Working on a production of Richard III, Al Pacino tries to draw a bead on the play's potencies of power, revenge, and moral bankruptcy. He talks with theater directors, producers, academics, and actors about the challenges and pitfalls of putting the Bard's work on film. The most poignant commentaries are by John Gielgud, Vanesssa Redgrave, and Kenneth Branagh. Pacino even interviews people on the streets of New York about Shakespeare. Then he stages some of the scenes from the play with Winona Ryder as Lady Anne, Alec Baldwin as Clarence, Aidan Quinn as Richmond, Kevin Spacy as Buckingham, and Estelle Parsons as Queen Margaret. Pacino is in top form as the nefarious Richard III and as a serious student of Shakespeare.