Stars:
James Le Gros, Maura Tierney, Christopher Walken, Kevin Corrigan, James Rebhorn,
Thomas Guiry, Amy Smart, Timothy Speed Levitch, and Andy Dick
Writer:
Billy Morrissette
Director:
Billy Morrissette
Feature
length: 104 minutes
Extras:
Director’s Commentary, Insider’s guide To Scotland, PA, Bonus Track With
Snap Shots
Languages:
English Stereo
Subtitles:
English Closed Captions
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 8
Sound:
Stereo Sound
Year
of DVD Release: 2002
Home
Video Distributor: Sundance Channel Home Entertainment & Showtime
Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: R
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
Inspired
by Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” Billy Mottissette’s “Scotland, PA” is a
dark comedy set in the early 1970s about a couple, the McBeths (James Le Gros
and Maura Tierney), who take fate into their own hands after receiving a vision
from three stoners. Murdering their boss, Duncan, the McBeths open their own
restaurant and attract the attention of Lieutenant Ernie McDuff (Christopher
Walken), who is investigating the suspicious circumstances behind the death of
Duncan and the subsequent disappearance of other locals, bringing their dream of
running their own fast food drive through, “MCBETH’S” to a nightmarish
end.
An
official selection of the 2001 Sundance Film Festival, “Scotland, PA” is
another example how one can take even the most basic story and character
paradigms from Shakespeare and place it in complete different settings and give
it a twist to make it original onto itself. The film is quirky, but not exactly
my kind of film. I guess I am more of a traditionalist, but I respect the
attempt and folks who like this sort of thing should give “Scotland, PA” a
try.
This
is the first DVD release from Sundance Channel Home Entertainment, which is
distributed under a special arrangement under this brand by Showtime
Entertainment. As a DVD, “Scotland, PA” is presented in a widescreen
(1.78:1) aspect ratio. The picture quality is a little soft at times, but
otherwise “Scotland, PA” looks pretty good for an independent film release.
The soundtrack is a full, clear, and quite vibrant with great 70s tunes and all
within a good English Stereo mix that is free of background noise and analogue
hissing. The extra features include an articulate and screen specific audio
commentary by Writer and Director Billy Morrissette, who also provides a
videotaped “Afterthought” (5:14), where he speaks about how his prior
experience as an actor gave a sense of comfort to the cast he directed, how his
prior experience working in fast food actually complimented the screenplay in
more ways than one, specifically the food reference in the actual text, and how
he was also inspired by the Cohen Brother’s “Fargo.” Two somewhat odd
choices were made on this DVD despite the fact that I think there was enough
room on this dual layered DVD to make the majority of the extra features
accessible to all users.
The
“Insider’s Guide To Scotland, PA” is only available for DVD users who have
a computer with a DVD-ROM drive or Internet access at www.sundancechannel.com.
While the vast majority of the people who buy DVD films have Internet access,
not everyone has a DVD-ROM drive on their PC and there are still people who the
format has crossed over to that might buy this and for whatever their personal
reasons do not even own a computer or have net access let alone DSL. I have seen
many entire websites for films complete with video and all placed on to discs
that are sold to the public so I see no reason why some users should be left out
if they don’t have a DVD-ROM drive or even have to use a DVD-ROM drive or net
access to get at extra value material that should be already included as a part
of the DVD-Video player accessible materials to begin with. “Bonus Tracks With
Snapshots” (1:53) seemed an odd placement as well as if since there a few
artsy video camera tricks that people who like independent films will be
impressed. I was very unimpressed.
A
55 second trailer for “Scotland, PA” precedes the standard interactive still
frame menus that are easy to navigate. I think as a freshmen effort, the picture
and sound presentation of “Scotland, PA” makes for a fine DVD, but the extra
value materials with the exception of the commentary track and Director’s
“Afterthought” segment leave much to be desired. Hopefully future Sundance
Channel Home Entertainment DVD releases from Showtime Entertainment will offer
better extra value features that everyone can enjoy without the need to use a
computer. “Scotland, PA” will debut on DVD Video on Tuesday, October 22,
2002 from Sundance Channel Home Entertainment & Showtime Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.