Boz
Published writer
Posts: 1,451
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Post by Boz on Jan 22, 2007 2:22:01 GMT
Richard III (1995/Loncraine)Originally Written 6/8/06A polished and intriguing Shakespearean adaptation set in an imagined 1930’s Britain where a Nazi-like regime comes to power. Ian McKellen, taking both the acting and screenwriting chairs, really steals the show among this great ensemble cast. His performance is spectacular; portraying Richard’s evil to its true extent, showing his deceit and manipulation of others with charm, and sometimes narrating directly to the camera in some of the funniest and most powerful moments of the film. Throughout the entire film, there was fantastic set direction, costume design, lighting, and cinematography, giving the stellar cast a great backdrop to display their talents. Loncraine continuously chose interesting shots, all structured so well. He and McKellen together create a truly chilling portrait of a slightly mad, power-hungry dictator; charming and proper in public, but scheming and murderous behind closed doors. The film’s commitment to mostly Shakespearean dialogue took some getting used to, but eventually ended up adding to the wonderful style and tone of the film, and it never hurt the flow of the story or muddled the plot. And was I the only one who noticed the Dr. Strangelove reference in the end? Ultimately, a great character study that is both technically and creatively stunning.
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