The Tragedy Of Macbeth (2021) ****

The Tragedy Of Macbeth (2021), an oft-adapted Shakespeare piece in the world of film, is a bit of an odd choice for Joel Coen's first outing without brother Ethan. Coen presents his version of The Scottish Play as maximum medieval menace by channeling—along with cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel—filmmakers like Fritz Lang and Ingmar Bergman, and the latter's great cameramen Sven Nykvist and Gunnar Fischer.

While I won't lie and say that I don't want more original work from the brothers as a unit, this is both a faithful adaptation and an exciting cinematic experience. This Macbeth is a chiaroscuro nightmare brought to life by stunning visuals, bold direction, brilliant music and sound design, and excellent performances.