Blank Check with Griffin & David The Tragedy of Macbeth with Dana Schwartz
Nov 23, 2025
Dana Schwartz, a talented writer and podcaster, joins to delve into Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth. They explore the film's unique visual style, informed by German expressionism and the challenges of pandemic production. The conversation includes a lively debate on the performances of Frances McDormand and Denzel Washington, alongside standout supporting actors. Dana shares her insights into the historical context of Macbeth and the infamous curse of the play, making for a fascinating discussion on adapting Shakespeare for the screen.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Pandemic Memories From The Screening
- Griffin described seeing the film during the Omicron surge with almost nobody in the theater and personal stress surrounding the screening.
- He remembers the Beacon Theater showing it with one other audience member and the film feeling like a lockdown-era object.
Macbeth As A Solo Visual Statement
- Joel Coen used Macbeth to showcase a solo directorial vision by stripping the play into an otherworldly, expressionist film.
- The production deliberately favored stagecraft, black-and-white design, and digital set-extension to create a painterly nightmare world.
McDormand Sparked The Project
- Frances McDormand pushed Joel toward making Macbeth, having performed in a stage production in 2016.
- Joel accepted the project after seeing her stage work and adapting it into a film he could control visually.
