Most of my exposure to the works of Shakespeare comes from volunteering at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. I did it more for the atmosphere than the productions, because Shakespeare never really appealed to me. But seeing Shakespeare done by Director Joel Coen, in The Tragedy of MacBeth, was an entirely different deal. It felt in many ways like a stage play, but it’s a different, more immersive Shakespeare experience, and a wonderful way to experience his works. It may very well be the film that brings Shakespeare to the masses.

In The Tragedy of MacBeth Denzel Washington plays MacBeth, and Frances McDormand is Lady MacBeth. The plot has MacBeth en route to become the next king of Scotland with his ambitious wife, Lady MacBeth, along to assist him. But there are murders, traitors, and henchmen along the way, and many two-faced individuals who despise both MacBeth and Lady MacBeth. With frequent pontifications by Washington and the dramatic irony of McDormand’s performance comes a rollercoaster film that is one for the ages.

The Tragedy of MacBeth was shot entirely in a studio and was filmed in black and white. It is probably one of the most faithful adaptations I’ve seen. The film is truly spellbinding on many levels, and it grows darker and more intriguing as the film progresses.

This film was really done by the right director. It’s been my experiences that Shakespeare productions can drag at times, but not with Joel Coen in charge. I loved the unstoppable performances of Washington and McDormand, as well. Putting them together brings a rollicking Shakespearean world of anarchy and power. I hope this one gets a decent amount of Oscar buzz, and it is not to be missed. Four stars for The Tragedy of MacBeth.

Films on sports or competition have always appealed to me, because there have been many times in my life where I’ve wanted my talents to stand out. In The Novice, actor Isabelle Fuhrman plays an obsessed college student athlete who doesn’t just stand out, but pushes herself to dangerous levels.

One of Isabelle Furhman’s notable previous performances was as an evil adopted daughter in Orphan (2009). In The Novice she plays Alex Dall, a college freshman who joins the school rowing team. Dall has a mind like a sponge, and she succeeds academically, but what she really wants is to excel on the rowing team and make the varsity squad. She puts in extreme extra effort by working out before practices and getting advice on how best to train. But her obsession leads to alienation with her fellow teammates, classmates, and the faculty at her college.

The editing in The Novice really blew me away. The film is crisp, fast, and sharp, often with a focus on Furhman’s impressive athleticism, including some great closeups. I also enjoyed the film’s focus on academic politics and favoritism on college athletics, a problem that is undoubtedly very prevalent in that arena.

The Novice is an excellent film on a subject matter that is genuine. I also loved Fuhrman’s performance. Her character is fierce, with seemingly nothing to lose. The film has some disturbing moments, but it is a solid work of art. Three and a half stars for The Novice.

I’m a sucker for films that are set in the Hollywood golden age. I’m also a die-hard fan of the works of Director Aaron Sorkin. In Being the Ricardos, Sorkin directs a film with interesting chemistry between its characters, but the film’s pacing is off, it is sometimes out of focus, and it just really seems to miss the mark.

Being the Ricardos is about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, and their ambitious careers. Lucille is played by Nicole Kidman and Desi is played by Javier Bardem. The film centers on their fame and tension in the production of the hit TV series I Love Lucy. The other main characters are William Frawley, played by J.K. Simmons, and Vivian Vance, played by Nina Arianda. The big focus, though, is the tension between Lucille and Desi. Their personalities clash, secrets are hidden, and the tension between them is evident throughout the film.

The performances of Kidman and Bardem is where Being the Ricardos shines. They do fit the roles of Luci and Desi well. But the film is hit or miss otherwise, it just seems off track much of the time, and it can be hard to follow.

Trying to remain positive here, but it is not coming easy. In my view Being the Ricardos is just fine to experience on Amazon Prime, if people choose to see it. I’m sure many will watch it simply because of Kidman and Bardem, or if they are fans of Director Aaron Sorkin. But I found the film to be just average, and it was probably a one-time watch for me. Just two stars for Being the Ricardos.