MACBETH

Macbeth is essentially a story about a man who kills a king, becomes king then goes off his nut. It’s definitely not for fans of Shakespeare’s early funny ones. Director Justin Kurzel takes an anti-Luhrman approach to this adaption, remaining largely faithful to the source. Things get off to a very promising start with an intensely kinetic battle sequence rendered in a haunting, balletic slow motion. Thereafter Macbeth adopts a distinctly set-bound quality that leaves us with a creeping suspicion that we’re watching a play, albeit a very good one.

It must be said that some familiarity with the source is essential or the plot will be lost amid reams of mumbled iambic pentameter. Macbeth is one of the better Shakespeare adaptions of recent years. The cast are impressive, and Fassbender is utterly mesmerising throughout, but it might leave you with unwelcome memories of a leaving cert English class.