IN the four centuries since Shakespeare wrote the Scottish Play, there has never been a Macbeth quite like Denzel Washington.
A double-Oscar winner, he is regularly named the greatest actor of his era, and has already received every nomination going for new film "The Tragedy of Macbeth," out Friday on Apple TV+.
He is also 67 -- and his Lady Macbeth played by 64-year-old Frances McDormand -- meaning their ruthless couple would be most unlikely to create an heir to their ill-gotten crown.
"They're tired, they're older," Washington told AFP, explaining that the passage of time gave their characters a different but equally malevolent motivation.
"They're like, 'Look, this is our shot. We're due. Give it to us.'
"Drastic times make for drastic measures. And the clock is ticking."
How would Washington, who clashes swords with foes in multiple strenuous encounters towards the film's finale, have played the role differently 20 or 30 years ago?
"Probably more physical. Not giving into the reality of where my knees are at this point in my life!" he says.
And then, of course, Washington is Black. So is actor Corey Hawkins, 33, who plays his nemesis and eventual vanquisher Macduff.
This detail -- while a historical anachronism for 11th-century Scotland -- is far from new ground. Orson Welles directed an all-Black stage version of Macbeth back in 1936.
"Obviously, we are diverse, so I think that's a great thing," said Washington, at a virtual roundtable interview with journalists.
"In my humble opinion, we ought to be at a place where diversity shouldn't even be mentioned like it's something special.
"These young kids -- black, white, blue, green or whatever -- are highly talented and qualified, so that's why they're there."
Hawkins added: "I can't change this skin. I can't change this hair. I can't change that.
"But what I can do is be excellent at the thing that people may not expect... We weren't thinking about black and white."
- 'Fresh eyes' -
Ironically, the film itself is shot in black-and-white, and a narrow aspect ratio, with its elegant, minimalist soundstage sets evoking the early days of Hollywood.
"Macbeth" has been attempted before in various forms on the silver screen by influential directors, including Welles, Akira Kurosawa and Roman Polanski.
But Washington said he had not seen any previous performances of Macbeth, and chose not to seek them out once director Joel Coen had cast the film.
"I don't want to see anybody and go, 'Shoot, how the heck am I gonna be better than that?'" said Washington, whose Macbeth is initially restrained and subtle, before his rage, ambition and madness boil over.
"I didn't want that to affect whatever it was I was going to come up with. So I was coming to it with fresh eyes and ears and imagination."
Still, Washington has plenty of pedigree when it comes to Shakespeare.
He starred in a Broadway revival of "Julius Caesar," and Kenneth Branagh's film of "Much Ado About Nothing."
Hawkins said he hoped that seeing Washington, himself and other Black cast members -- including Washington's daughter Olivia, in a minor role -- could inspire young children from minority backgrounds to give Shakespeare a go.
"If there's some little boy or some little girl, who's gonna watch this film... they could get curious about it," he said.
"Yes, Black folks do love Shakespeare. We probably love Shakespeare without even knowing that we love Shakespeare, because there's so many references in songs and in the culture that we love.
"It's an honor to be able to do this, and to be side-by-side with these actors, these Black actors, up here doing this," Hawkins said.
"Because we have just as much ownership of it as anyone else."
ETX Studio
Sat Jan 15 2022
"The Tragedy of Macbeth" by Joel Coen. - Photography Courtesy of Apple
PM Pakistan gembira atas perbincangan produktif dengan PM Malaysia
Bidang-bidang utama itu termasuk perdagangan, IT, tenaga, pertanian, eksport daging halal, pelancongan, pendidikan dan pertahanan.
Rwanda catat 7 lagi kes virus Marburg dan satu lagi kematian
Rwanda mencatatkan tujuh kes baharu penyakit virus Marburg dan satu lagi kematian.
Menurut angka terkini yang dikeluarkan lewat Rabu Kementerian Kesihatan Rwanda,
jumlah keseluruhan jangkitan virus Marburg sejak wabak bermula kini sebanyak 36 kes, dengan 11 kematian dilaporkan setakat ini.
Menurut angka terkini yang dikeluarkan lewat Rabu Kementerian Kesihatan Rwanda,
jumlah keseluruhan jangkitan virus Marburg sejak wabak bermula kini sebanyak 36 kes, dengan 11 kematian dilaporkan setakat ini.
Lebih 140 sekolah UNRWA diserang sejak 7 Oktober
Lebih 140 sekolah UNRWA diserang sejak 7 Oktober dalam keadaan dimana penduduk Gaza berlindung di bawah naungan PBB.
Perkara itu dimaklumkan Pesuruhjaya Agung Agensi Bantuan dan Kerja Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu untuk Pelarian Palestin (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini dalam satu hantaran di X.
Perkara itu dimaklumkan Pesuruhjaya Agung Agensi Bantuan dan Kerja Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu untuk Pelarian Palestin (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini dalam satu hantaran di X.
28 petugas dilapor maut dalam tempoh 24 jam lalu di Lubnan
28 petugas kesihatan dilaporkan terbunuh dalam tempoh 24 jam lalu di Lubnan.
Perkara itu dimaklumkan Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pada Khamis.
Perkara itu dimaklumkan Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pada Khamis.
UNIFIL kekal pada posisi walaupun didesak berundur
Pasukan pengaman PBB di selatan Lubnan terus bertahan pada kedudukan mereka, di bawah mandat UNSC, walaupun diarah Israel untuk berundur.
G7 desak pemain serantau di Asia Barat bertindak cermat dalam krisis
Pemimpin Kumpulan Tujuh (G7) mengulangi kebimbangan mereka terhadap krisis di Asia Barat dan menyeru pemain serantau supaya bertindak dengan bertanggungjawab serta berhemah.
Mereka turut menegaskan sokongan penuh terhadap keselamatan Israel.
Mereka turut menegaskan sokongan penuh terhadap keselamatan Israel.
AS sokong operasi Israel di Lubnan meski risiko meluaskan konflik
Pentadbiran Joe Biden menyatakan bahawa adalah wajar untuk Israel meneruskan serangan darat dan udara terhadap Hezbollah buat masa ini, menurut jurucakap Jabatan Negara Amerika Syarikat, Matthew Miller.
Namun, beliau mengakui risiko operasi di Lubnan mungkin melangkaui matlamat semasa Israel.
Namun, beliau mengakui risiko operasi di Lubnan mungkin melangkaui matlamat semasa Israel.
Shamsul Iskandar dakwa kesepakatan parti dalam PN kian longgar
Shamsul Iskandar berkata, perpecahan dalaman PN itu dapat diukur melalui prestasi mereka pada PRK DUN Nenggiri dan DUN Mahkota.
Politik stabil, dasar kerajaan tarik minat syarikat global melabur di Malaysia - Gobind
Menurut Menteri Digital Gobind Singh Deo, pada masa ini terdapat banyak perbincangan, tidak hanya antara syarikat-syarikat di negara serantau malah dunia berhubung perkara itu.
Lawatan negara Anwar ke Pakistan raih potensi perdagangan RM2.65 bilion - Tengku Zafrul
Pakistan turut beri komitmen untuk tingkat import minyak kelapa sawit dari Malaysia dan import produk berasaskan kayu, baja, petrokimia.
Michelle Yeoh antara 19 penerima Medal Of Freedom
Presiden Amerika Syarikat Joe Biden menganugerahkan Pingat Kebebasan (Medal Of Freedom) kepada 19 penerima di White House, Washington pada Jumaat.
Angelina Jolie sifatkan Hollywood dunia tak sihat, pernah diserang Bell’s Palsy
Jolie juga mendedahkan toksiknya Hollywood telah memberi impak besar terhadap kesihatannya terutama saat fasa penceraian dengan Brad Pitt.
Pelakon 'Home Alone' terima bintang Walk of Fame
Bintang berusia 43 tahun itu pernah melalui fasa kejatuhan dalam dunia hiburan.
Astro catat pendapatan RM870 juta, PATAMI RM24 juta
Astro Malaysia Holdings (AMH) Berhad melaporkan pendapatan sebanyak RM870 juta bagi suku kedua untuk tahun kewangan berakhir 31 Januari 2024.
Putus cinta Ogos lalu, pelawak Pete Davidson sudah temui pengganti
Pelakon dan pelawak, Pete Davidson dilaporkan sedang menjalin hubungan cinta dengan pelakon wanita Amerika Syarikat, Madelyn Cline ketika ini.
Hugh Jackman, isteri umum berpisah
Dalam satu kenyataan pada Jumaat, mereka memaklumkan bahawa keputusan tersebut dicapai dengan persetujuan bersama.
Zendaya dedah punca 'simpan' cerita cinta dengan Tom Holland
Zendaya cuba untuk mengekalkan seberapa sebanyak hal berkaitan peribadi di luar pengetahuan umum.
Pelakon, penulis Hollywood sertai mogok pekerjaan
Setakat ini, 65,000 ahli kesatuan pelakon secara rasmi telah menyertai mogok tersebut.
Aaron teruja kongsi pentas dengan Chris Hermsworth
Datuk Aaron Aziz menyifatkan peluang bertemu dengan pelakon Chris Hermsworth sebagai sebuah kejutan yang pernah dimaklumkan sebelum ini.
Arnold Schwarzengger sifatkan Bruce Willis yang nyanyuk tak pernah bersara
Pada usia 75 tahun Schwarzengger masih aktif dan baru muncul dengan siri Fubar dalam Netflix sementara Willis yang didiagnos mengalami masalah nyanyuk sudah bersara.