Looking for Richard

PG-13

Released Oct 11, 1996

1 hr. 49 min.

Documentary

List

83%

48 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Al Pacino's directorial debut explores William Shakespeare's lasting impact in pop culture, particularly the playwright's highly regarded "Richard III." The documentary includes on-the-street interviews with ordinary people and academic perspectives from Shakespearean scholars. Actors such as Kenneth Branagh, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Spacey and Winona Ryder talk about preparing to play key scenes of "Richard III," which come staged with Pacino in the title role.

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Critics Consensus

Looking for Richard is a smart, fascinating behind-the-scenes look at adapting Shakespeare.

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Shioka O

I simply love this project by Pacino. Yes now I recognised Shakespeare. That's what he wanted from audience.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/22/22

Full Review

Steve N

A well thought out and written piece of media. This easy watch gives a good insight into the factual findings of King Richard III, while keeping the mood light hearted with a comedy from a fantastic cast

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/19/22

Full Review

Audience Member

A lot of fun to watch. I learned a lot about the craft of acting

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Al Pacino's directorial debut Looking for Richard is the best documentary feature I ever seen and the very first documentary feature from Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is an insightful and engrossing film for anyone interested in acting, directing, Shakespeare or Pacino. If you're interested in all four then you're overwhelmingly likely to LOVE this movie. It's the kind of documentary/essay/cinematic poem that could have been so self-indulgent and depressingly artsy yet beautifully manages to be sincere and noble.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great documentary directed by famed actor and Shakespeare devotee Al Pacino. Although Pacino is attempting to make "Richard III" accessible to the "average" movie-goer, he probably doesn't succeed. Looking for Richard is a fascinating piece of film making, but I don't think it does anything so revolutionary that non-believers will be suddenly converted. Pacino's passion is obvious, but it's not universally contagious. However, those who enjoy Shakespeare, or are at least open-minded, will find much to appreciate here. Looking for Richard is unlike any previous adaptation of the Bard's work, and that's reason enough to give it a shot.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

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Al Pacino

Director

Al Pacino

Richard III

Harris Yulin

King Edward IV

Penelope Allen

Queen Elizabeth

Alec Baldwin

George, Duke of Clarence

Kevin Spacey

Buckingham

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

This runs 118 minutes, but it felt like six or seven hours.

Jul 3, 2008

Full Review

Godfrey Cheshire

Variety

High-spirited and infectiously energetic.

Jun 11, 2008

Full Review

Sheila Reid

Women in the Life

As always, Pacino is flawless.

May 16, 2022

Full Review

Geoffrey O'Brien

The New York Review of Books

One of the best movies about the acting life.

Aug 16, 2018

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

An energetic but unsatisfying behind the scenes account of actors dress rehearsing or in street clothes rehearsing to do the Shakespeare play Richard III.

Rated: C+

Jan 10, 2012

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Al Pacino's directorial debut explores William Shakespeare's lasting impact in pop culture, particularly the playwright's highly regarded "Richard III." The documentary includes on-the-street interviews with ordinary people and academic perspectives from Shakespearean scholars. Actors such as Kenneth Branagh, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Spacey and Winona Ryder talk about preparing to play key scenes of "Richard III," which come staged with Pacino in the title role.

Director: Al Pacino
Executive Producer: William Teitler
Screenwriter: William Shakespeare, Al Pacino, Frederic Kimball
Distributor: 20th Century Fox, Fox
Production Co: 20th Century Fox
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 11, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 11, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.4M
Sound Mix: Stereo

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