old story about a film of one of Shakespeare's plays whose director was crass enough to give himself a co-writer's credit alongside the Bard.
What's done is done.
posted by thelonius at 3:56 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
There's an old story about a film of one of Shakespeare's plays whose director was crass enough to give himself a co-writer's credit alongside the Bard.
What's done is done.
posted by thelonius at 3:56 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Picture me with flailing Kermit arms right now over this.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:59 AM on September 22, 2021 [11 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:59 AM on September 22, 2021 [11 favorites]
Who knew the old man had so much chocolate syrup in him?
Out, out, brief candy.
posted by mochapickle at 4:04 AM on September 22, 2021 [9 favorites]
Out, out, brief candy.
posted by mochapickle at 4:04 AM on September 22, 2021 [9 favorites]
Filmed in black and white and Academy Ratio, as Shakespeare would have wanted.
posted by octothorpe at 4:20 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 4:20 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Black-and-white, eh?
That's just so at the end they can tease the arrival of Demona by showing her in shadow with glowing red eyes in order to set up the sequel.
(This joke would have worked better if this adaptation were produced by Disney instead of Apple. Also, I'm an insufferable 90s kid who will always associate the Bard with a cheesy afternoon cartoon. )
posted by RonButNotStupid at 4:24 AM on September 22, 2021
That's just so at the end they can tease the arrival of Demona by showing her in shadow with glowing red eyes in order to set up the sequel.
(This joke would have worked better if this adaptation were produced by Disney instead of Apple. Also, I'm an insufferable 90s kid who will always associate the Bard with a cheesy afternoon cartoon. )
posted by RonButNotStupid at 4:24 AM on September 22, 2021
Very excited about this! I will cheerfully watch any version of that play put before me. (I was sold on the concept of an older Macbeth by the wonderfully creepy Patrick Stewart version.)
posted by merriment at 5:13 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by merriment at 5:13 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
There's an old story about a film of one of Shakespeare's plays whose director was crass enough to give himself a co-writer's credit alongside the Bard.
Which was referenced in the end credits of the first season of Blackadder. After "Written by Richard Curtis & Rowan Atkinson" was the credit "Additional Dialogue by William Shakespeare".
posted by dannyboybell at 5:27 AM on September 22, 2021 [9 favorites]
Which was referenced in the end credits of the first season of Blackadder. After "Written by Richard Curtis & Rowan Atkinson" was the credit "Additional Dialogue by William Shakespeare".
posted by dannyboybell at 5:27 AM on September 22, 2021 [9 favorites]
I was excited about the recent version of the play with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard but that one just fell flat for me. High hopes for this one just given this preview.
posted by octothorpe at 5:31 AM on September 22, 2021
posted by octothorpe at 5:31 AM on September 22, 2021
Who knew the old man had so much chocolate syrup in him?
His wife.
posted by fairmettle at 5:42 AM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
His wife.
posted by fairmettle at 5:42 AM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
I do love me some Macbeth, especially when the last performance I saw was pretty lackluster and weirdly miced.
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:53 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:53 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Did I overlook the date? How long do I have to hold my breath like this?
posted by wenestvedt at 6:13 AM on September 22, 2021
posted by wenestvedt at 6:13 AM on September 22, 2021
Comes out Christmas in theatres.
I could have sworn I saw a different trailer about a month ago after listening to McDormand on the Team Deakins podcast. Weird.
posted by dobbs at 6:15 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
I could have sworn I saw a different trailer about a month ago after listening to McDormand on the Team Deakins podcast. Weird.
posted by dobbs at 6:15 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
You know, if you're shooting in black-and-white, you can use chocolate syrup for blood.
