Looking For Richard (1996)

Looking For Richard (1996) (DVD) (*)

Out of Stock

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Camerimage Awards
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
107 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.85:1)

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1996 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Al Pacino

Written By:
William Shakespeare
Al Pacino

Actors:
Penelope Allen ..... Herself/Queen Elizabeth
Gordon MacDonald ..... Himself/Dorset
Madison Arnold ..... Himself/Rivers
Vincent Angell ..... Himself/Grey
Harris Yulin ..... Himself/King Edward
Alec Baldwin ..... Himself/Duke of Clarence
Al Pacino ..... Himself/Richard III
Timmy Prairie ..... Prince Edward
Landon Prairie ..... Young Prince
Kevin Conway ..... Hastings
Larry Bryggman ..... Lord Stanley
Kevin Spacey ..... Himself/Earl of Buckingham
Estelle Parsons ..... Margaret
Winona Ryder ..... Lady Anne
Phil Parolisi ..... Halberd/Messenger

Synopsis:

A workshop of William Shakespeare's Richard III inspires actor-director Al Pacino's breezy documentary, which aims to make the playwright accessible to contemporary American audiences. Though a noteworthy cast of stage actors and Hollywood stars (including Kevin Spacey, Winona Ryder, and Alec Baldwin) gathers to work on the play, Looking for Richard does not present a straightforward filmed version of the scheming, deformed king's rise and fall. Instead, Pacino turns the cameras on the rehearsal process and his own exploration of Shakespeare's history and meaning. Scenes in full costume alternate with readings in street clothes, while interviews gather the opinions on the Bard of everyone from renowned scholars and Shakespearean actors to random New Yorkers. A trip to England allows brief visits to Shakespeare's birthplace and the Globe Theater, but Pacino's focus remains on the United States and his desire to prove that American actors can act the plays without mimicking their British counterparts. Clearly a labor of love for Pacino, the film benefits from his passionate persona and direct, no-nonsense attitude; while the performances may vary in quality, the film manifests a refreshingly casual, unpretentious, and enthusiastic approach to Shakespeare.

Directed by and starring Al Pacino, this quasi-documentary is Pacino's passion in his quest to make Shakespeare more accessible to modern day America. Shakespeare's most performed play, 'Richard The Third', is the vehicle he uses to bridge the gap between Victorian soap opera and twentieth century culture. As well as hearing the views of the man on the street, we also meet Pacino's friends and fellow actors in his film version of 'Richard The Third'. These include Kevin Spacey, Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin, James Earl Jones and Kenneth Branagh, who discuss the rewards and challenges inescapable when trying to do justice to the bard. 'Looking For Richard' is where film and documentary merge; you have never seen Shakespeare like this before!

Al Pacino's deeply-felt rumination on Shakespeare's significance and relevance to the modern world through interviews and an in-depth analysis of 'Richard III.'

This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 21 October, 2012.

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