Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sundance Channel Home Entertainment
• VHS Release Date: March 22, 2005
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00080ZGHE
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #638,010 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars McMacbeth, October 21, 2002

By 

Tammie Pollard (Sebring, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scotland, PA. (DVD)

As an English teacher who has taught Macbeth to bored students for year after year after year, I love Shakespeare, but could never get most of my kids beyond the "OH NO! SHAKESPEARE!" attitude. This is the film that could do it, if only I could show it in class. I can't, unfortunately, because of the very liberal use of profanity (about every fourth word is the f-word). For myself, however, the film was an absolute joy. It is set in 1970s Pennsylvania, and the power struggle is over a fast food joint, not a country. The film script follows the original script relatively closely, but with a wink and a nod, and tongue firmly in cheek. The first half is hysterically funny, especially for those who know Macbeth and can pick up on the sly references (Witches' Brew Beer! A food fight that sets up Joe McBeth as Duncan's favorite!). The murder of Duncan is particularly strange and funny. The second half gets progressively darker, and the suspense starts to really pick up. Maura Tierney is amazingly on target as (Lady)Pat McBeth, although Joe McBeth (James LeGros) is played as kind of stupid. Christopher Walken is typically sly and strange as Detective McDuff. I also enjoyed the perceptive (but brief) interview with the writer/director in the Afterthoughts section of the extras on the DVD. I just find this film to be a wonderful example of why Shakespeare is the greatest writer of all time; 11th century Scotland or 1970s McBurgerland, this story of ambition and madness remains the same at heart.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You want Fries with that dagger ?, September 23, 2002

By 

Maureen Ogorman "leneker" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scotland, PA. (DVD)

A clever retelling of the tragedy of MacBeth. Rather than being the loyal vassal to the King of Scotland he is the dedicated sort-order cook for the workaholic restaurant proprietor, Norm Duncan. Inevitably Joe's wife decided that the time is now for these "underachievers who need to make up for lost time". After the tragic and mysterious death of the owner, the couple is able to buy the place at a discount from the dead man's sons. Once ensconced as the owners they make a stunning number of changes including big red arches, a drive-thru, and little fried chicken pieces (called little chicken MacBeths). It all seems so perfect until the details start to unravel. A policeman named MacDuff is investigating the murder of Duncan, MacBeth's best friend starts asking questions about where the couple was the night of the murder, and Mrs. Macbeth develops an obsession with a grease burn she got on her hand.

This was a movie well worth the money. It was funny from one end to the other. It reminded me of the comment that Kissinger once said about academia "The Politics are especially vicious because the stakes are so small". In this film we see that even the smallest kingdom is sometimes worth fighting for.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shakespear goes fast food, March 14, 2003

By 

Charles M. Lee (harrisburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scotland, PA. (DVD)

The one similarity everyone who reviewed this movie missed is it's striking similarity to the Cohen Brother's classic FARGO. Sure enough when I viewed the special features the director did mention that FARGO was a big influence for him in making this wonderfully dark and funny film.

I really dig this movie. Like many of the reviewers, I rented it on a whim not expecting much. After all, I live in PA so what the heck let me check out this film about a town in my home state (I've actually seen signs stating the miles to Scotland). Was I ever in for a pleasant surprise. The casting was excellent, the script nothing short of brilliant, and the acting was supurb. Add a soundtrack of Bad Company playing in the backgroud, three stoned withches, Chris Walken and you have yourself a modern day classic. If you are an action movie fan, like XXX and such, keep steppin this one isn't for you. If you liked Movies like Fargo and A Simple Plan, then step into the diner. Pat and Mac are serving up french fried murder. The sides are a couple of frame ups, secondary murders, a persistant detective (Walken) that is as bothersome to the guilty parties as gasburger residue at 2AM, two brothers, one who just wants to rock, and one who is gay, and a host of town residents each with their own quirks. There is even a dim wit deputy type thrown in for good measure.

Will Pat and Mac get away with their vile evil deeds? Will Walken as the persistant detective serve them their just deserts? I aint telling. You just have to see for yourself, and make sure you bring some sutures, cause your side will split with laughter.