I was once a tour guide at Universal Studios in LA and this was one of the factoids we used when on a sound stage. Reds appear light gray with panchromatic film and Hersey's syrup was the substitute. The running joke was the only problem with the technique was the actors kept licking their wounds between takes...
posted by jim in austin at 6:17 AM on September 22, 2021
I was once a tour guide at Universal Studios in LA and this was one of the factoids we used when on a sound stage. Reds appear light gray with panchromatic film and Hersey's syrup was the substitute. The running joke was the only problem with the technique was the actors kept licking their wounds between takes...
posted by jim in austin at 6:17 AM on September 22, 2021
if we're talking about our favorite film adaptations of Shakespeare's work, anyone for Titus?
also: looking forward to this! A24 + McDormand, sign me up!
posted by elkevelvet at 7:22 AM on September 22, 2021 [4 favorites]
also: looking forward to this! A24 + McDormand, sign me up!
posted by elkevelvet at 7:22 AM on September 22, 2021 [4 favorites]
Hot potato, orchestra stalls, Puck will make amends!! AAAH!!
posted by gimonca at 7:44 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by gimonca at 7:44 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
I am here for this, at least so far. This looks like a Bergman Shakespeare, and stylish as hell. I hope they keep to the text, though, because the one with Michael Fassbender from a few years back took so many liberties that it was just awful.
Also, yes! Someone else has seen/liked Titus. Best adaptation of Titus Andronicus I've ever seen.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 7:59 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
Also, yes! Someone else has seen/liked Titus. Best adaptation of Titus Andronicus I've ever seen.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 7:59 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
I don’t think there will be any weirdly, formally correct Southern yokel types in this.
Unless it’s witches. Please, make it the witches.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 8:11 AM on September 22, 2021
Unless it’s witches. Please, make it the witches.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 8:11 AM on September 22, 2021
if we're talking about our favorite film adaptations of Shakespeare's work, anyone for Titus?
"Why art thou thus attired, Andronicus?"
I love Julie Taylor's adaptation of Titus Andronicus! It is so stylish and gruesome!
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 8:23 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
"Why art thou thus attired, Andronicus?"
I love Julie Taylor's adaptation of Titus Andronicus! It is so stylish and gruesome!
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 8:23 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
if we're talking about our favorite film adaptations of Shakespeare's work
Sorry, I have to pick the (admittedly imperfect) Branagh/Thompson adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing.
This has potential. I agree that the Michael Fassbender version was too dark and lifeless. I've heard good things about the Patrick Stewart WW2 adaptation.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 8:56 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Sorry, I have to pick the (admittedly imperfect) Branagh/Thompson adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing.
This has potential. I agree that the Michael Fassbender version was too dark and lifeless. I've heard good things about the Patrick Stewart WW2 adaptation.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 8:56 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
What's the significance of this being a one-Coen production?
posted by benbenson at 9:15 AM on September 22, 2021
posted by benbenson at 9:15 AM on September 22, 2021
The other Coen has said he's retired.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:27 AM on September 22, 2021
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:27 AM on September 22, 2021
Adaptations? Try Peter Brook’s version of King Lear. B&W. Shot in some desolate coastal region of Denmark. And darker than dark. Lear stripped down to the raw human all too human vileness that lurks within people.
posted by njohnson23 at 9:28 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by njohnson23 at 9:28 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
The other Coen has said he's retired.
He's directing plays, I think
posted by thelonius at 9:41 AM on September 22, 2021
He's directing plays, I think
posted by thelonius at 9:41 AM on September 22, 2021
the last performance I saw was pretty lackluster and weirdly miced.
For a few seconds, my thought was, "Any mice in Macbeth would be weird." Which led me to consider what Shakespeare a mouse or two would be good in. Pretty much all the comedies, I decided, the female romantic lead having a pet mouse would actually be kinda charming -- the exception being Viola. That would be a bit odd, after being shipwrecked. But Beatrice would totally keep a pet mouse on her shoulder, to be addressed with bawdy comments. Ditto Rosalind (in her sleeve), Portia (on her headdress), and Miranda (in her hand? I guess?).
Then I realized it was the microphones that were weird.
I'm so sorry you saw a mediocre production, especially with those problems.
posted by Quasirandom at 9:45 AM on September 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
For a few seconds, my thought was, "Any mice in Macbeth would be weird." Which led me to consider what Shakespeare a mouse or two would be good in. Pretty much all the comedies, I decided, the female romantic lead having a pet mouse would actually be kinda charming -- the exception being Viola. That would be a bit odd, after being shipwrecked. But Beatrice would totally keep a pet mouse on her shoulder, to be addressed with bawdy comments. Ditto Rosalind (in her sleeve), Portia (on her headdress), and Miranda (in her hand? I guess?).
