The idea of setting Macbeth in a the kitchen of a top restaurant is inspired. Those places are kingdoms in miniature with some star chef taking all the glory and doling out all the pain.
James McAvoy plays Joe Macbeth in an utterly mesmerising performance as a the driven, passionate sous-chef put who is taken for granted by the chef and restaurant-owner Duncan - a suave, Irish rogue played by Vince Regan oozing charm and bonhomie.( Think Oliver Reed before he climbed into a bottle.)
Ella Macbeth is the restaurant's hostess with the mostest. Keely Hawes' natural innocence and cool beauty are perfect: is she really capable of what Lady Macbeth does..?..In a stunning scene where she whispers poison in her ear, turning Mcavoy to fury and the hot passion - she certainly seduced me.
The whole film is beautifully lit and the director has done a fantastic job making the very best of the enclosed nocturnal world of the kitchen - harsh contrasts of bright light in the kitchen and almost darkness in the restaurant with muted, and then more and more pervasive splashes of red.
This is what bringing Shakespeare to life is all about. It works perfectly as dark, modern fable if you know nothing of the original - and it pays huge dividends if you know the original. The updating of 'Banquo's ghost ' is brilliant!
James McAvoy plays Joe Macbeth in an utterly mesmerising performance as a the driven, passionate sous-chef put who is taken for granted by the chef and restaurant-owner Duncan - a suave, Irish rogue played by Vince Regan oozing charm and bonhomie.( Think Oliver Reed before he climbed into a bottle.)
Ella Macbeth is the restaurant's hostess with the mostest. Keely Hawes' natural innocence and cool beauty are perfect: is she really capable of what Lady Macbeth does..?..In a stunning scene where she whispers poison in her ear, turning Mcavoy to fury and the hot passion - she certainly seduced me.
The whole film is beautifully lit and the director has done a fantastic job making the very best of the enclosed nocturnal world of the kitchen - harsh contrasts of bright light in the kitchen and almost darkness in the restaurant with muted, and then more and more pervasive splashes of red.
This is what bringing Shakespeare to life is all about. It works perfectly as dark, modern fable if you know nothing of the original - and it pays huge dividends if you know the original. The updating of 'Banquo's ghost ' is brilliant!