Scotland, PA

This film is a modernization of Macbeth. Instead of the kingdom of Scotland, the stakes here are a fastfood joint, it starts as "Duncan's" and becomes (wait for it) "MacBeth's." It recasts Shakespearean tragedy as knowing black comedy.

Most of the fun of the film comes from noticing the parallels with Shakespeare's play. So, whereas Lady Macbeth gets blood on her hands and tries to wash it off after it's long gone, Mrs. MacBeth gets a grease burn on her hand when Duncan is killed and spends the rest of the film looking for an oinment to remove it. Some of the parallels are clever, some are strained, but none of them are truly inspired.

The film is set in the 70's, and its soundtrack is filled with Classic Rock gems. The first half of the film sounds like a Bad Comany's greatest hits compilation, and the climax of the movie plays out to Three Dog Night's "Never Been to Spain." Unfortunately, these tend only to undermine the film since the songs are so much better than anything else in the movie.

First-time writer/director Billy Morrissette (whose wife Maura Tierney plays Pat MacBeth) simply doesn't have the imagination to bring out much of the potential in this original, if thin, premise. Morrissette lacks any sense of visual style, and he gives the film a deliberate pace that drags down any potential comic energy.

SCOTLAND, PA (2001)
GRADE: C+