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Richard III

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Richard III (1995)

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Reviews Counted:41

Fresh:39

Rotten:2

Average Rating:8/10

Consensus: This re-imagining of Shakespeare's Crookback King relocates the story in 1930 and features an indelible star turn for Ian McKellen as the monstrous and magnetic King Richard.

Runtime: 2 hrs 8 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: This unique adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Richard III" switches the story's setting from the 1480s to the 1930s and imagines what a fascist coup in England might have been like. Despite... This unique adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Richard III" switches the story's setting from the 1480s to the 1930s and imagines what a fascist coup in England might have been like. Despite the change in milieu, the story remains the same. The malformed, evil Richard III wants to gain control of the throne and brutally kills anyone who gets in his way -- including the members of his royal family. Among Richard's victims are his overly-trusting brother, Clarence, and Queen Elizabeth's brother, Rivers. And their murders are just the beginning of Richard's devious plan to gain power. The film's many offbeat touches include Richard giving his famous "winter of our discontent" speech as a public political address, and uttering his classic line "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" when his jeep gets stuck in mud. [More]

Starring: Ian McKellen, Annette Bening, Jim Broadbent, Robert Downey

Starring: Ian McKellen, Annette Bening, Jim Broadbent, Robert Downey, Nigel Hawthorne, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith, John Wood

Director: Richard Loncraine

Director: Richard Loncraine
Story: William Shakespeare, Richard Eyre
Screenwriter: Ian McKellen, Richard Loncraine
Composer: Trevor Jones
Producer: Lisa Katselas Pare, Stephen Bayly

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Richard III

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Even if you hate Shakespeare, you'll love this.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
02/27/08
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Rigorous adaptation of the notoriously 'difficult' play.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
02/27/08
Angie Errigo
Angie Errigo
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This triumphant take on the Crookback king is as different from Olivier's '50s historical pageant as chalk is from malmsey.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Stephen Garrett
Stephen Garrett
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This glossy adaptation is arch, nasty fun.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
02/27/08
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It is all in the grand manner of Shakespearean tragedies.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/21/03
Andrew Geller
Andrew Geller
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Few English actors can speak verse with the rhythmic ease and assurance of McKellen and Maggie Smith.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Examiner | comment Comment
01/01/00
Barbara Shulgasser
Barbara Shulgasser
San Francisco Examiner

As played by McKellen, Richard is a consummate actor who knows what role to assume, what props to use, and what words and actions to employ to turn a "scene" to his best advantage.

Full Review Source: KPBS.org | comment Comment
10/06/07
Beth Accomando
Beth Accomando
KPBS.org

Setting Richard III in a fictional fascist England of the 1930s is inspired...

Full Review Source: AboutFilm.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Carlo Cavagna
Carlo Cavagna
AboutFilm.com

No review available.

comment Comment
08/22/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Flourish is the name of the game, and even what seems like unintentional comedy may be more purposeful than it appears.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Chris Hicks
Chris Hicks
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

No review available.

comment Comment
02/22/08
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

A film of rare visual and intellectual vigour, one that challenges while it involves.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
01/01/00
Dan Jardine
Dan Jardine
Apollo Guide

An imaginative and visceral Shakespeare adaptation with a mesmerising perfromance by McKellen.

comment Comment
09/17/04
Dan Lybarger
Dan Lybarger
Nitrate Online

The actors are uniformly good, including Broadbent's unctuous Buckingham and Hawthorne's sweet, unsuspecting Clarence.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post

No review available.

comment Comment
07/07/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

A great concept-- and McKellen still rules Shakes works!

comment Comment
09/22/03
Emily Blunt
Emily Blunt
Blunt Review

Interesting modernization of Shakespeare, before Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet.

comment Comment
07/25/03
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
About.com

A sure-fire crowd-pleaser among recent Shakespeare movies.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
07/09/08
Godfrey Cheshire
Godfrey Cheshire
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

In a shamelessly entertaining display of acting brilliance, McKellen 'plays' the demon's good arm as if it were a Stradivarius, executing one showy stunt after another.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
02/27/08
Hal Hinson
Hal Hinson
Washington Post

No review available.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Jack Garner
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
all

Latest News for Richard III

January 18, 2006: Trailer Bulletin: Firewall
Good ol' Harrison Ford never gets too old to stop kicking some serious butt, and the 63-year-old actor shows off his stuff in a new action thriller from director Richard... More...

November 15, 2005: Trailer Bulletin: Firewall
It's been a while since we've had a good Harrison Ford flick, so it's with hopeful optimism that we point you towards the all-new trailer for Mr. Ford's next film, the crime... More...

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