Scotland, PA - Billy Morrissette

Per the writer and director Billy Morrissette, this 2001 film was made for those students who were reading the Cliff Note version of Macbeth, and getting stoned. That should tell you everything about Scotland, PA. I have to say this is probably one of my favorite adaptations of this play. The language is not Shakespearean, though the plot and character names are similar. 

It is the 1970's in small town Scotland, PA. Pat (Maura Tierney) and Joe "Mac" McBeth (James Le Gros) both work at Duncan's burger shop. When Mac tells Duncan that the manager is stealing from him, he expects to get promoted to that position. However Duncan makes his son Malcolm the manager. Malcolm would rather get stoned and play with his band. Duncan's other son Donald plays football (mainly from the bench), has a Cabaret poster on the wall of his bedroom, does theatre, and listens to Janis Ian. So that should tell you something about that character and why Duncan wouldn't give him the job - considering the time period. Pat convinces Mac that they should rob Duncan. They get Duncan, tie him up, hit him a few times and threaten him with shoving his hand in the fryer. After getting the combination to the safe, Duncan slips and goes head first into the fryer. A spot of hot grease burns Pat's hand. Duncan's becomes McBeth's drive-through burger shop with a large yellow M as part of its feature. An investigation takes place led by Lieutenant McDuff (Christopher Walken). Adding into the fun of all this are three hippies who randomly appear, and one of whom tells fortunes. 

It is a film that if you know the play, you know exactly what is going on. If you have never seen or read the original Shakespeare, you will still find this black comedy quite amusing. It is inventive, tells a good story with some quirky characters and actions, and is a joy to watch.