MovieChat Forums > Looking for Richard (1996) Discussion > I would throw this in the garbage again.

I would throw this in the garbage again.

posted 19 years ago by Windwalkerz
18 replies | jump to latest

I would throw my copy in the garbage. In anger and frustration. For the 20th time. I am really glad that Mr Pacino wished to make Shakespeare more accessable and understandable for more of the masses......however with the amazing cast he had assembled for this venture could he not have filmed the whole play or version of it as he desired. Dribs and drabs. It seemed to be a documentary of the making of a movie of the play. I would that he had done a movie of the play and put the "Searching for Richard" on the second DVD of the set. As I have just watched his performance of Shylock in Merchant of Venice....I forgive him yet again and put "Searching for Richard" back on the shelf.

[–] wildkatsam 19 years ago

The movie isn't about "Hey! Let's watch famous people act out a famous play!" It's about examining Shakespear in modern context and trying to interpret it in a post-modern way of thinking. And you know this. So why would you get the DVD in the first place?

[–] Windwalkerz 19 years ago

I did not realize when I bought it that it was to "Examine Shakespear in Modern context and try to interpret it in a Post-Modern way of thinking". I thought it was just a quirky title for a new performance of an old play.

I do not have the dvd I have it on VHS. My reference to dvd was that I wished they had done the whole play and used this material as the DVD extras.

I do not care if it is famous people or unknowns. I have seen a local production of unknowns and enjoyed it greatly. I am however intrested to see so called "famous" people doing something of substance. I was frustrated that they had some really great actors and I would have liked to have seen a total performance. I have no chance of seeing a real performance and rely on DVD's for entertainment.

It was a facinating tape but as I said, I would have liked to have seen the Al Pacino production of Richard.

[–] wildkatsam 19 years ago

Fair enough. To be honest I'd be curious to see that too.

[–] Windwalkerz 19 years ago

Thank you....me too. I think Al Pacino is a bit of a genius. His rendering of the play would be facinating.

[–] OttoVonB 17 years ago

Windwalkerz I agree with you: Richard III might just be my all-time favorite work of litterature and I would have killed to see that cast perform the complete play.

[–] thePogue 17 years ago

lol... is it "litter-ature" because you're throwing it in the garbage? *ducks*

---
you're not portuguese man!

[–] OttoVonB 13 years ago

Ha, ha.... not bad...
No, it's with two Ts because that's how you spell it in French and I always mix the two spellings.

[–] Sumatran_Ratmonkey 17 years ago

I wouldn't say I'd throw it in the garbage, because it is an excellent documentary, which really helps to make Shakespeare more accessible to people who may not understand it for one reason or the other. I think Pacino hits the nail on the head with the reason he believes Richard III is hard to follow: so many characters, the head spins.

Still, I definately agree that this movie made me insane with the desire to see a full version of Pacino's Richard III. Insane, I say!

[–] Windwalkerz 17 years ago

Glad to see you two gentlemen agree with me.

Raise a glass to Sir Al (well he would be if this was the UK)

[–] forthesafetyofpuppies 16 years ago

I largely agree with the original poster; I'd rather have had seen the full play as a movie/play, with all the chatter and ruminating tucked nicely away on a special features dvd.

[–] Windwalkerz 16 years ago

Yes! It would have made a fine documentary type addition to the DVD extras. I would have loved to have seen Pacino as Richard in the whole play.

[–] softenthesilence 16 years ago

While I agree that seeing the play in it's entirety would be nice, I found the documentary itself to be wholly enjoyable. I especially love watching the table reads with the actors, as it provides great insight to the discussions that take place amongst the artists whose job it is to interpret the meaning of the original artist (Shakespeare

[–] Windwalkerz 16 years ago

Oh yes that was very interesting. I also likes when they showed Al doing bits of dialogue in costume and just in his regular clothes. It give a feel for how it would look if done as a period piece or modern adaptation. You should really see Merchant of Venice. Also excellent.

[–] Captain_Cobweb 15 years ago

Looking for Richard is a 1996 documentary film, the first film directed by Al Pacino. The film is both a performance of selected scenes of William Shakespeare's Richard III and a broader examination of Shakespeare's continuing role and relevance in popular culture. The film was featured at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1996.[1]

Pacino plays both himself and the title character. The movie guides the audience through the play's plot and historical background.[2] Pacino and several fellow actors, including Penelope Allen and Harris Yulin[3], act out scenes from the play.[4] The other actors include, with their roles:

Kevin Spacey (Buckingham)
Winona Ryder (Lady Anne)
Kevin Conway (Hastings)
Julie Moret (Mistress Shore)
Estelle Parsons (Queen Margaret)
Alec Baldwin (Clarence)
Aidan Quinn (Richmond)
In addition, the actors comment on their roles. Pacino also features other actors famous for performing Shakespeare, such as Vanessa Redgrave, Kenneth Branagh, John Gielgud, Derek Jacobi, James Earl Jones, and Kevin Kline.[5] He includes interviews with Shakespeare scholars and ordinary people on the street.

[–] ddoyle1962 14 years ago

Why the wiki paste?

We should all write his agent. I loved the film, much as I loved Vanya on 42nd because I love the central core of telling the story and sharing the emotions. But I too, would love to see the play, though in modern garb.

[–] deeveed 13 years ago

We should all write his agent...

I was just thinking the same thing. I think Al pulled off a great enterprise here. Maybe he doesn't know how we all feel??!!!! Things we'd like to see: Say Branagh and Al in a Rich III production...

[–] AtoZ2014 8 years ago

Maybe watch the Ian MacKellan version of Richard III. Next topic!

[–] petelynch23 8 years ago

This film changed my life.