Geoffrey Wright’s Macbeth synopsis

Geoffrey Wright’s Macbeth, distributed by Union Station Media and Truly Indie, opens July 6th, 2007 at the Quad Cinema, 34 West 13th Street, New York City.

From the mind of Geoffrey Wright, (Romper Stomper, Cherry Falls) comes a sexy, stylish, contemporary retelling of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Macbeth. This archetypal tale of the dangers of the lust for power and the betrayal of friends, offers a stunningly visual landscape of the contemporary crime world while remaining true to Shakespeare’s original text and themes.

Set in modern day Melbourne, the story begins when Macbeth (Sam Worthington, who is also cast as the lead in the new James Cameron film, Avatar), is rewarded with gifts from his crime boss Duncan (Gary Sweet) for serving him faithfully and performing bravely in a vicious gangland rip-off. But these gifts are nothing compared to what Duncan lavishes on his son Malcolm (Matt Doran). Macbeth wonders why he bothers to stick his neck out when Malcolm does nothing at all.

Macbeth is then visited by seductively nubile young witches, dabblers in the art of the occult, who indicate that he shall be the new crime king. Macbeth is intrigued, but when Lady Macbeth (Victoria Hill) drops the hint that they might kill Duncan and take over the gang for themselves, he realizes he may simply be fulfilling his destiny.

Duncan is killed in Macbeth’s own home, with Lady Macbeth providing the drugs to silence the bodyguards and Macbeth, reluctantly, carrying out the murder. Macbeth seizes power and becomes ruler of the gang, but the madness that drove Macbeth to kill Duncan now compels him to dispose of other members of his entourage. (Including his lieutenant, Banquo’s, wife & young son whom the witches also prophesized becoming king).

Macbeth fights like a man possessed, becoming bolder as the situation worsens. He is a mighty warrior. But will it be enough? Maintaining his power will require more murders and violence, finally driving his surviving enemies to unite and destroy him.