Richard III (1995) REVISIT

Richard III is one of the most iconic of Shakespeare plays. It is the culmination of the War of the Roses, it is the climax of 8 plays written by the Bard. It is filled with famous phrases. It has as it's center a deliciously evil villain that is a joy to watch and to watch meet his end. Sure it may not be accurate history but that's not the point and no one expects it to be. It is just really good theatre.

And it turns out it is also quite cinematic. Director Loncraine and star McKellen visioned their ultimate villain as history's ultimate villain. They take the story of the late 15th century King and set it in World War II as a fascist dystopia. They fill their film with all the glorious art deco art direction, swing jazz scoring, flapper costuming/hair, to make it gorgeous to see as well as overwhelming. When the nazi-esque red banners and symbols begin appearing the film strikes fear deep into our hearts. It turns the tale of the evil ruler killing to gain power into a context that makes sense to a modern audience. And that sense is chilling.

At the heart of the film is McKellen and his singular performance. He wasn't as recognizable at the time the film came out and I remember just being shook by him to my core. He is a combination stage and film actor being both larger than life and subtly rich in his performance. And as Richard, as the unabashedly corrupt and evil ruler, he is disturbing to say the least. Now that we've seen him in many other high profile roles we've come to be familiar with him as a star. But it is here as Richard that he first grabbed my attention.

But he's not alone. The always perfect Annette Benning is in her element here playing a powerful and emotional Queen Elizabeth with all the layers the character deserves. The entire cast is strong and despite the prominence of McKellen's character he plays well with the whole team. It's a powerful ensemble that fully dedicates itself to both the text and the setting they've chosen.

For me this film does a great job of grounding this play into something accessible yet palpable. It is viscerally enjoyable. It breaks down the different lineages and plot points in a way that makes its bloody quest for power plot not only understandable and easy for an uninitiated audience but also thoroughly enjoyable both for them and for devotees of the Bard. From the imagery to the 30s music to the performances to the story itself this Richard III is a damn fun film with just enough cultural warnings to give it the gravitas it needs.

Richard III
Starring: Ian McKellen, Annette Benning, Jim Broadbent, Robert Downey Jr., Nigel Hawthorne, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith, Dominic West
Director: Richard Loncraine
Writers: Ian McKellen, Richard Loncraine, William Shakespeare