What is it? Adaptation of William Shakespeare's play, about a lord (Michael Fassbender) and his scheming wife (Marion Cotillard) plotting their way to the top. Why is it a major player? Oscar hasn't recognised any decent Shakespeare adaptations in a while, so it's overdue, but the calibre of film that director Justin Kurzel has here suggests Macbeth would've broken its way in at the Academy Awards in 2016 no matter what. There's the fact that The Weinstein Company is backing the film for a start - there hasn't been an Oscars in a good decade that the Weinsteins haven't tried to buy - but, as is often the case in Shakespeare, the play is made by the cast. In support, you have sterling character types like David Thewlis, Jack Reynor, Paddy Considine and Sean Harris, while up front playing two of the most famous characters in all of fiction are Michael Fassbender (as Macbeth) and Marion Cotillard (as Lady Macbeth). Cotillard is already an Oscar winner, while Fassbender is still owed a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his Shame snub in 2011. His Best Actor chances in Macbeth, however, may still be eclipsed by...
Lover of film, writer of words, pretentious beyond belief. Thinks Scorsese and Kubrick are the kings of cinema, but PT Anderson and David Fincher are the dashing young princes. Follow Brogan on twitter if you can take shameless self-promotion: @BroganMorris1
