Apple and A24 have once again teamed up to bring us Joel Coen’s striking new film adaptation, The Tragedy of Macbeth, in theaters and on Apple TV+. Based on the Shakespeare story, the film explores the Scottish lord Macbeth (Denzel Washington), who is visited by three witches who tell him that he is next in line to become king. With his wife in hand, Lady Macbeth (Frances McDormand), together they will do anything in their power to seize the throne…anything.

Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand are great actors on their own and they’re great here as a duo. If I had to nitpick, I’d say Washington’s acting made him sort of uninterested at times especially with some of the mumbling and whispering. But he still gives an effective performance that gives the film its maniacal touch. McDormand especially goes all-in on that angle. I love those moments where she is slowly descending into madness to the point of sleepwalking outside.

But my favorite performance has to be Kathryn Hunter as the three witches that visit Macbeth. She rarely appears, but it’s those rare occasions that make her character more mysterious and intriguing. I just love every moment that she’s in.

Now, this is a fairly faithful Shakespeare adaptation so obviously people in this film will talk like Shakespeare. If that’s not your forte, maybe this will take some time getting used to. I know it took some time for me personally. But I hold the belief that regardless if you can understand any of that stuff, the film is still incredible. Everyone gives it their all and it is so satisfying without being too action-packed. The set design is especially great with all the minimalist backgrounds that sometimes almost make it look like a prestige stage play…based on a prestige stage play. Even the music does wonders to set the tone of each scene as it gets more maddening throughout.

Speaking of which, the film itself is like a complete descent into madness. Macbeth starts seeing illusions, Lady Macbeth starts to become more paranoid and filled with guilt, and all of Scotland becomes…okay, maybe I’ll stop it there to save the tension. Look, it’s hard to describe this movie without spoiling too much (that is, if Macbeth spoilers are so important to you anyway). So, really I want people to see it for themselves because it’s not like any other Shakespeare adaptation that I’ve seen. I think the only other nitpick I have is that the 4:3 aspect ratio seems too much like a preference thing and wouldn’t really change much if it were widescreen. But the black-and-white filter leaves room for some of the best-looking shots, not to mention the great lighting. This film’s identity just wouldn’t be the same without it.

This movie is rated R and is one of the best movies you can find on Apple TV+. Last time I reviewed a modern thriller from A24 that just so happened to be in black-and-white and less-than-widescreen, it was Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse, which I thought was one of the best films of the past decade. I guess if I were to pick between either of them, I’d probably choose The Lighthouse any other day. But I still love The Tragedy of Macbeth regardless. It’s pure chaos that ends in horrible tragedy and it’s already a hot contender for one of the best films of 2022. If you can find a theater where it’s playing, you should definitely check it out. Otherwise, you can get a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ to stream it. I think you can get six months if you have a PS5.

Although, once you do manage to get a free trial, you might ask yourself, “Okay, what now?” Well, there are quite a few quality movies and shows out there, including shows like Ted Lasso or Servant. Personally, I recommend watching movies such as Ross Stewart’s Wolfwalkers from Cartoon Saloon, R.J. Cutler’s Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry which documents her career at the peak of her popularity, and Becky Read’s ‘Twas the Fight Before Christmas which is a documentary about a bizarre legal dispute between a man obsessed with Christmas and his own neighbors.

Or just watch some Charlie Brown. There’s always that, too.

9/10