Yahoo Sports Denzel Washington explains why we’re still obsessed with ‘Macbeth’ 400 years later
When one thinks of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth," performances by legendary actors like Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and Orson Welles likely come to mind.
But that didn't intimidate Denzel Washington, who confesses he'd never seen a production of the play before taking on the lead role in Joel Coen's black and white "The Tragedy of Macbeth" (now in select theaters and streaming on Apple TV+ Friday).
As a result, the Oscar-winning actor says he felt the freedom to "break all the rules."
"Thankfully, I didn't have a preconceived notion because I didn't study it, so I didn't come into ("Macbeth") thinking I knew what people should get from it," he says. "That's really not the actor's place. I'm there to interpret the role. You'll get from it what you bring to it. It's not for me to say how you should feel about something."
The approach clearly paid off. Hours before his Zoom call with USA TODAY, Washington learned his turn as the ruthless Scottish king landed him a Screen Actors Guild nomination for best actor. "I haven't had time to sit back and pat myself on the back," he says. "But it's always, and I mean it, a great honor to be recognized by your peers."
According to Washington, the enduring power of "Macbeth" lies in its exploration of universal human truths. "Its themes keep rearing their ugly head over and over again: corruption and power and greed. And all the things we love."
How does Washington's performance stack up against the slew of "Macbeth" films that have come before it? Here are eight versions of the timeless Shakespearean tragedy, ranked:
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8. 'Maqbool' brings the Bard to India
"Maqbool," directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, loosely adapts the Scottish tragedy to the seedy criminal underworld of Mumbai. Led by the late actor Irrfan Khan, the 2003 film is full of bloody scenes, but tepid pacing dampens its overall impact.
Where to watch: Available for rent on Amazon Prime
7. 'Men of Respect' features young John Turturro and Stanley Tucci
"Macbeth" gets a mafia makeover in this 1991 gory crime thriller directed by William Reilly. John Turturro stars as Mike Battaglia, a ruthless gangster based on Macbeth, who whacks the head of the mafia to ascend to power. Stanley Tucci also stars as Mal – a version of Malcolm, the rightful heir to Scotland. It's a fine film, with some cheeky nods to the original text (like naming the Banquo character Bankie Como), but doesn't leave much of a lasting impression.
Where to watch: Available for rent on Amazon Prime
6. 'Macbeth' keeps it real in medieval Scotland
Director Roman Polanski definitely takes some risks in this hyper-realistic version of the play, like ending the 1971 film with Macbeth's severed head mounted on a pole. Stark, gory visuals make for a fierce rendition, but setting the film in medieval Scotland feels limiting for a modern rendition of the story.
Where to watch: Available for rent on Amazon Prime
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5. Orson Welles gave 'Macbeth' nostalgic drama
This 1948 version starring the great Welles and Jeanette Nolan is as old-school as a film adaptation of Shakespeare can get, complete with a massive castle, grainy black-and-white visuals and dramatic voice-over soliloquies. Though often over the top, this expressionistic version still has a nostalgic charm, making it an enjoyable watch.
Where to watch: While not available for streaming, clips are on YouTube
4. 'Scotland, PA' sees Macbeth climb to top of the food chain
Who says "Macbeth" can't be hilarious? Set in the 1970s in the quaint suburban town of Scotland, Pennsylvania (which, yes, is a real place), 2001's "Scotland, PA" follows the hapless Joe 'Mac' McBeth (James Le Gros) and his scheming wife Pat McBeth (Maura Tierney) as they plan to rob Norm Duncan (James Rebhorn), the owner of the local fast food joint where they work. When the robbery goes horribly awry, Joe and Pat end up ascending to the top of a fast-food empire. Throw in Christopher Walken as Lieutenant McDuff plus a trio of hippie witches and you've got a recipe for a quirky, unique take on the Scottish play likely to make you laugh more than any others.
Where to watch: Streaming on Amazon Prime
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3. 'Throne of Blood' offers a Japanese twist
A testament to the enduring power of Shakespeare is how often the playwright's works are adapted into other cultures. "Throne of Blood," directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshirô Mifune and Isuzu Yamada, takes the bones of the Bard's original story and combines them with elements of Noh theater, a Japanese performance tradition that goes back to the 14th century and involves slow, precise movement. The result is an entertaining adaptation that expands the broader themes of "Macbeth" – namely, the all-consuming quest for power, the role of fate in our lives and the pitfalls of ambition into the time of feudal Japan. The final scene in the 1957 film, where the power-hungry Gen. Washizu meets his fate at the end of several arrows, is especially gripping.
Where to watch: Available for rent on Amazon Prime
2. 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' has a haunting aesthetic
Shakespeare meets Edgar Allen Poe in this year's smoky, black-and-white version of the Scottish tragedy. In addition to performances by Washington and Frances McDormand that manage to be both ferocious and intimate, a surprise standout is British stage actress Kathryn Hunter, whose contortion skills are put to great effect in playing all three of the witches.
"I just hope (audiences) enjoy the ride" of the avant-garde production, says Washington, noting director Coen encouraged the cast not to be too precious about delivering the play's most famous speeches, so they could be rendered more truthfully. "It didn't just feel like another scene, but it didn't feel like, 'Oh, these are the most important words,' " he says. "I never felt that weight."
Review: Denzel Washington's mad king marks a Shakespearean triumph in 'The Tragedy of Macbeth'
1. A starry 'Macbeth' explores grief in profound way
This 2015 version of "Macbeth," starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, is a feast for the eyes. But what lands this film at the top of this list, making it an essential viewing for any Shakespeare fan, isn't the stunning cinematography, but the way director Justin Kurzel explores loss as no other version does.
The death of the Macbeths' child is only briefly mentioned in Shakespeare's play when Lady Macbeth implores her husband to follow through with killing King Duncan. But Kurzel turns this detail into a crucial character arc, opening the film with a scene of the Macbeths burying their baby. A poignant sense of loss comes to a head in Lady Macbeth's haunting madness scene, in which she speaks to a vision of her dead child.
In this "Macbeth," the engine that drives the central couple to terrible feats is neither power nor paranoia. It's grief. And by exploring this oft-ignored dimension of the play, Kurzel delivers a sexy, dangerous "Macbeth" that does exactly what a modern take on a classic should – honor the iconic language of the original while opening up the story in a fresh and profound way. What more could you want from a contemporary film of a play written 400 years ago?
Where to watch: Available on HBO Max
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Denzel Washington breaks 'all the rules': 8 'Macbeth' films ranked
