|
Richard III A, A
UK/1995/Color/Widescreen 2.35:1/Stereo Surround, AC-3/104 minutes/Directed by Richard
Loncraine/Starring Ian McKellen, Annette Benning/MGM-UA/29 Chaps/Theatrical
Trailer/CLV/$34.98
Richard III is a magnificent adaptation of Shakespeare’s historical play
dramatizing the rise and fall of the Machiavellian King. Updated from the 15th century to
1930’s Britain, Richard III easily casts allusions to Nazi Germany while working its
way through English civil war and the methodical mayhem employed by Richard in his
ascension to the throne. Ian McKellen is mesmerizing in the role of Richard. The language
slithers off his lips in natural rhythms. His every movement enhances the performance with
added meaning. He brandishes a smile, small teeth clenched in grin, boldly declaring sin.
His stride, his use of single limb , all
facets of an actors business are used to full advantage. This magnificent actor invests
malevolent Richard with a dark charm born of the delight of pure evil. Once you see
Richard III you will never be able to separate the play from McKellen. Most of the cast is
British, but Queen Elizabeth and her brother Rivers are played by Americans Annette Bening
and Robert Downey possibly suggesting some hint of Edward VIII, his abdication and
subsequent marriage to American Wallace Simpson. Bening subdues her natural ebullience in
the part of Elizabeth, but she fairs okay even in the company of some scene eating British
thespians. Downey comes across less well convincingly. Jim Broadbent is very fine as
Buckingham, Nigel Hawthorne innocent in the role of Richard’s brother Clarence and
Kristin Scott-Thomas positively decadent as Lady Anne, widow of the deposed Prince. The
screenplay by McKellen and director Richard Loncraine is wonderfully economical. It
translates the action perfectly, blending the Shakespearean language with astounding
success The striking visual opening sequence leads to the "Now is the winter of our
discontent…." speech which opens the play, and is set at the York victory
celebration. "My kingdom for a horse," is too marvelous in context. Costumes and
set design are simply seductive in creating a fascist world of decadence and evil. What a
beautiful laser disc execution. At all times very sharp, the images come alive even in the
difficult opening scenes. Black uniforms are deep and foreboding and red banners that set
the backdrop for the rallies are bloody garish. The surround sound is distinct and
aggressive. Trevor Jones’ score is delivered in powerful detail. The dialogue is easy
to understand. Richard III is one of the great Shakespeare screen adaptations, an
unforgettable experience that every film lover should treasure. |
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Laser Disc
Ratings
|
12
Monkeys Special/A-,B+ |
12
Monkeys/ B+,B |
1941
SE/ C-, B- |
a
la Mode/B+,B+ |
A
Pure Formality/C,B |
After the Fox/C+,B |
Alaska/B,B+ |
Albino
Aligator/C+,B |
Alfie/B,B |
Amateur/B+,C+ |
American
President/ B+, B+ |
Apache/C+,C+ |
Apocalypse Now/A-,A- |
Apollo
13 SpecialA,A |
Apollo 13//A,A |
Appaloosa/C+,C+ |
Assassins/C,A |
Bad
and the Beautiful, The/A,B+ |
Basquiat/C+,B |
Bend of the River/ B, B+ |
Belle Epoque/B+,A- |
Bhagdad
Cafe/B,B |
Big
Country/ B, C |
Big Deal on Madonna Street/B,B |
Big
Picture, The/B,B |
Big
Trees, The/C+,C+ |
Bingo
Long and His Traveling All-Stars/B+,A |
Blood and Wine/B,B |
| Blue Kite/B+,B |
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Bordello of Blood/C-,A- |
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Bound/B+,B+ |
Brazil
Special Edition/B+,A- |
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Came COD/B-,B |
Bringing
Up Baby/A,B |
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Bulletproof/C,B+ |
| Butch
Cassidy and the Sundance Kid/B,A- |
Call
Nothside 777/B+,C+ |
Camille
Claudel/ A, B+ |
Canterville
Ghost/C+,C+ |
| Caro Diario/A-,A- |
| Captain from Castile/B,B+ |
Casino/
C+, B |
Casper/C+,A |
Cause
for Alarm/C,B- |
Celestial
Clockwork/B+,B- |
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Columbus(1949)/C,C |
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Crossing
Guard, The/B,B+ |
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Island/C, A |
Dante's
Peak/B-/B |
Daylight/B,A- |
Dead
Man Walking/C+,B+ |
Dead Man/C+,A- |
Dead
Presidents Special/ B+,A |
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Diabolique(1995)/C+,C |
Diary
of Ann Frank/ A-,B |
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Double
Happiness/ B+,B+ |
Dragon/B+,A |
| Dune/C+,B+ |
