Classic Shakespearian work gets modernized, sacrifices plot and prose for bloody battles

The movie “Macbeth” succeeds as a parable of the inevitability of war. But director Justin Kurzel’s version bears little resemblance to Shakespeare’s.

The screenplay is unintelligible, masked by muffled heavy Scottish brogue. But if we catch a few words suggesting a famous monologue, our minds fill in the rest. 
And anything the two leading actors do is worth watching. My mother used to say that a great actor can read the phonebook and make us cry. The leads are played by two of our greatest living actors, Academy Award regulars Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, who are extraordinary as they deliver emotional punch through their eyes and facial expressions. Fassbender’s descent into madness is a wild ride and Cotillard’s manipulative words and hands are so expressive that we feel guilty having invaded lovers’ most intimate moments. 
But why were Duncan’s wife and children so horrifically murdered, and Duncan killed? Some crucial scenes of the play and dialogue have been cut. But the cinematography — with slow-motion killing scenes through a veil of blood — is beautiful, and Kurzel’s brother, Jed’ music score is gorgeous. 
Just don’t expect to see “The Scottish Play,” the one with the curse on it. For that film, watch Lawrence Olivier’s.