Pacino: An Actor's Vision (Chinese Coffee / Looking for Richard / The Local Stigmatic) [DVD] DVD – Color, June 19, 2007

I was never a big Pacino fan until I stumbled on the documentary "Looking for Richard" in its limited theatrical release back in 1996. I'd read the play in school and it had affected me enough that I wanted another way to penetrate it, but doubted I'd ever really be able to, not without standing up to my English Major friends, some of whom are now teachers, and admitting "I don't entirely get this". So, walking alone past a small theater, seeing Al Pacino of all people on a poster in contemporary clothing, presuming to offer up a way into this material made me say "why not?"Lo and behold, everything I'd felt about the story of King Richard, and all the doubts about penetrating Shakespeare's dramas turned out to be exactly what this movie is about. If you've had that same attraction to Shakespeare but always felt somewhat at arm's length, then perhaps you'll feel as I did upon seeing Looking for Richard: "Wow...Al Pacino made this movie for me." The opening sequence says it very clearly...Pacino approaches the footlights about to start the play and finds only one person in the audience, William Shakespeare, staring him down with a look that says "You??? You're gonna examine my play?" Pacino's self effacing reaction transfers directly to the viewer..."Yes, me. I'm gonna try. Why not me?"After that, I was along for the ride as Pacino went to great lengths to visit seemingly dozens of actors, many well known and undoubtedly some of your favorites, to talk about their early and often uneasy first experiences with Shakespeare, and through their coming to terms with this one great play, acting out parts of it out informally, sometimes just out on the street with nothing but their common sense of purpose holding it together, Pacino and friends (along with the viewer) begin to get at the root of it in a powerful, personal way. The encounters with academics serve only to help understand the context of the play, a means to understand the complexities of the royal houses and politics, and, that done, are immediately sent to the rear of the class to make way for a more human approach, that of the actors. The music by Howard Shore along with the great pacing and editing brings about the end of this study all too soon, and it's become one of those movies I put on again and again, and I am caught up and moved by it each time. With this release I can now turn over my VHS copy to some of my actor friends and keep the DVD safely in my collection forever.The box set is presented with interstitial conversations between Pacino and one of his Actor's Studio friends, and seems shot all at once for all of the films in this collection. Even so, it holds interest. The film Chinese Coffee with Jerry Orbach was surprisingly layered and very entertaining, deserving of its own review which someone else will have to write. The Local Stigmatic is a bit harder to absorb, but I've only viewed it once to date and it bears further viewing. Babbelonia is a long-form edition of the one-on-one conversations at the Actor's studio, and if you enjoy discussions like these about the actor's craft, you'll find it worthy. Had this release only been "Richard" I'd have rated it as highly and paid as much for it alone.

I must say that I have been following the career of Al Pacino since I was in college back in 2000 and I gotta say that this box set is simply amazing. I had got this as a birthday present from my wife which was really cool because with this addition my Al Pacino collection is nearly complete minus abought 3-4 titles remaining. For almost three decades Pacino has brought us some of the most passionate,rememorble roles with his unique style of acting and while really getting up there in age nowdays he can still bring down the house!If I were to say honestly which of the three dvds did I llike the most in this box set I'd have to say Chinese Coffee was my favorite. I'm not gonna give anything away because the way I am with my Pacino movies is basically if I've never seen them before its okay because if he's in it then I know its gotta be good, simple as that. My other favorite was Looking for Richard which is in this box set as well. This movie is very hard to come by and for the longest was only available on VHS. I remember seeing this in high school in my Shakesphere class and man I was so mesmerized then just as I am now. A great all star cast and a great documentary that not only shows Pacino's passion for acting,but also his love for the King Richard the third play as well. Local Stigmatic which is the last one in the boxset well...My and my wife just didn't get this movie. That doesn't mean its a bad thing or a good thing, we just didn't get this movie. It'll probably take me a while to really understand this movie but overall this is really a great buy if you are a die hard Al Pacino fan so check it out especially since nowdays you can get it for a deal.

I love it when I pay out of print prices for a DVD set and find that two of the discs (Waiting for Richard and Chinese Coffee) freeze halfway through, even though they appear to be pristine. That says lousy manufacturing to me. Beware of this set, even sealed.

I bought this as a gift for a friend. Such great movies that you really don't see broadcasted anywhere on TV. Perfect for any Al Pacino fan

Well, we know he was a bad, bad boy who got what he wanted and then what he deserved. But you'll be in love with the guy after you hear what this great, underrated (for his quality of modesty that few credit him with, and many never notice) of depth, scope, intelligence, this contemplative student of his craft which this genius of an actor reveals about the protagonist of one of the most popular (which many are surprised to discover) of this Shakespearian tragedy. It's a tutorial on character portrayal from one who has done his homework. Yeah, you'll be in love with 'the guy' but not the self-loathing scoundrel with the metaphorical deformity. If you already respect Al Pacino for his remarkable talents, he's 'the 'guy you'll be loving--for the thoughtful insights his examination of this character will bring to your next viewing of 'Richard III".