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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 source; 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

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

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

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

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

No review available.

comment Comment
11/01/02
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The film's look, opulent with Deco, is stunning, but is never an end in itself.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Robert Faires
Robert Faires
Austin Chronicle

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

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

No review available.

comment Comment
08/25/05
Thomas Delapa
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly

Overall, this version of Richard III is an entrancing interpretation.

Full Review Source: Cinematter | comment Comment
01/01/00
Madeleine Williams
Madeleine Williams
Cinematter

No review available.

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

Ian McKellen plays Richard III, and he's a twisted, blackened, serpentine, lurching, spitting, menacing villain with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. He is so hateful, it is easy to see why the Academy overlooked him.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
05/26/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

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
01/01/00
Susan Stark
Susan Stark
Detroit News

No review available.

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

McKellen's enormous performance as Richard represents the film's biggest tinkering with theatrical canon.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jeff Millar
Jeff Millar
Houston Chronicle

The best part of the entire movie are the sets by Tony Burrough.

Full Review Source: Internet Reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Steve Rhodes
Steve Rhodes
Internet Reviews

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

No review available.

comment Comment
08/22/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; 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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