Macbeth, loyal to his crime boss, Duncan, is told by witches that he will one day take over. Driven by their prophecy, he and his wife plot to kill Duncan, and takes the leadership of the gang for himself. Maintaining his power will require more murder and violence, finally driving his surviving enemies to unite and destroy him. A sexy, high octane retelling of this classic story.
This Macbeth is true to the ugly-hearted original. No one is redeemed by gore, or absolved of madness. Nor do lines sound any less sublime when channeled through underlings and overlords.
– Bill Stamets,
Chicago Sun-Times,
13 Jul 2007
fresh:
Wright directs it with straight-faced conviction.
– Tasha Robinson,
AV Club,
13 Jul 2007
rotten:
The film has the over-stylized sheen of a car commercial peopled by actors decked out like brooding fashion models.
– Kevin Crust,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jul 2007
rotten:
Something weakened this way comes, you could say.
– David Fear,
Time Out New York,
16 Aug 2007
rotten:
The play's power has been diluted by questionable editing, an overload of blandly stylized violence and the conspicuous suspicion that this whole thing is the predictable result of catering to base commercial instincts.