the robert downey jr film guide

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Richard III (1995)

Tags: Supporting Role, Drama, Middlers, Career Trajectory: Established Actor, Shirtless, The Other Kind of Action, Playing a Real Guy, Period Piece, On DVD in Region 1, On DVD in Region 2, On DVD in Region 4, Rated R

Summary

Shakespeare’s tale of the king’s gimpy little brother and his murderous rise to power is set in a 1930s fascist regime.

Director

Richard Loncraine

Downey Factor

Low.

Character

Rivers, the queen’s loyal brother and obstacle to Richard’s power-grab.

Looks

Pretty good.

Performance

He doesn’t stand out, but he appears to know what he’s talking about.

Love & Sex

Murdered while getting "first class service" from a stewardess.

Dies, Gay or Villain

Yes, no, no.

Cast

Ian McKellen, Annette Bening, Kristin Scott Thomas

Connection

Annette Bening in In Dreams. Ian McKellen in Restoration. Jim Broadbent in Dolittle.

RDJ Says

So I just became good friends with [Ian McKellen, on the set of Restoration] and then he said, “Hey, I’m doing Richard III, and I’ve got this really small part but I’d love for you to be in the film.” ... I play the queen’s brother, Earl Rivers, who’s kind of like the Roger Clinton of the royal family ... he’s got his own lifestyle, he’s happy to be there, and happily capitilizes on the situation ... I completely self-destructed financially with the art house movies, doing these jobs that barely covered three months of fucking dry cleaning expenses.

Lit Reference

Richard III by William Shakespeare

Time & Place

1930s London.

Availability

Released in theaters 29 December 1995. On DVD in Region 1 and 2.

Hot Link

Ian McKellen’s Richard III Site

Foreign Titles

Brazil: Ricardo III
Italy: Riccardo III
Poland: Ryszard III

Rotten Tomatoes

95% Fresh | 43 Reviews

Critical View

Hal Hinson, Washington Post: Loncraine doesn’t simply find a modern setting for Shakespeare’s original; he modernizes it to its marrow, dressing it up in Nazi chic and staging it like a rock opera.

2 Reasons to See It

1. You saw Apt Pupil and simply must see more Ian McKellen as an evil fascist.
2. You’re in the mood for Shakespeare.

Overall

To see or not to see is a judgment call. If Robert Downey Jr. is the only thing about this film that interests you, don’t bother.

If You Like It

You might also like Good Night & Good Luck (2005), Restoration (1995)

Photos

Video