Based on the play by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is the story of a Highland lord who becomes the king of Scotland through deceit, plotting, and other things where he succumbs to his own paranoia and guilt. Directed by Roman Polanski and screenplay by Polanski and Kenneth Tynan, the film is an interpretation of the Shakespearean tragedy that explores a man’s decent for ambition in a stylized yet atmospheric take on the play with Jon Finch as the titular role. Also starring Francesca Annis, Martin Shaw, Terence Bayler, John Stride, Nicholas Selby, Stephan Chase, Paul Shelley, Maisie MacFarquhar, Elsie Taylor, Noelle Rimmington, Keith Chegwin, and Diane Fletcher. Macbeth is a riveting yet eerie film from Roman Polanski.
Set in medieval Scotland, the film revolves around a young lord who encounters three witches as he believes in a prophecy that would allow him to become King of Scotland where he and his wife would conspire to kill the king only to be driven by guilt and paranoia. It’s a story that has been told many times yet what Roman Polanski and co-screenwriter Kenneth Tynan do is create something that plays into a man believing into something that isn’t real and may not be about him. Yet, Macbeth (Jon Finch) and his wife (Francesca Annis) take these words very seriously as they believe that killing King Duncan (Nicholas Selby) would bring them good fortune. Instead, questions arise about Duncan’s death as those such as Macduff (Terence Bayler) and Prince Malcolm (Stephan Chase) suspect something isn’t right.
Even as one of the play’s more minor characters in Ross (John Stride) would be given more to do as a man who aids those who are in power for his own gain where he would align with whoever can be powerful. All of which plays into not just the concept about ambition but also its fallacies where guilt would come into play for both Macbeth and his wife through events and visions that would trouble them. For Macbeth, paranoia would ensue where he would kill those close to him and drive those around him mad. Notably in the climatic battle in the third act where Macbeth tries to make sense of all that is happening to him as he faces those he had hurt and such on his ascent to the throne.
Polanski’s direction is definitely intoxicating in terms of the images he creates as well as maintaining an atmosphere into the locations he uses which are set in Wales and England. Polanski’s approach to wide and medium shots not only capture the beauty of those locations with its hills, woods, and all sorts of scenery in these places but also in how it creates this world that quite vast but also unsettling. Notably in scenes where rain is an important part to the landscape which adds an atmosphere that is morose as well as have this stench of death which sets the tone for what Macbeth will deal with. Especially with some of the violence that happens in the film as it is quite gruesome as it play into Macbeth’s own thirst for power and his mistrust towards nearly everyone around him.
The direction also has this air of theatricality in some of the intimate moments that occur yet it is done with a sense of grit in the way the actors are presented into the frame. Most notably a scene where Lady Macbeth is walking in her room naked as she is coping with her own guilt and the trauma in her actions as if she is hallucinating about what is in her body. The film’s climatic battle doesn’t just display these eerie moments of violence but also a sense of terror that plays into the guilt that looms over Macbeth as if all of the misdeeds he had committed into his ascent to the throne is coming back to haunt him as it’s told through such potent imagery through what Polanski unveils in the film. Overall, Polanski creates a spectacular yet haunting film about a man’s desire for power and the fallacy of ambition.
Cinematographer Gil Taylor does brilliant work with the film‘s very colorful cinematography with its emphasis on naturalistic colors for some of the skyline scenes along with unique lighting and fog for the scenes set in the rain as well as some low-key lights for some of the interiors set at night. Editor Alistair McIntyre does amazing work with the editing as it is quite stylish with its usage of jump-cuts but also in creating rhythmic cuts to play up the suspense and drama. Production designer Wilfred Shingleton, with set decorator Bryan Graves and art director Fred Carter, does fantastic work with the look of the castles from the home of Macbeth as well as the look of the home of the three witches and the other castles that the other characters live in.
Costume designer Anthony Mendleson does nice work with the look of the clothes from the robes of the women to the armor and clothes that the men wear. The special effects work of Ted Samuels is terrific for some of the hallucinations that Macbeth would see as it plays into the paranoia that looms over him. Sound mixer Simon Kaye does superb work with the sound in creating some sound effects in some of the battles and fights as well as in some of the sound effects that play into the eerie tone of the film. The film’s music by the Third Ear Band is incredible as it’s one of the film’s highlights for its mixture of traditional folk music of the times mixed in with haunting music pieces that play into the sense of dread that looms in the film.
The film’s remarkable cast features some notable small roles from Keith Chegwin as Banquo’s son Fleance, Mark Dightam as Macduff’s son, Richard Pearson as a doctor who expresses concern for Lady Macbeth’s well-being, Diane Fletcher as Lady Macduff, and as the three witches, Maisie MacFarquhar, Elsie Taylor, and Noelle Rimmington. Paul Shelley and Stephan Chase are terrific in their respective roles as Donalbain and Malcolm as King Duncan’s sons who both flee to England as they both suspect that something wasn’t right in the death of their father. Nicholas Selby is excellent as King Duncan as this man who gives Macbeth so much as he just wants to rule Scotland in peace while deciding to give Malcolm the chance to be the next in line for the throne. John Stride is fantastic as Ross as a knight who aids Macbeth in killing those while aligning himself with whoever has a shift in power so he can be safe and be conniving as it’s a very complex performance.