Then I realized it was the microphones that were weird.
I'm so sorry you saw a mediocre production, especially with those problems.
posted by Quasirandom at 9:45 AM on September 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
Try Peter Brook’s version of King Lear. B&W. Shot in some desolate coastal region of Denmark. And darker than dark.
[Paul Scofield]"NO."[Paul Scofield]
posted by praemunire at 11:09 AM on September 22, 2021
[Paul Scofield]"NO."[Paul Scofield]
posted by praemunire at 11:09 AM on September 22, 2021
And then there's Peter Greenaway's The Tempest adaptation, Prospero's Books, which I believe was an instantly regrettable movie recommendation from my 11th grade English teacher. Whom I ran into at said movie.
posted by emelenjr at 11:19 AM on September 22, 2021
posted by emelenjr at 11:19 AM on September 22, 2021
It's weird that in that first scene the guy in the background looks like he's about to play a really funny prank on the guy in the foreground.
posted by mhoye at 11:52 AM on September 22, 2021
posted by mhoye at 11:52 AM on September 22, 2021
I saw one of my coworkers play Macbeth a couple of years ago. Weird to see somone I'd known for 15 years in an office work context going batshit insane on stage.
The porter was so cool, he was in a wheelchair and so the whole bit about taking so long to answer the door took on a whole new meaning.
They did the the witches with really cool puppets held aloft by the half a dozen of the cast, who spoke all the lines in slightly-off-from-unison. Very creepy.
posted by buildmyworld at 2:18 PM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
The porter was so cool, he was in a wheelchair and so the whole bit about taking so long to answer the door took on a whole new meaning.
They did the the witches with really cool puppets held aloft by the half a dozen of the cast, who spoke all the lines in slightly-off-from-unison. Very creepy.
posted by buildmyworld at 2:18 PM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
If we are talking about stage adaptations, Pawakan Macbeth was special (linked to a Zoom reading, but the live performance I saw a few years ago was great.. from the featured description: Pawâkan Macbeth is set during pre-colonization, when Plains Cree were allied with Stoney Nakoda, and at war with Blackfoot over territory, food, supplies and trade. When true autonomy existed among Indigenous Peoples and with that their spirits, their wisdom, practices, makers, tricksters, shifters, their darkness and light. When the Canadian Government were making their way west with Sir John A. MacDonald as its leader. Harsh environments brought immense fear, starvation, and uncertainty together to awaken the darkest of Cree spirits, the Wihtiko – a being with insatiable greed. Through the exploration of Plains Cree language, history, stories and cosmology Arluk asks, What is it to be human? What makes a human vulnerable to the Wihtiko?
posted by elkevelvet at 6:37 PM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by elkevelvet at 6:37 PM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
I can’t believe Apple bought the rights to Macbeth. That’s really going to suck for kids who have to study it for school.
posted by Joe in Australia at 8:00 PM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 8:00 PM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
James McAvoy Macbeth is a weird one, set in a restaurant.
posted by freethefeet at 3:14 AM on September 24, 2021
posted by freethefeet at 3:14 AM on September 24, 2021
I've seen weirder.
[I actually did see this Little Angel Theatre production and it was very good.]
posted by Paul Slade at 5:05 AM on September 24, 2021
[I actually did see this Little Angel Theatre production and it was very good.]
posted by Paul Slade at 5:05 AM on September 24, 2021
freethefeet: "James McAvoy Macbeth is a weird one, set in a restaurant."
