Filmmaker Jeremy Whelehan's engaging documentary follows a world tour of Shakespeare's Richard III that originated as a joint venture between London's Old Vic and the Brooklyn Academy of Music for the Bridge Project—a collaborative effort designed to bring British and American actors of very different backgrounds together. The most notable star here is Kevin Spacey, who assumed directorship of the venerable English theatre as well as the title role in the play; he's featured not only in rehearsal and performance clips but also in backstage shots, interview excerpts, and quasi-travelogue footage as the scrappy troupe makes its way from England to the ancient Greek amphitheater at Epidaurus, and on to Istanbul, Beijing, Doha, Sydney, Naples, and San Francisco before reaching New York. While Spacey is the central focus, much time is also spent on his collaborators, including director Sam Mendes, who recalls working with Spacey on American Beauty. Some viewers may be disappointed that Now offers relatively few snippets from the actual performances of Richard III, but the real subject here is the creative process and the camaraderie that builds up amongst the cast and crew as the production takes shape and hits the road. The intense bonds formed—as well as the transitory, ephemeral nature of the result—are well caught here. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
Now: In the Wings on a World Stage
(2014) 93 min. DVD: $24.99. Bond/360 (avail. from www.amazon.com). Volume 30, Issue 2
Now: In the Wings on a World Stage
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: