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Richard III (1995)

A review by Damian Cannon.
Copyright © Movie Reviews UK 1997
Presenting an updated version of Shakespeare's classic play, Richard III performs at a frantic pace and covers the major plot-lines in a wonderfully cinematic manner. When the King of England is assassinated during the culmination of a bloody Civil War, Edward IV (John Wood) ascends to the throne. With powerful allies and loyal brothers, Richard (Ian McKellan) and Clarence (Nigel Hawthorne), Edward hopes to unite the country. However, Richard has an overabundance of ambition and devious plans of his own; when he describes these, Richard talks directly to camera and beckons us over. No longer are we impartial observers, but instead co-conspirators. His first astoundingly audacious move is to woo Lady Anne (Kristin Scott-Thomas), whose father (the previous monarch) and husband he murdered. Right at the exact moment when she's grieving beside her husband's corpse Richard walks in, admits to the deaths and gives her a choice; either kill, with the knife he brandishes, or marry him. She's hooked by his feigned repentance and reluctantly agrees.

For his next trick Richard arranges to have Clarence banished to the Tower, all the while pretending that he's doing everything possible to extract him. Edward signs a sentence of death but luckily rescinds it, realising that Clarence is innocent of any charges. Unfortunately Richard isn't easily put off and uses the Duke of Buckingham (Jim Broadbent) and his eager henchman James Tyrell (Adrian Dunbar) to accomplish the dirty deed. Ironically, right up until his death, Clarence is convinced that Richard loves him dearly. The shock of this tragic news has fatal consequences for Edward, prodding his fragile health over the edge. Because the two princes are too young to rule, the Queens's (Annette Bening) brother Earl Rivers (Robert Downey Jr) is boosted into power. Tyrell soon deals with this new imposter (from Richard's perspective).

The bodies are piling up around Richard as he becomes Lord Protector, ostensibly caring for the youthful princes. Under this guise he has them locked away in the Tower, to the horror and disgust of Elizabeth. They can't do any harm there and Richard is free to continue cutting a swathe through the upper echelons of English society. The Prime Minister Lord Hastings (Jim Carter) soon goes, as do the princes, Anne and anyone else who opposes him. Finally Richard is crowned King of England, the culmination of his brutal march through friends and family. However, now he's attained his dream he's also got to defend it. His Mother disowns him, recognising the twisted ego inside and the blood dripping from his fingers, whilst Henry Richmond (Dominic West) is arranging forces in France. Even Richard's closest advisors look nervous as he lashes out like a cornered animal.

Dragging Shakespeare's 15th Century play into an alternative 1930s is a mission fraught with danger, yet Richard III pulls it off. The fascist imagery and prevailing attitudes of the time meld perfectly with this acute dissection of the lure of power and evil. The magnificent sets, brutal costumes and frenetic atmosphere propel the film along, throwing us headlong through the story of Richard's ascent. The main star is undoubtedly McKellan though; his driven, deceitful, manipulative, psychotic villain both charms and disgusts us. This is an amazing character, complex and fascinating, and McKellan is superb at drawing out the subtle nuances. Surrounding this beast the entire cast are excellent, comfortable with their lines and the actions required of them. Richard Loncraine has produced a fine adaptation; enthralling, energetic and a biting critique of power.

Note: In any Shakespearean play dialogue is important, doubly so when only the essence is retained in a film. Unfortunately speech is occasionally drowned out by ambient noise in Richard III, which adds to the atmosphere and subtracts from the comprehension.

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