Macbeth (2006)

Director:

Geoffrey Wright

Writers:

Victoria Hill (screenplay)
William Shakespeare (play)

Release Date:

21 September 2006 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Melbourne underworld. The present time.

Plot:

A contemporary retelling of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" set in the ganglands of Melbourne. |

Plot Keywords:

Shooting | Husband Wife Relationship | Breasts | Spot | Ambition

Awards:

2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Chloe Armstrong	...	1st Witch
Kate Bell	...	2nd Witch
Miranda Nation	...	3rd Witch
Sam Worthington	...	Macbeth
Victoria Hill	...	Lady Macbeth
Steve Bastoni	...	Banquo
Lachy Hulme	...	Macduff
Bob Franklin	...	Siward
Lance Anderson	...	Henchman with Glasses
Simon Scott	...	Macbeth's Bagman
Matt Doran	...	Malcolm
Damian Walshe-Howling	...	Ross
Jonny Pasvolsky	...	Lennox
Nash Edgerton	...	Macdonwald
Kevin Tran	...	Macdonwald's Bagman

Also Known As:

M. (Australia) (working title)

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Australia:MA | UK:15 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Arclight Films

Quotes:

2nd Witch: By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "At the Movies: (2006-09-27)" (2006)

odd mix of the Bard and the Modern doesn't fully come together

Geoffrey Wright, who did Romper Stomper and brought Russell Crowe to the attention of the world, brings Shakespeare's Scottish play up to date by setting it in the under world of Melbourne (or is it Sydney?). the speeches are there and so is the flashy trash of Silk Stalkings or one of the other cable (before cable was cool) series that surfaced in the wake of Miami Vice. Its an odd mix of guns and iambic pentameter, which works as well as that description. Not "bad" as such, the mix just doesn't work and the result is more grating then ingratiating. Part of the problem is the need to fit the plot into a new surroundings while retaining the language. the result is some odd sequences with no dialog and music that are suppose to get things across the dialog really can't because it doesn't pertain to now. The longish opening sequence before Macbeth meets the witches (Goth School girls in Catholic School Girl Uniforms) sets up the scenario which is changed from battling lords to battling crime families. This leads into the awkward meeting in an empty disco where Macbeth is holding a hostage. Turning on the lights and fog machine- for no real reason, Macbeth finds the girls coming out of the fog. My interest began to wane almost immediately and the scene where Macbeth's friend tells the drug lord of Macbeth's heroics kind of sealed the deal and I stopped watching and instead began to listen rather than watch(or were the scenes reversed, I don't know I don't care). despite its awards down under the film just doesn't really work especially when the idea isn't a new one with earlier films like Joe Macbeth and Men of Respect floating around. If you must see it it wait for cable.