Richard Ian Richard Overlook FIRST First Edition Thus, First Printing. Not price-clipped. Published by Overlook Books, 1996. Octavo. Paperback. Book is like new. Seller 404873 Drama & Film
Sir Ian Murray McKellen CH CBE is one of the most highly acclaimed actors in the English-speaking world.
His career spans six decades, having performed in genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. Over his career he has received numerous awards including seven Laurence Olivier Awards, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He has also received nominations for two Academy Awards, five Primetime Emmy Awards, and four BAFTAs.
McKellen was knighted in the 1991 New Year Honours for services to the performing arts, and made a Companion of Honour for services to drama and to equality in the 2008 New Year Honours
This thing is awesome. Richard's one of my favorite characters.
Y'know, I thought it was the Queen of Hearts who came up with "Off with her head!" But I should've known, it was Richard. He says it at least twice.
On the other hand, I assumed that "Heads will roll" was from Shakespeare; it sounds like the kind of thing he'd say. But apparently it was actually Hitler, of all people. Who knew?
No, you're right: I don't have much to say about Richard III. I love it, it's awesome.
For a long time, I considered myself a staunch opponent of setting the Shakespeare plays in times/places other than how they were written. I find myself more divided these days. Sure, there are some that don't work for me (Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet, and Branagh's Love's Labors Lost, for example), but there are people doing amazing things with the plays. One is Julie Taymor's "Titus", which is strange and beautiful enough to break the mold. Scotland, PA was a clever update on Macbeth. Another is this version of Richard III, set in an alternate history-type fascist England.
The setting fits the play, and the adaptation is done amazingly well by actor Ian McKellen and director Richard Loncraine. A fun bonus of the screenplay book is that McKellen has annotated it, telling the reader about the writing process and the production of the film.
I'm hoping that my McKellen bias doesn't cloud my judgment of the film, but I don't think it does. This was the first film of his I ever saw, so my rabid fandom came later. I really love the man. He's a spectacular actor, and a clever, sarcastic human being. I've seen most all of his films, and am eagerly awaiting the PBS broadcast of his King Lear (a play I was planning to see in Stratford until expenses intervened).
Recommended for Shakespeare and/or screenwriting aficionados.