Looking For Richard

This is a fascinating documentary-style film about Academy Award-winning actor Al Pacino's staging of Richard; and his simultaneous exploration of the relevance of Shakespeare to people in every walk of life. Every scene of the play is dissected by actors and scholars prior to us seeing it performed, thus bringing the play brilliantly to life. Pacino's directorial debut takes the audience on a fascinating journey through the actor's process, preparing the audience for classical drama in its highest form. Richard schemes murderously for the throne at the expense of his brother Clarence (Alec Baldwin), his wife Lady Anne (Winona Ryder), his sidekick Buckingham (Kevin Spacey), and just about everyone else who crosses his path. The film also stars Aidan Quinn as Richmond, and includes interviews with F. Murray Abraham, Gil Bellows, Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Kline, James Earl Jones, John Gielgud and Vanessa Redgrave, among dozens of others. The film won numerous awards, including the 1997 Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Documentary.