"It sucks!" says one guy interviewed on the street by Al Pacino, in this documentary, "Looking for Richard." The guy is referring to Shakespeare in general, but the point is well taken that actors these days have a tough job bringing to life and mainstream appeal to Elizabethan characters of yore. Give us a story about the Clinton's, Madonna, or (gag!) O.J. and we're right there. Ask about Queen Margaret or the "Son of York", and it's "Whah? Who? Son of where?"
Pacino attempts to size up the elusive characters in Shakespeare's most frequently performed play, "Richard III", by interviewing actors and various people in New York and Strafford-upon-Avon. We follow Pacino over the course of many months into coffee shops, around Central Park, and right into Shakespeare birthplace.
The pursuit is not an idle one, as the talk is intercut with shots of Pacino, in the lead, and an impressive cast rehearsing key scenes from the play. I am told by wife who is an actress that this is a very informative thing for an actor to view. While that was a great study for her, I wasn't too impressed with that part.
Helping Pacino in his quest though are Alec Baldwin, Estelle Parsons, Aidan Quinn, John Gielgud, Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Spacey, James Earl Jones, Vanessa Redgrave, and Winona Ryder.
Even the actors agree along the way that Shakespeare is an acquired taste. That's not to say that Pacino is ripping on the bard. In fact, in his charming, sharp-witted way, he Pacino gives us the humor, the tragedy, the wisdom and the human truth that is Shakespeare. We get the feeling from his passion that any actor loving his or her craft, cannot do so fully without a knowledge of the greatest playwright.
If you haven't yet experienced the pleasure of this movie visit your local video store for a rental.
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