proteus6847 Ninety minutes of mind-numbing incompetence. Pacino played Richard twice on stage (in 1973 and 1979) and both times he was blasted by the critics, for the simple and sufficient reason that he has no classical talent. Prior to making this film, his only other venture into Shakespeare was as Marc Antony in an early 80s production of Julius Caesar: here, too, the critics came to bury Al, not to praise him. But nothing can daunt a stubborn egomaniac. Well, almost nothing, for you'll note that this isn't a film version of Richard III, but rather a documentary about Pacino's "search" for the character. Interesting, that. Did Branagh make a film called "Looking for Henry V"? No, he made a film version of Henry V. Did Olivier make a film called "Looking for Othello"? No, he made a film version of Othello. So what's up here? Why is Al presenting us with a "search" for the thing instead of the thing itself? I'll give you three guesses.

blanche-2 "Looking for Richard" has Al Pacino, over a four-year period while he filmed various other things, delving into Shakespeare's Richard III with a cast of wonderful actors.The premise is that American actors approach Shakespeare too reverentially. Pacino gathers various actors, using places such as the Cloisters and St. John the Divine Church, to analyze, rehearse, and perform Richard III. Pacino amassed something like 80 hours, cut down to two.There are interviews with stars such as Kevin Kline, Vanessa Redgrave, F. Murray Abraham, Viveka Lindfors, Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Kline, John Gielgud, Peter Brook, and many others, including the man on the street. The final players include Kevin Conway, Kevin Spacey, Winona Ryder, Harris Yulin, Alec Baldwin, Estelle Parsons, Aiden Quinn and others.Scenes from the play are interspersed with discussion and rehearsal. Pacino's Richard emerges as raw, tough, and manipulative, whereas Olivier's was a complete slimeball. Both approaches work.This is an excellent film to show to high school students learning Shakespeare as Pacino takes some of the language apart -- the film makes the language and the human feelings and motivations behind the words very accessible.Truly excellent.

brice-18 Having lately seen Kevin Spacey's marvellous 'King Richard III' at London's Old Vic (on Broadway in a month or two) I had to see again this splendid exploration of Shakespeare, Richard and the wariness by the American public of WS and the phobic approach to his work of some actors. Yet years ago Brando joined John Gielgud and James Mason to play a thrilling Mark Antony in Mankiewicz's 'Julius Caesar', and here an American cast show themselves fine Shakespearean actors. Spacey (young and handsome!) is most enjoyable as Richard's conniving spin=doctor, Buckingham, and in his inevitably fragmented portrayal Pacino shows what a dark, deadly and witty Crookback he would be - on film or stage.

Jackson Booth-Millard This documentary mixed with great Shakespearean film-making is a good example of an actor directing his own film, especially a documentary. Basically Al Pacino (acting, directing, writing and producing) is attempting to turn William Shakespeare's Richard III into a film, and along the way there are moments and rehearsals from what will be the film, and interviews from experts and people that have used the work of Shakespeare, oh, and a few people on the street. People who appear in the film acting and interviewed include Pacino (also as Richard III), Penelope Allen (also as Queen Elizabeth), Gordon MacDonald (also as Dorset), Madison Arnold (also as Rivers), Vincent Angell (also as Grey), Bean's Harris Yulin (also as King Edward), Alec Baldwin (also as Duke of Clarence), Timmy Prairie as Prince Edward, Landon Prairie as Young Prince, Kevin Conway (also as Hastings), Larry Bryggman (also as Lord Stanley), Kevin Spacey (also as Earl of Buckingham), Winona Ryder as Lady Anne, Aidan Quinn as Richmond, F. Murray Abraham, Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Kline, James Earl Jones, Derek Jacobi, John Gielgud and Vanessa Redgrave. A great look at both a genius of the stage and writing, but also a great look of what film-making involves. Very good!