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Richard III (1995)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 8.1/10
Reviews Counted: 43
Fresh: 41 | Rotten: 2

This re-imagining of Shakespeare's Crookback King relocates the story in 1930 and features an indelible star turn for Ian McKellen as the monstrous and magnetic King Richard.

Average Rating: 7.7/10
Critic Reviews: 12
Fresh: 11 | Rotten: 1

This re-imagining of Shakespeare's Crookback King relocates the story in 1930 and features an indelible star turn for Ian McKellen as the monstrous and magnetic King Richard.

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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 6,065

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Movie Info

Richard Loncraine takes Shakespeare's classic tale of treachery, Richard III, and transplants it to the 1930s. Ian McKellen is Richard who, as the film opens, begins plotting against his brother Edward, who has just ascended to the throne after a bloody civil war. Richard begins by seducing and wedding Lady Anne (Kristin Scott Thomas), whom he made a widow during the war. With the help of some loyal henchmen, Richard succeeds in murdering his older brother Clarence (Nigel Hawthorne), which so

R, 1 hr. 45 min.

Drama

Directed By: Richard Loncraine

Written By: Ian McKellen, Richard Loncraine

In Theaters: Dec 29, 1995 Wide

On DVD: Aug 15, 2001

United Artists

Richard III Trailer & Photos

Cast

Ian McKellen
Richard III
Annette Bening
Queen Elizabeth
Jim Broadbent
Buckingham
Robert Downey Jr.
Earl Rivers
Nigel Hawthorne
Clarence
Kristin Scott Thomas
Lady Anne
Christopher Bowen
Prince Edward
Jim Carter
Hastings
Michael Elphick
NCO
Roger Hammond
Archbishop
Edward Hardwicke
Stanley
Edward Jewesbury
King Henry
Dennis Lili
Lord Mayor
Tim McInnerny
Catesby
Bill Paterson
Ratcliffe
Bruce Purchase
City Gentleman
Andy Rashleigh
Jailer
Maggie Smith
Duchess of York
Donald Sumpter
Brackenbury
Adrian Dunbar
James Tyrell
John Wood
Edward IV
Dominic West
Henry Richmond
Kate Steavenson-Payne
Princess Elizabeth
Ryan Gilmore
George Stanley
Matthew Groom
Prince James
Tres Hanley
Miss Pan-Am
Marc Williamson
Prince Of Wales

Critic Reviews for Richard III

All Critics (44) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (2) | DVD (15)

A sure-fire crowd-pleaser among recent Shakespeare movies.

July 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Godfrey Cheshire

Variety

Top Critic

In a shamelessly entertaining display of acting brilliance, McKellen 'plays' the demon's good arm as if it were a Stradivarius, executing one showy stunt after another.

February 27, 2008 Comment

Hal Hinson

Washington Post

Top Critic

It is all in the grand manner of Shakespearean tragedies.

May 21, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Andrew Geller

New York Times

Top Critic

This is Shakespeare exciting enough for even the most dubious, which, after all, is no less than the man deserves.

February 13, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times

| Comment

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

The updating is the kind of fanciful exercise far better suited to the stage than to the literal confines of the screen.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Mike Clark

USA Today

Top Critic

The actors are uniformly good, including Broadbent's unctuous Buckingham and Hawthorne's sweet, unsuspecting Clarence.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Top Critic

...McKellan helped his own cause by writing a screenplay which captures the essence of Shakespeare's play while also working perfectly as a movie.

July 28, 2009 Full Review Source: Playback:stl

| Comment

Sarah Boslaugh

Playback:stl

This glossy adaptation is arch, nasty fun.

February 27, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

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TV Guide's Movie Guide

Rigorous adaptation of the notoriously 'difficult' play.

February 27, 2008 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

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Angie Errigo

Empire Magazine

Even if you hate Shakespeare, you'll love this.

February 27, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

As played by McKellen, Richard is a consummate actor who knows what role to assume, what props to use, and what words and actions to employ to turn a "scene" to his best advantage.

October 6, 2007 Comment

Beth Accomando

KPBS.org

This triumphant take on the Crookback king is as different from Olivier's '50s historical pageant as chalk is from malmsey.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Stephen Garrett

Time Out

Ian McKellen plays Richard III, and he's a twisted, blackened, serpentine, lurching, spitting, menacing villain with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. He is so hateful, it is easy to see why the Academy overlooked him.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

An imaginative and visceral Shakespeare adaptation with a mesmerising perfromance by McKellen.

September 17, 2004 Comment

Dan Lybarger

Nitrate Online

Striking, fun and, finally, disturbing.

November 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

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Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

A great concept-- and McKellen still rules Shakes works!

September 22, 2003 Comment

Emily Blunt

Blunt Review

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Richard III

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Richard III like you've never seen it before! Ian McKellen was amazing in this as he embodies the evilness of Richard III. Inventive and ruthless, this version cuts much of the dialogue in the play which makes it much more bearable than Olivier's 1995 snore-fest. Even if you're not fond of nor familiar with

March 13, 2011

Wildaly M.

Super Reviewer

one of shakespeare's more brutal plays reset in the '30's with striking atmosphere and a stellar cast. it's obvious sir ian had a blast making this and he is bloody marvelous. this is a very abridged version but it's definitely one of the most successful 'modern' adaptations i've seen. worth checking out even if you're not a fan of elizabethan drama!

May 28, 2008