Do you mean Scotland, PA? McAvoy wasn't in that. I don't see anything McBeth-ish in his filmography.
posted by octothorpe at 5:25 AM on September 24, 2021
Do you mean Scotland, PA? McAvoy wasn't in that. I don't see anything McBeth-ish in his filmography.
posted by octothorpe at 5:25 AM on September 24, 2021
“Just Because It’s A Tragedy Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Have A Good Time,” ‘Macbeth’ Helmer Joel Coen Tells Elated New York Film Festival Opening Night Crowd [Deadline]
posted by hippybear at 8:37 AM on September 25, 2021
posted by hippybear at 8:37 AM on September 25, 2021
Frances McDormand & Joel Coen Answer All Questions On Eve Of New York Film Festival Opener ‘The Tragedy Of Macbeth’ [Deadline, very long]
posted by hippybear at 9:02 AM on September 25, 2021
posted by hippybear at 9:02 AM on September 25, 2021
The most disturbing adaptation of Macbeth yet.
posted by Wordshore at 3:38 PM on September 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Wordshore at 3:38 PM on September 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
Ooh that second trailer is EFFECTIVE. I'm so excited.
posted by merriment at 12:53 PM on October 18, 2021
posted by merriment at 12:53 PM on October 18, 2021
That's an awesomely chilling trailer. Whee!
posted by Quasirandom at 1:41 PM on October 19, 2021
posted by Quasirandom at 1:41 PM on October 19, 2021
I've seen weirder.
Oh, if we're talking weird adaptations - I once saw a production that mind-melded Shakespeare's script with the book Fast Food Nation. Each of the principal characters was dressed up as a different fast food restaurant mascot - MacBeth was Ronald McDonald, the king he kills was Colonel Sanders, and instead of the Three Weird Sisters it was the Three Fry Guys. And somehow it all worked really well.
....I'm reminded of another more straightforward production a friend of mine did the stage combat for. It was the final week of rehearsals, and my friend suddenly noticed some things, and pointed everything out to the director:
* They were already doing MacBeth, which was bad luck.
* The set designer had festooned the stage with these shards of reflective material - which looked like huge pieces of a broken mirror.
* The set designer also had these wheeled platforms as part of the set; each one had a sort of column on it and a ladder leading up to it, and the cast would wheel them here and there as the scene changed. And regularly, two of the platforms would be wheeled together to form a sort of arch or doorway - which meant that on occasion during the play, cast members would be walking under ladders.
* Opening night was Friday the 13th.
The director apparently hadn't noticed all of that - it was all purely coincidental. They both cracked up and started joking that they should train a black cat to walk across the stage right before everything started as well.
....I actually attended on opening night to see what would happen; everything went fine. I can only assume that with all the bad-luck charms thrown into the mix they all cancelled each other out.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:21 AM on October 20, 2021
Oh, if we're talking weird adaptations - I once saw a production that mind-melded Shakespeare's script with the book Fast Food Nation. Each of the principal characters was dressed up as a different fast food restaurant mascot - MacBeth was Ronald McDonald, the king he kills was Colonel Sanders, and instead of the Three Weird Sisters it was the Three Fry Guys. And somehow it all worked really well.
....I'm reminded of another more straightforward production a friend of mine did the stage combat for. It was the final week of rehearsals, and my friend suddenly noticed some things, and pointed everything out to the director:
* They were already doing MacBeth, which was bad luck.
* The set designer had festooned the stage with these shards of reflective material - which looked like huge pieces of a broken mirror.
* The set designer also had these wheeled platforms as part of the set; each one had a sort of column on it and a ladder leading up to it, and the cast would wheel them here and there as the scene changed. And regularly, two of the platforms would be wheeled together to form a sort of arch or doorway - which meant that on occasion during the play, cast members would be walking under ladders.
* Opening night was Friday the 13th.
The director apparently hadn't noticed all of that - it was all purely coincidental. They both cracked up and started joking that they should train a black cat to walk across the stage right before everything started as well.
....I actually attended on opening night to see what would happen; everything went fine. I can only assume that with all the bad-luck charms thrown into the mix they all cancelled each other out.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:21 AM on October 20, 2021
I just got the BlueRay of the Welles MacBeth yesterday; will probably watch it over the weekend.
posted by octothorpe at 6:27 AM on October 20, 2021
posted by octothorpe at 6:27 AM on October 20, 2021
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posted by Thella at 10:01 PM on September 21, 2021 [1 favorite]