Review of Looking for Richard (1996) by Thérèse F — 01 Jun 2008

You've got to hand it to Pacino- this is a very offbeat and personal docu-drama based around Richard III, and more generally about Shakespeare, although it also specifically examines the early modern Bard's more recent importance to Americans.

Its questioning is rather open-ended, and the way it flits from country to country, back and forth in time and to the filming of a stagey, starry version of Richard III is designed to provide maximum insight and access, but ends up seeming messy and distracting.

I wish, instead, Pacino had just made up his mind and made either a straight, personal documentary on Shakespeare or filmed his own Richard III (or do both inedependently and sell it as a package).

Still, there are truly astounding moments in Looking For Richard which make the eccentric enterprise worthwhile. Pacino's scintillating performance as Richard shows you how close Richard was to a medieval gangster. Also, in the documentary segments, we see a fascinating personal side of Pacino, our greatest screen actor and icon, comfortable and open in front of the camera as he perambulates and ruminates with friends on the streets of London, Stratford and New York in babseball cap, and backstage during Richard III's production.