Terence Bayler is brilliant as Macduff as a general who suspects that Macbeth might be involved with King Duncan’s death as he later copes with events and such that forces him to confront Macbeth in the film’s climax. Martin Shaw is amazing as Banquo as Macbeth’s best friend who too saw the prophecy as he starts to become alienated by Macbeth’s sudden change in behavior. Francesca Annis is phenomenal as Lady Macbeth as this woman who would goad her husband and scheme with him as she would succumb to madness as Annis brings a more low-key approach to the character. Finally, there’s Jon Finch in a riveting performance as the titular character as a lord who would scheme and kill his way to become king only to be driven by guilt and paranoia as it’s a performance that is larger than life and full of intensity as it is one of Finch’s best works.
Macbeth is a sensational film from Roman Polanski that features great performances from Jon Finch, Francesca Annis, Terence Bayler, Martin Shaw, and John Stride. It’s a film that takes the Shakespearean tragedy and put into a darker setting that plays true to what Shakespeare might’ve conveyed as well as has a sense of danger that is typical of what Polanski does. In the end, Macbeth is a tremendous film from Roman Polanski.
Related: Macbeth (1948 film) - Throne of Blood - (Macbeth (2015 film)) - (The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021 film))
Roman Polanski Films: Knife in the Water - Repulsion - Cul-de-Sac - The Fearless Vampire Killers - Rosemary's Baby - (What?) - Chinatown - The Tenant - Tess - (Pirates) - Frantic - Bitter Moon - Death and the Maiden - The Ninth Gate - The Pianist - Oliver Twist - The Ghost Writer - Carnage - (Venus in Fur) - (Based on a True Story) - (An Officer and a Spy) - (The Palace)
© thevoid99 2015
Based on the novel by Frank Herbert, Dune is the story of a conflict between rival noble families in a futuristic planet over the control of that planet because of a mysterious melange that is the most valuable commodity in the universe. Written for the screen and directed by David Lynch, the film is an ambitious sci-fi story that plays into a young man trying to do what is right for his family and the universe as he also deals with evil forces driven by greed. Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Francesca Annis, Leonardo Cimino, Brad Dourif, Jose Ferrer, Linda Hunt, Freddie Jones, Richard Jordan, Virginia Madsen, Silvana Mangano, Everett McGill, Kenneth McMillan, Jack Nance, Sian Phillips, Jurgen Prochnow, Paul Smith, Patrick Stewart, Sting, Dean Stockwell, Max von Sydow, Alicia Witt, and Sean Young. Dune is an extravagant yet messy and drab film from David Lynch.
Set in a futuristic universe, the film revolves around a conflict over control of a planet that contains the most valuable commodity in the universe known as the spice. On the one side, you have the most powerful authority figure in the universe in Emperor Shaddam IV (Jose Ferrer) who has asked Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Kenneth McMillan) of the planet Giedi Prime to handle the situation. On the other side is the House of Atreides led by Duke Leto Atreides (Jurgen Prochnow) who has become popular in his stance to do good with the world. Yet, the Emperor realizes through the guild that it is Atreides’ son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan) that is the threat due to his powers as it is believed that he is the prophet that can take control of the planet Arrakis and the spice itself leading to a conflict that involved assassinations and other devious things. These events would force Paul to lead a rebellion for the universe and give the people in Arrakis hope.
While it’s a story that is interesting, it is one that feels like there is more to say in this condensed version of a book that has to be complex but also very dense. Notably as David Lynch’s script tries to create some exposition into what is going on and what are the motivations of these characters. While Paul Atreides ponders his role as he wonders if he is everything this prophecy is, he is just a young man that is loyal to his family while is aware that he does have powers that very few possess. The script does acknowledge Paul as a threat to the Harkonnens and their desire to control the spice. They’re treated more as just sadistic buffoons as the Baron is a big fatass that has devices that makes him float in the air. There are some spiritual elements in the story that seems to be hinted but either it got condensed or simplified as it gets many of the motivations of the characters lost.
Lynch’s direction is definitely vast and filled with elements of surreal imagery as well as some extravagant set pieces that are interesting to watch. Yet, it’s not enough to keep things engaging as some of the visual effects come off as silly as well as moments that are overwhelming. While Lynch does create some unique compositions and some inspired usage of the camera angles, it is an attempt to try and keep much of the action and sci-fi elements engaging. Unfortunately, many of the complexities in the film do keep the film from moving along where it would plod along as there is so much happening as well as so many characters to keep track of. Though Lynch’s attempts to get the film’s climax to be exhilarating, it sort of falls flat where it is clear that there are these temporary alliances and such where a few characters would often switch sides and would pay for their movements. At the same time, there’s some moments that are unintentionally comical such as the character of the Baron’s nephew Feyd-Rautha who comes across as a nitwit with a thirst for blood. Overall, Lynch creates a very dull and often confusing film about a conflict over some commodity in the universe.
