in all the play there is not one word apt, one player fitted
So the_red_shoes reminded me recently that the New York Times, back in 2001, ran a review of John Farrell's regrettable whizzing of Richard II down his leg (usually referred to in this space as "the Abomination" because, well, it is1).
I had seen this review ages ago, but that was before I actually saw the movie, and having had the misfortune since then, the review is much funnier than I remember:
All we get in this filmed version of "Richard II" is the strain, with performers gasping like landed trout trying to get the intonations right. They don't seem to be listening to each other, but instead wait for the opportunity to blurt.
...
It's a test of the filmmaker's mettle to stage "Richard II" in this way. And as much as we might admire his ambition, Mr. Farrell's misfire becomes a test of the audience's resolve.
...
With the exception of these moments, "Richard II" is like watching a digital version of a master's thesis.
Although I think the review was actually much nicer to the film than I was (for instance, it has good things to say about Matte Ossian's performance, which I, um, don't, and it does not bother excoriating the long pointless action sequences or the constant dramaturgical mishaps).
1. I am willing to admit that I take the existence of this film a bit more personally than is really necessary.
I had seen this review ages ago, but that was before I actually saw the movie, and having had the misfortune since then, the review is much funnier than I remember:
All we get in this filmed version of "Richard II" is the strain, with performers gasping like landed trout trying to get the intonations right. They don't seem to be listening to each other, but instead wait for the opportunity to blurt.
...
It's a test of the filmmaker's mettle to stage "Richard II" in this way. And as much as we might admire his ambition, Mr. Farrell's misfire becomes a test of the audience's resolve.
...
With the exception of these moments, "Richard II" is like watching a digital version of a master's thesis.
Although I think the review was actually much nicer to the film than I was (for instance, it has good things to say about Matte Ossian's performance, which I, um, don't, and it does not bother excoriating the long pointless action sequences or the constant dramaturgical mishaps).
1. I am willing to admit that I take the existence of this film a bit more personally than is really necessary.