THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 18, 1996 TAG: 9606180030
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: VIDEOMATIC
LENGTH: 97 lines
ONE OF THE GUYS here was midway through his morning constitutional the other day when this thought came to him like a bolt from the blue:
``That Shakespeare is so universal, his plays practically defy time and place.''
This was odd because it was still dark out. (The staffer is a cranky old noodnick who gets out early so he won't have to talk to anyone.) But his epiphany was right on the money.
And his timing couldn't have been better, seeing how Sir Ian McKellen's inspired ``Richard III'' (MGM/UA, 1995) comes out today.
More on that later. First, we're going to write about Akira Kurosawa because 1) any reason to write about the great Japanese director is a good one, and 2) two of his greatest films were Shakespearean adaptations.
``Throne of Blood'' (1957), his dark and moody ``MacBeth,'' is set in feudal Japan. Toshiro Mifune, a favorite of Kurosawa's, plays Washizu, the warrior whose fate is prophesized the night he is summoned to his warlord's castle.
The movie not only fulfilled Kurosawa's desire to bring Shakespeare to the Japanese, but it was also a stylistic departure from the rapid-fire editing of ``The Seven Samurai.'' The camera lingers, heightening the built-in tension of the black-and-white cinematography. Mifune's death is right out of Kabuki theater.
Kurosawa was 75 when he filmed ``Ran'' (1985), his ``King Lear.'' As with ``Throne,'' nothing is lost in the transition, in this case to 16th century Japan. The performances are excellent, but even more remarkable is Kurosawa's command of the camera, especially in the sweeping battle scenes.
``Richard III'' is no less daring, for its setting - 1930s England, a Fascist state embroiled in civil war - and its adherence to tradition. The dialogue is delivered as Shakespeare wrote it. The effect is surreal.
McKellen, who co-wrote the screenplay, gives a bravura performance as the twisted monarch. Jim Broadbent (Buckingham), Kristin Scott-Thomas (Lady Anne), Nigel Hawthorne (Clarence) and Maggie Smith (the Duchess of York) stand out in a cast of standouts. The Yanks, Annette Bening as Queen Elizabeth and Robert Downey Jr., her brother Earl Rivers, more than hold their own.
Videomatic says: A+ (``Richard III'' is rated R for violence; 120 mins.)
Robyn Redux
With ``Richard III'' out today, and the latest ``Othello'' due soon, here's my BIG MOVIE IDEA: Shakespeare's supervillains, Richard and Iago, meet in a depraved battle of wills to determine who is most evil. The triumphant do-badder wins the hand of Lady MacBeth, who promptly stabs him in the back.
Intrigued? Good. In the meantime, here's a classic tidbit you ought to check out.
Back in January, Hallmark released, with zero fanfare, the 1946 screen adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's ``Caesar and Cleopatra.'' Awesome Claude Rains is Caesar, and Vivien Leigh makes a stunning Queen of the Nile. Leigh and husband Laurence Olivier used to perform Shaw's play and Bill the Bard's ``Antony and Cleopatra'' alternately for the stage.
Leigh was adored by critics and theatergoers for portrayal in both. Fortunately, one of those performances has been preserved.
FULL OF BEANS: The first ``Mr. Bean'' tapes (Videomatic, 4/16) went over so well - more than 5 million copies sold - that PolyGram is doing what any self-respecting profit-maker would do: bringing out more. ``The Terrible Tales of Mr. Bean'' and ``The Perilous Pursuits of Mr. Bean'' arrive today. $19.95 each.
TOP TAPES (in Billboard):
Sales: ``Jumanji,'' ``The Aristocats,'' ``Waiting to Exhale,'' ``Mortal Kombat: The Movie,'' ``Babe''
Rentals: ``The American President,'' ``Seven,'' ``Jumanji,'' ``GoldenEye,'' ``Braveheart''
The Couch Report
``Heat'' (Warner, 1995). It's too long and the ballyhooed Al Pacino-Robert De Niro face-off isn't such a big deal (they share two scenes). On the other hand, director Michael Mann is stylish in his editing, weaving the stories of an L.A. detective (Pacino) obsessed with catching a professional criminal (De Niro). He also orchestrates a hot action sequence. Better as a straight crime drama than a duel of acting giants. Videomatic says: B
(CAST: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Natalie Portman. RATED: R for violence, language; 171 mins.)
``Mighty Aphrodite'' (Miramax, 1995). Woody Allen is downright animated as an adoptive father who sets out to find the birth mother of his precocious son. When she turns out to be a good-natured hooker, he makes it his mission to change her life. His changes, too. Oscar-winner Mira Sorvino is a delight, and the Greek chorus led by F. Murray Abraham is a hoot. Not classic Woody, but still better than 9/10ths of what's out there. Videomatic says: B+
(CAST: Woody Allen, Mira Sorvino, Helena Bonham Carter, F. Murray Abraham, Michael Rappaport, Peter Weller. RATED: R for language, situations; 94 mins.)
Also: Romance with Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Clifford Curtis in ``Desperate Remedies'' (R)
Next Tuesday: ``Dead Man Walking,'' ``The Crossing Guard,'' ``Sense and Sensibility,'' ``Bed of Roses,'' ``Dracula, Dead and Loving It,'' ``My Life and Times With Antonin Artaud,'' ``A Hungarian Fairy Tale,'' ``Painted Hero'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
MGM/UA
SIR IAN MCKELLEN'S ``RICHARD III'' IS SET IN 1930S ENGLAND.
Photo
WARNER BROS.
Robert De Niro plays a cold-blooded career thief in ``Heat.'' by CNB