A friend of mine who can't stand Shakespeare loves this documentary and recommended it to me highly. (Yes, it is a documentary, despite its peculiar categorization here.)
I happen to enjoy Shakespeare very much, and I also enjoyed Looking for Richard. While it goes on a bit long (and there are even jokes about this in the film itself, mostly at Pacino's expense), it is a surprisingly entertaining, educational, and original work.
Actually close to crossing the line between drama and documentary, this film hops back and forth between a filmed version of Shakespeare's Richard III and a documentary exploring the making of said film, as well as the general population's thoughts on Shakespeare. The whole thing is helmed by Al Pacino, who not coincidentally stars as Richard III himself.
Highlights include some surprisingly (and sometimes unintentionally) profound comments on Shakespeare by randomly accosted street folk, a look at the tension and elation of the rehearsal process, plus a bit of illumination into the minds of such talents as Alec Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, and Al Pacino himself.
I was especially impressed with Spacey, a man whom I knew very little about despite his recent high profile. While his part both in the play and in the documentary is not as much of a "starring" one as the marketing might suggest, he certainly shines. As usual for Mr. Spacey, he makes not a single physical or verbal misstep. His remarkable, analytical intelligence is balanced beautifully by his subtle and playful sense of humor.
(I'll refrain from mentioning his appealingly melancholy dark eyes, his quiet, velvety voice, or his elegant, lined-yet-boyish face. I've been reading way too many romance novels.)
The glimpse into Pacino himself is equally fascinating, though I'm not sure how much of that he actually intended. Some of what I see is less than flattering.
Example. Some cops approach him to tell him he needs a film permit, and he gives them a baleful look, thumping his chest. "I need a permit?" he says incredulously. "I do?" Yes, Al, you too.
And then there's his choice of Winona Ryder to play opposite him. One look at the performance shows she wasn't chosen for her acting ability. Methinks an aging man is playing out his own fantasies... and unfortunately we're dragged along to watch.
But this film has some very enlightening moments, and gives a new perspective on the relevance of Shakespeare in today's society. While the performance of Richard III itself varies from almost-brilliant to hopelessly self-indulgent, the documentary portions are honest, well-edited, and at times quite amusing.
I have to reconsider Pacino and wonder if perhaps he doesn't have more of a sense of humor about himself than it would seem. Otherwise, he might not have let some of his less flattering moments survive the cutting room.
All in all, this is an interesting if slow-paced glimpse behind the scenes of a Shakespearean production. Looking for Richard provides some excellent insight into the relevance of the bard's work today... and into the fascinating world of acting in general.
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