Macbeth (2006)

48% of critics liked it
(42 reviews)
41% of users liked it
(5,608 ratings)

With the 2006 MacBeth, controversial Australian director Geoffrey Wright (Romper Stomper, Metal Skin) launches his fourth big screen outing and continues the trend of reinventing Shakespeare by contemporizing the bard's plays. As in other recent efforts (Richard Loncraine's Richard III (1996),… More With the 2006 MacBeth, controversial Australian director Geoffrey Wright (Romper Stomper, Metal Skin) launches his fourth big screen outing and continues the trend of reinventing Shakespeare by contemporizing the bard's plays. As in other recent efforts (Richard Loncraine's Richard III (1996), Michael Almereyda's Hamlet (2000)), Wright uses a distinctly postmodern context to extract related themes from the original work. Here, Wright reworks the brutal tragedy Macbeth, retaining its Elizabethan dialogue, but resituating the events within the arena of modern Australian gang violence. His Macbeth (Sam Worthington) is a drug baron and pimp, his Lady Macbeth a Valium-addicted, narcoleptic burnout and manipulator, his Duncan the head of Melbourne's criminal underground. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth murder Duncan in cold blood (framing the servants as responsible), but soon after Macbeth takes the throne, he is undone - and beheaded - by usurper Macduff. Like former adapter Roman Polanski, Wright ups the quotients of bloodletting, sadism, and underlying iciness. He filmed much of the picture with HD photography - thus capturing a broader range of imagery and a much blacker darkness in his nighttime sequences - and lit a pivotal action scene exclusively with red laser gun sights. The result is a thoroughly unique and unprecedented work. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Geoffrey Wright
Written By: Victoria Hill, Geoffrey Wright, Giuseppe Verdi, William Shakespeare
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Sep 10, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Sep 25, 2007
Studio: Emerging Picrtures

Critic Reviews

Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
The film has the over-stylized sheen of a car commercial peopled by actors decked out like brooding fashion models.
Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times
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.
, Chicago Reader
This is both an exciting thriller and a worthy addition to the canon of Shakespearean cinema.
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
It lacks size and nerve where it's most needed: in the performances.
Kyle Smith, New York Post
The movie thinks it is daringly up-to-date, but forsooth, 'tis as hip as the ghost of Don Johnson.
Matt Zoller Seitz, New York Times
Geoffrey Wright's brutal and thrilling new version of Macbeth envisions the thane of Cawdor as a longhaired, drug-addled gangster.
Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times
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.
David Fear, Time Out New York
Something weakened this way comes, you could say.
Josh Rosenblatt, Austin Chronicle
It's probably best not to look too deep for meaning.
Evan Henerson, Los Angeles Daily News
Grunge and slickness substitute for eeriness or any hint of psychological terror.
Tasha Robinson, AV Club
Wright directs it with straight-faced conviction.
Peter Sobczynski, eFilmCritic.com
By the prickling of my thumbs/Something crappy this way comes
, Financial Times
After a few early spins in his grave, Shakespeare may end up grudgingly respectful
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
This modern-day Australian adaptation of the Scottish play is thrillingly deranged, although it's also rather pretentious.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Flawed but enjoyable adaptation with some good ideas balanced against occasionally amateurish direction and unintentionally amusing pronunciation.
Derek Malcolm, This is London
There are good performances, smart direction and dark-hued photography that's impressive. But it would be surprising if this Macbeth were to bring people back to Shakespeare proper, as it intends.
Robert Hanks, Independent
Light touches are counterbalanced by some heavy-footed acting and a streak of leaden literal-mindedness.
, Sun Online
Sadly, the delivery does not always match the magnificence of Shakespeare's words and the film relies much too heavily on brutal violence for its drama.
, Daily Mirror [UK]
FAST-paced and flashy, this contemporary retelling of Shakespeare's bloodiest play catches the eye but never engages the heart like it should.
Neil Smith, Total Film
Ultimately, though, it's just a load of sound and fury, indifferently played by a Neighbours-lite cast and fatally compromised by graphic violence that makes Roman Polanski's 1971 version seem tame by comparison. Strewth...

Read all 21 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Dean M

This Aussie new version of William Shakespeare's savage tale at the 21st century gangland is familiar to the epic movie classics with the characters and acting scenes.
Cameron J

While often campy and not too recognizable as an adaptation of Shakespeare's classic thriller, the contemperary gangster film incarnation of "Macbeth" does have its moments of being tense and compelling and holds strong characters, a notable and cool soundtrack and I… More
While often campy and not too recognizable as an adaptation of Shakespeare's classic thriller, the contemperary gangster film incarnation of "Macbeth" does have its moments of being tense and compelling and holds strong characters, a notable and cool soundtrack and I believe to be an intense and rather satisfying conclusion. However, as I've stated, the film is slow at points and presents itself more as a gangster film than a recreation of "Macbeth". As for the edgier parts, some violence and nudity is inappropriate, though not as gratuitous or relied upon as the critics would have you believe. (Especially when you're comparing to Polanski's version) Ultimately, Geoffrey Wright's "Macbeth" makes for a better general film than it does a modern take on the classic story, but still makes for a cool time-killer.
Magnus B

"Be bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth." A modern day Macbeth in a form of a gangster action film, bloody and violent. Sam Worthington (Macbeth) and Victoria Hill (Lady Macbeth) deliver brilliant… More
"Be bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth." A modern day Macbeth in a form of a gangster action film, bloody and violent. Sam Worthington (Macbeth) and Victoria Hill (Lady Macbeth) deliver brilliant performances. Excellent score by John Clifford White. A great film by Geoffrey Wright.
Adam M

A violent and daring remake of the Shakespeare play.Macbeth has been working as a local ganglord's right hand man for years and feels its about time he got the respect and admiration he deserves and should become a gang leader himself but the only way he can see himself doing… More
A violent and daring remake of the Shakespeare play.Macbeth has been working as a local ganglord's right hand man for years and feels its about time he got the respect and admiration he deserves and should become a gang leader himself but the only way he can see himself doing this is if something bad happens to his boss.Cue lots of guns and blood as Macbeth loses his mind until the inevitable,bloody climax.A decent adaptation with the modernisation of the characters,the three witches especially,being interesting.A good film,if you can get past the old school shakespeare language!