Review of Men Of Respect (1990) by Frank J — 06 Mar 2007

The backlash and overall unrecognizability of this film is almost sad. William Reilly's modern day adaptation of Shakespeare's classic tradegy is incredibly executed, and sadly many failed to realize such because it's "too boring".

One must examine the actual comings and follow through of Shakespeare's play and compare to the manner in which this film is made. It's terrific, everything within the movie has had great attention payed to it in contrast with the play.

Such as the Duncan character's bar in place of his castle. The filming technique used is truly brilliant, dull lighting and reddish lights within the bar to set the hellish theme as Duncan descends into his horrid fate.

Not to mention the costumes, such as the Lady Macbeth character. While planning her diabolical plot shes always wearing red, the devil within, and iron willed as she is being portrayed. But when she begins to lose her sanity she is shown wearing white weather than red or black as before.

Brilliant characterization brought out by costumization. As the Macbeth character, John Turturro was mesmerizaing, the display of a dead soul towards his fellow gangsters and the frakish eye gestures he executes go perfectly with the character.

The movie brings out the brutality and wretched violence of the film but in captures it in necessary doses and never goes over board as such a movie should not considering the dramatic effect it must take on the audience.

The epic level such as battle scenes should not be in high levels because guns are not weapons of honour in contrast to Polanski's version of Macbeth with the bloody sword battles. Reilly has evenly seperated it out.

An overall excellent film that deserves alot more respect (pun intended).