Earrings
of Madame de.../ B+, B+ |
Enemy
Below/ B, B |
| Englishman Who Went..../C,B |
English Patient/B+,A |
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Everybody's
Fine/C+,C+ |
Executive
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for an Eye/B,B+ |
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Field
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Field
of Dreams/ A-, B |
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Firestarter/C+,C+ |
First
Knight/ C-, B+ |
First
Wives Club/C+,B+ |
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| Fugitive,The(1947)/B-,B |
Frankie
Starlight/B+,B |
Freaks/B+,B |
Free
Willy 2/B-,B+ |
Funny Bones/A,A |
Get Shorty/ A, A |
Goldeneye/
B, A |
| Ghost Story/B,B |
Great
Escape(MGM)/A-,B- |
Great
Expectations/A,B+ |
Greystoke:
The Legend of Tarzan/B+,C |
| Grosse Point Blank/A-,A- |
Grumpier
Old Men/B-,B+ |
Gun
in Betty Lou's Handbag, The/B,C- |
Happy
Gilmore/ B-, A- |
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Harriet
the Spy/B,A |
Haunting,
The/A,B+ |
Head
Above Water/D+,B |
Heat/A-,B |
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and Earth/B+,A- |
Helen
of Troy/C+,B+ |
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Hill,The/A-,B |
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The/ C, C |
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Interrupted
Melody/C+,C |
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Inventing
the Abbots/B-,B+ |
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Jean
de Florette/ A-, B- |
Jumanji/
B+, B+ |
Kansas
City/D+,C+ |
Kentuckian/B-/B |
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Kolya/A-,A- |
Kwaidan/A,A- |
La
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Last
Dance/B,B+ |
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Man Standing/C,B |
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Supper, The/B-,B+ |
League of Gentlemen/B,B |
Leave
Her to Heaven/B+,B+ |
Les
Miserables/ B, B+ |
Liar,Liar
Special/B+,A |
Lili/A-,C |
List
of Adrien Messinger/B,B+ |
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Love
Jones/B,A- |
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Miracle
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Impossible/C+,B+ |
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Muriel's
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My
Name is Nobody/C,C |
Mystery of Rampo/ A-, B |
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The/ C, B+ |
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Nothing
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Old
Man and the Sea/B,B |
Othello/A-,B+ |
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Deal/B+,B |
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Restoration/B+,A |
Richard III/A,A |
Ridicule/A-,B- |
River Wild/B+,A- |
| Romy and Michele's High School Reunion/B,B |
Room
at the Top/A-,B |
Rosewood/B,B+ |
Scopio/B,C |
Seven
SE/ B+, A |
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Shining
Through/C+,B |
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Blade/A,B+ |
Slingshot/A,A- |
Something
to Talk About/ B-, B+ |
| Spartacus Special Edition/A,A |
Species/C,B+ |
Star
Trek: First Contact/C+,A- |
Stars Fell on Henrietta/ C+,B+ |
Stealing
Beauty/B,B |
Strange
Days/ C+, B+ |
Striptease/D,A- |
Sudden
Death/ B, A- |
Sullivan's
Travels/B+,B |
Surviving
Picasso/C,B+ |
| T-Man/B,B |
That
Old Feeling/B-,A- |
That
Thing You Do/B,C+ |
They
Drive By Night/B,B |
| Thieves(Les
Voleurs)/B,B |
Things
You Do in Denver When You're Dead/D+,B+ |
This
Sporting Life/A-,B+ |
Timemaster/
D, C |
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and Viv/B-,B- |
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Flat/B+,B |
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Lounge/B-,B- |
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Two
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Unforgettable/C,C+ |
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Suspects/ B-,C+ |
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Vengeance
Valley/B,C+ |
Vertigo/A-,A- |
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C+, A |
Wait
Until Dark/B,B- |
Walk in the Clouds, A/ A-, |
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Waterworld/ B+, B |
White
Man's Burden/ B, B+ |
White
Squall/ B,A |
| Whole Wide World/B,B |
Wicked
City/ B, C+ |
Wild
Bill/ C+, B |
Window
to Paris/ B,B |
| Witness/B+,A- |
| Wonderful,Horrible World Life..../B+,B |
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