Ricardo III

Not just the best adaptation of Richard III, but primarily the best Shakespeare on the silver screen. In terms of acting, this is probably the most powerful movie I have ever seen. Not just because of Olivier, but absolutely everybody is breathtaking. And the cast is packed full of prime players. For instance, Ralph Richardson in the role of Buckingham and, of course, Laurence Olivier himself. What those two get up to cannot even be described in words. Their lengthy soliloquies straight into the camera in one take are simply unforgettable. But don’t expect to see any cheap theatrical over-acting. That is what spoils Zeffirelli’s adaptations. The soundtrack works perfectly. And what about the shabby production design (apart from the costumes), the pasteboard scenery, the rather naive final battle (even with cars driving past visible in the background) and the “crowd" made up of just a couple of extras? True; it’s all true. And so what? P.S.: Jiří Josek’s Czech subtitles for Czech TV are simply fantastic. (21.03.2008)

Shakespeare's plays are timeless material, and Olivier's Richard III is actually one of the earlier adaptations. When watching films that are several decades old, you have to accept the filmmaking practices of the time, which can include extreme acting creations on set or overly intense music. But what the hell! And why?! Because of Laurence Olivier as the smarmy, sleazy, scheming, limp-wristed, meddling Richard. His performance (well, except maybe for the final posthumous tics) really deserves a hat off, especially his monologues conducted directly into the camera. In short, it's not a film for everyone (even I approached it with a degree of detachment), but as a historical drama it works solidly. (11.03.2011)