Film Review: Kevin Spacey on Power of ‘NOW: In the Wings on a World Stage’

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CHICAGO – “Hi-diddle-dee-dee, the actor’s life for me!” Kevin Spacey, who took a considerable break from movie acting to become Artistic Director of the Old Vic Theater in London, puts the fruit of those labors in a new documentary, “NOW: In the Wings on a World Stage.” The film chronicles the international tour of Spacey and the troupe performing William Shakespeare’s “Richard III.”

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.0/5.0
Rating: 3.0/5.0

The stage tour mixed American and British actors, and essentially presents talking head interviews and exposition of the stagecraft necessary to produce the complex work. It focuses on Kevin Spacey and his capacity to embody a role, in this collaboration with director Sam Mendes, who had brought Spacey to film prominence in 1999’s “American Beauty.” The documentary is direct, somewhat fascinating and a bit redundant as the tour wears on, but still holds an attraction in the nuts and bolts, the slings and arrows, in the outrageous fortune of performing Shakespeare in some of the most exotic locations on earth.

In 2012, the Old Vic Theater company, one of oldest in existence, take a production of William Shakespeare’s “Richard III” – directed by Sam Mendes and starring Kevin Spacey as the title character – on an international tour. Along the way the staging process is broken up into the bits and pieces of performance that is necessary to collect into the whole.

In addition, it is up to the cast of mixed American and English actors to deliver their interpretation of the legendary play, while at the same time enjoying some exotic locations around the world on which to stage it. Through interviews with Spacey, along with and including Sam Mendes, Gemma Jones, Simon Lee Phillips, Maureen Anderman and other members of the cast, an insight to the traveling life of thespians is brought to life.

NOW: In the Wings on a World Stage” continued its limited release in Chicago on May 2nd. See local listings for theaters and show times. It is also available for download at NowtheFilm.com. Featuring interviews with Kevin Spacey, Sam Mendes, Gemma Jones, Simon Lee Phillips and Maureen Anderman. Directed by Jeremy Whelehan. Not rated.

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “NOW: In the Wings on a World Stage”

Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey as Richard III in ‘NOW: In the Wings on a World Stage’
Photo credit: Tribeca Film

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “NOW: In the Wings on a World Stage”

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