Where the original play takes place at the end of the War of the Roses circa late 1500's, the 1995 adaptation brings the same dynastic conflicts into the 1930's and into an odd, different version of the England we know today. The main difference seems to be the noticeably fascist nature of the country, giving the entire film an out-of-place feeling that seems to work really well with the original (albeit heavily abridged) text. To top it all off, Ian McKellen's portrayal of the story's title character is done with a level of expertise you would expect from the famed actor (and knight to boot).
The movie starts as Edward IV, brother of Richard of Gloucester (the eventual Richard III), has claimed the throne from the Lancasters in what they believe to be the final inter-family fight over the crown. What Edward doesn't realize is that Richard dreams of taking the throne from his brother, first by making it look like their middle sibling is a traitor and having him put to death, and then waiting for the ill Edward to die himself. While his brother names him Richard the Protector of England, it isn't quite the position he is looking for and the last few obstacles come in the form of Edward's two sons.
This isn't much of an obstacle though, not for the determined ruler-to-be anyway. The scheming character asks some of his co-conspirators to kill the children, and when one of them, the Duke of Buckingham (Jim Broadbent), refuses, a rift in Richard's supporters begin to form. In fact, Buckingham eventually defects to Henry Tudor's (Dominic West) exiled camp and helps to plot the eventual downfall of Richard.
Not only does the film sport the big names already mentioned, but other stars take the stage in fairly major roles. Edward IV's wife is played by Annett Bening, while Lord Rivers (her brother) is played by Robert Downey Jr. and Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient, The Horse Whisperer) is Lady Anne, Richard's romantic interest. A supporting character that I found perfectly cast was Maggie Smith (now mostly known for her part in the Harry Potter films) as Edward and Richard's mother, the Duchess of York.
What I really liked about this version is how the film tells the viewers what's going on inside Richard's head. In an unusual manner for film adaptations, McKellen completely breaks the fourth wall during Richard's monologues. Instead of simply stepping off to one side and saying the lines, or whispering them to himself, this version has McKellen looking straight at the camera and telling you what he plans. Every time Richard stepped away from the action to talk to the audience, it gave the film a very unusual feel and while it can remove the suspension of disbelief, the technique really works in getting Richard's plans across.
This release of Richard III belongs in the Literary Classics Collection that is currently putting quite a few movie adaptations of classic tales back on the shelves. This particular DVD came out about 10 years ago, and the only difference between this release and the previous one seems to be a bookmark added to the packaging. The cover and contents are all the same. As for special features, this DVD only comes with the film's trailer - a bit of a disappointment in my opinion.
Don't get me wrong, this is a great adaptation of one of Shakespeare's most loved plays. The language isn't as harsh as some of the others, so even those viewers not in the Shakespeare mind-set should have no trouble understanding what is going on and what Richard is plotting. I think a lot of that has to do with the modernization of the story's settings, even if they are in a not-quite-right version of our England. I would recommend Richard III to anyone with a even a mild interest in the play, and a purchase for those with anything stronger than that. Just don't go re-buying the DVD if you got it back when it first came out since there isn't really anything added to this Literary Classics Collection version.