Cinematographer Freddie Francis does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography with some of the windy and dusty exteriors in the Mexican deserts as parts of the planet Arrakis to the lighting in some of the interior settings. Editor Antony Gibbs does nice work in the editing with its usage of dissolves for the dream-like sequences as well as some rhythmic cuts for the action. Production designer Anthony Masters, with set decorator Giorgio Desideri and supervising art director Pier Luigi Basile, does brilliant work with the set design from the look of the spaceships to the fortress in Arrakis in its interiors along with the look of the Emperor‘s palace. Costume designer Bob Ringwood does wonderful work with the costumes as it plays to some of the extravagance of the production as well as some of the darkness of the Harkonnens.
Special makeup effects artists Etsuko Egawa and Christopher Tucker do terrific work with the makeup in the look of the Baron as well as the look of the Bene Gesserit priestess that Paul‘s mother was a part of. Creature designer Carlo Rambaldi does fantastic work with the design of the sandworms as well as other creatures in the universe. Sound designer Alan Splet does superb work with the sound in creating some unique sound effects as well as textures to play into the world of the universe. The film’s music by Toto is amazing for some of the themes that are created that mixes rock with symphonic arrangements and ambient textures that includes contributions by Brian Eno who would create a thematic piece involving the prophecy as it‘s one of the film‘s highlights.
The casting by Jane Jenkins is good despite the fact that the great collection of actors assembled for the film don’t really get much to do. Among the individuals who appear in small roles that seem to suffer by their lack of screen time include Paul Smith as one of the Baron’s nephews in the Beast Rabban, Jack Nance as the Baron’s assistant Captain Iakin Nefud, Leonard Cimino as the Baron’s doctor, Brad Dourif as the devilish doctor Piter De Vries, Linda Hunt as a Bene Gesserit hostess in Shadout Mapes, Alicia Witt as Paul’s young sister Alia, Silvana Mangano as an elder Bene Gesserit who would transfer her powers to Lady Jessica, Virginia Madsen as Princess Irulan, and Max von Sydow as Arrakis engineer Dr. Kynes as they have some moments that are good but not enough to make them standout. From the House of Atreides, there’s some notable performances from Freddie Jones as Paul’s mentor Thufir Hawat, Richard Jordan as Paul’s friend Duncan, Dean Stockwell as Duke Leto’s advisor Dr. Yueh Wellington, and Patrick Stewart as a defense teacher of Paul in Gurney Halleck who would later join Paul in the rebellion.
Everett McGill is terrific as an Arrakis rebel leader named Stilgar who takes Paul and Lady Jessica into his secret base where he would become Paul’s most trusted ally. Sean Young is OK as an Arrakis rebel named Chani whom Paul would fall for as she would help him in the rebellion as she isn’t given much to do. Francesca Annis is wonderful as Paul’s mother Lady Jessica as Duke Leto’s concubine who is part of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood as she would aid Paul in becoming a leader. Jurgen Prochnow is excellent as Duke Leto Atreides as a leader who represents the good of the universe though there’s aspects of his role this severely underwritten. Gordon “Sting” Sumner is horrible as the Baron’s sadistic nephew Feyd-Rautha as he just looks like a fucking idiot in the film where he would wear this metallic underwear that makes him look dumber while he spends half the time overacting throughout the film.
Sian Phillips is alright as the Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam as the Bene Gesserit leader who realizes that Paul is the prophet as she aligns herself with the Emperor in control of the universe. Kenneth McMillan is lame as Baron Harkonnen as this antagonist who just craves power as he floats around the air as it’s a very over-the-top and idiotic performance that never takes itself seriously. Jose Ferrer is OK as Emperor Shaddam IV as the leader of the universe though it looks like he’s sleepwalking through the film as he never does anything to make the character memorable. Kyle MacLachlan is good as Paul Atreides as a young man who learns he has the power to do something as MacLachlan tries to bring in that sense of gravitas but is hampered by the weakness of the script.
Despite some of its technical brilliance, Dune is a terrible film from David Lynch. It’s a film, in its shortened theatrical cut, that tries so hard to be something big but manages to falter with its lackluster script and attempts to be something more than a typical sci-fi film. Especially for a story that is considered very challenging as Lynch and producer Dino de Laurentiis were unable to rise to the occasion. In the end, Dune is just a dull and un-engaging film from David Lynch.
Related: Jodorowsky's Dune - Dune-Part One (2021 film) - Dune-Part Two - (Dune: Messiah)
David Lynch Films: Eraserhead - The Elephant Man - Blue Velvet - Wild at Heart - Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me - Lost Highway - The Straight Story - Mulholland Dr. - INLAND EMPIRE
The Short Films of David Lynch Pt. 1 - The Short Films of David Lynch Pt. 2 - The Music Videos of David Lynch
The Auteurs #50: David Lynch: Pt. 1 - Pt. 2 - Pt. 3 - Pt. 4
© thevoid99 2015
