Scotland, PA(2002)- User Reviews

For Shakespeare buffs, this movie in short is awesome. Rather than update Shakespeare in a modern setting and yet retain the Old English dialogue, this movie captures the spirit of the dialogue in an updated 70's setting. Mac McBeth works as a fryer at a burger joing and "King" Duncan is the owner.

Maura Tierney plays the best Lady Macbeth ever captured on screen. She looks the part of a wicked manipulator, smoking thin cigars throughout and her dark hair is streaked with a telling strand of gray. She successfully manipulates fryer Mac into killing Duncan and taking over the burger joint. That's when Christopher Walkien steals the show with his portrayal of Columbo MacDuff.

The witches are a bit weak, but they're bit parts and overall the acting's superb. One of my favorite MacBeth tributes occurs when MacBeth is driving along the road listening to some self help radio show, and the radio host begins the famous soliloquy, "Tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow. . ."

Most critics had mixedreviews of this film. It's definitely a cult favorite. If you either hate Shakespeare or if you're a Shakespeare purist, you will despise the film. But if you have a decent understanding of MacBeth and love creative reinventions of Shakespeare this film will be in your favorites' collection.

Particularly brilliant is the blending of old Bad Company songs into the movie. While when reflecting upon the lyrics, the song "Well I've never been to Spain, but I've been to Oklahoma" makes no sense at the climax, but if you focus on just the music, it's damn near perfect.

I have also heard critics complain that the film seemed to have no point. In response I say, "Life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."