Ok just mentioning Denzel is doing Shakespeare, without even knowing what play it was, would be enough. It would be the easiest and shortest review I’ve ever done, and everyone would rush to go see it. Let’s face it if anyone can get Black People excited about Shakespeare, it would be Denzel hands down, right?
Well, the two-time Oscar winner and eight-time nominee, Mount Vernon native Denzel Washington plays Macbeth in the Joel Coen film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s iconic play, a role that Washington said completed a “fascinating journey” for him decades after graduating from Fordham University in 1977.
“I went to school a thousand feet from here and played Othello at 20, and I didn’t know what I was doing,” Washington joked at the New York Film Festival in September when “The Tragedy of Macbeth” had its world premiere. “I’m honored and fortunate that they said yes to me.”
It’s dramatic, it’s mysterious, and it’s hitting theaters December 25, with global streaming beginning January 14, 2022, on Apple TV+
The Tragedy Of Macbeth starring Academy Award-winners Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand as scheming hubby-and-wife usurpers, is a shoo-in for major Oscar nods. The black-and-white film is the best Shakespeare adaptation in a long, long time. Better than Roman Polanski’s 1971 version, in fact. In a twist, the most memorable part of this movie is Kathryn Hunter, who plays all three witches.
Washington, who has appeared in multiple stage productions of William Shakespeare’s plays and also co-starred in the feature adaptation of “Much Ado About Nothing,” had discussed working with Coen years before. But as the director explained, when it came time to cast Macbeth, there was little conversation about who should have the role.
“I got together with him again for lunch in LA, and I said, what about doing Macbeth?” Coen told Deadline before the New York Film Festival debut. “And he was like, yeah, cool.”
The story follows a Scottish lord who becomes convinced by a trio of witches that he will become the next King of Scotland, and his ambitious wife supports him in his plans of seizing power. Macbeth kills the king, becomes the new king, and kills more people out of paranoia. Civil war erupts to overthrow Macbeth, resulting in more death, and oh yeah it stars Denzel!
AJ Woodson
AJ Woodson is the Editor-In-Chief of Black Westchester and Co-Owner of Urban Soul Media Group, the parent company, Host & Producer of the People Before Politics Radio Show. AJ is a Father, Brother, An Author, Journalism Fellow (Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism), Hip-Hop Artist - one third of the legendary underground rap group JVC FORCE known for the single Strong Island, Radio Personality, Hip-Hop Historian, Documentarian, Activist, Criminal Justice Advocate and Freelance Journalist whose byline has appeared in several print publications and online sites including The Source, Vibe, the Village Voice, Upscale, Sonicnet.com, Launch.com, Rolling Out Newspaper, Daily Challenge Newspaper, Spiritual Minded Magazine, Word Up! Magazine, On The Go Magazine and several others.
