Deformed
Pacino presents Richard to the audience for the very first time with the use of a slow-motion shot of himself, in full costume, right as we learn about Richard's deformity. The imagery shows that the film is seeking to merge reality with fiction, and gradually bring to life the images in the play. Contemporary New York gets blended into a medieval fantasy, and Al Pacino becomes a crooked and hunchbacked king before our very eyes.
Pacino in a baseball cap
Some of the fun of the film comes from the fact that Pacino is a born-and-bred New Yorker. Classical images of Shakespearean costumes, theaters, and medieval art are interspersed with images of Pacino with a backward baseball cap and sunglasses, holding a cup of coffee. The contrast is compelling because it presents the image of a man who we would not necessarily associate with classical art. This image of Pacino is an image of a strikingly modern man wrestling with unlikely material, seeking to merge his identity with history.
Richard's Shadow
After Clarence is murdered by the men Richard hired, we watch Richard's shadow moving along the wall. The imagery evokes the sense that Richard is a horrible and crafty villain, influencing courtly matters and inserting himself into scenarios with force and cunning.
Battlefield
Pacino shoots the final battle scene in a field, but treats to the film to create a blood red tint to the image. The imagery shows us that all of the murder and treachery he has used to get the crown has led to this moment, in which violence and bloodshed will overtake him and ruin him.
