IMDb >
The Rachel Papers (1989)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Rachel Papers (1989) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos (see all 2) |
|
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
12 May 1989 (USA)
more
Tagline:
She's curious, he's nervous.
Plot:
Charles is in control of his life; he is about to finish 6th from college and start at Oxford. He is 19 and wants an 'older' woman before he turns 20...
more
| add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 win
more
NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Martin Amis slams 'silicone' Katie Price
(From digitalspy. 28 October 2009, 8:44 AM, PDT)
Indie Film Focus: "Gardens of the Night" - Official Trailer!
(From Movie Jungle. 22 October 2008, 8:41 AM, PDT)
(From digitalspy. 28 October 2009, 8:44 AM, PDT)
Indie Film Focus: "Gardens of the Night" - Official Trailer!
(From Movie Jungle. 22 October 2008, 8:41 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Not absolutely horrible, but certainly not absolutely brilliant. Disappointing film
more (20 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Dexter Fletcher | ... | Charles Highway |
 | Ione Skye | ... | Rachel Noyce |
 | Jonathan Pryce | ... | Norman |
 | James Spader | ... | Deforest |
 | Bill Paterson | ... | Gordon Highway |
 | Michael Gambon | ... | Doctor Knowd |
| Lesley Sharp | ... | Jenny |
 | Jared Harris | ... | Geoff |
 | Aubrey Morris | ... | Sir Herbert |
| Claire Skinner | ... | Gloria |
| Nicola Kimber | ... | Vanessa Reynolds |
| Shirley Anne Field | ... | Mrs. Seth Smith |
| Pat Keen | ... | Mrs. Tauber |
 | Amanda De Cadenet | ... | Cathy |
| Gina McKee | ... | Evonne |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
95 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The computer used by Dexter Fletcher throughout the film is a Commodore Amiga A500, a US-made computer that didn't do very well in the US, but was very popular in Europe.
more
Quotes:
Charles Highway:
The best first impressions are the ones that are misleading. I mean, you can be whoever you want and whoever they want you to be.
more
Soundtrack:
THIS GUY'S IN LOVE WITH YOU
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (20 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Rachel Papers (1989)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Movie Soundtrack | MidnightWriter |
| Song at Disco? | jcwla |
| Wow no chatter at all for this movie | TabareVazquez |
| Dexter Fletcher was a square in this movie | Arcticexplora |
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Cousin Bette | Lolita | The Graduate | XX/XY | Nineteen Eighty-Four |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb UK section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |
A-ha, a guide to the do's and don'ts of dating on the big screen.
I've always liked Martin Amis' works, and 1974's The Rachel Papers was his first novel, and still one of his best. Despite the fact that this 1989 film adaptation has now become something of a cult classic in the UK, however, I doubt Amis would have approved of it had it been laid before him prior to it's release.
There's a host of famous faces in this film, including Dexter Fletcher, Bill Patterson (albeit briefly), James Spader, Michael Gambon (in cameo) and Jonathan Pryce. Why they chose ex-Gamesmaster host from the post-Dominik Diamond days Dexter Fletcher (also known for his roles in Press Gang, Bugsy Malone and Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels) as the cocky, arrogant, obnoxious, precocious, phenomenally intelligent and highly sexed-up Charles Highway I'll never know, as he is simply too self-conscious for the part. Ione Skye, equally, made a none-too-good job out of what was, in fairness, the very difficult task of playing the seductive Rachel Noyce. That said, few male viewers would object to the chance of seeing the attractive Skye naked in any film, while Fletcher's charm, wit, and posturing do show sporadically, but not often enough. Dexter Fletcher (or Dexter Dipsh*t as 'Godspeed You Black Emperor' rather unkindly calls him) has had a lot of bad press over the years, but he is actually a far better actor than many people give him credit for, but he simply wasn't suited for the lovable rogue he aspired to be in 'The Rachel Papers' - Matthew Broderick or Gordon John-Sinclair would have been a better choice for the part.
The acting is not totally without merit; Jonathan Pryce is absolutely hilarious in his portrayal of Charles' lunatic brother-in-law Norman and revels in the role, while (the then-unknown) Jared Harris is excellent as Charles' best mate - and mentor/big brother figure - Geoff, but the rest of the cast simply look uninspired. Bill Patterson, Michael Gambon and James Spader are, unquestionably, all very talented actors (although Patterson and - in particular - Spader were both very poor in this film) - why weren't they utilised more?
The film does boast some very typically 80s music and visuals (a la "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", "WarGames", "Back To The Future", "The Breakfast Club", "Gregory's Girl" etc.), which are a godsend for anyone who likes their retro 80s backdrops. Despite what 'Godspeed You Black Emperor' says, the fact that a film displays seemingly incessant 80s music and backdrops is not necessarily a bad thing in itself; after all, the film came out in 1989 and was aimed aimed at a contemporary teen audience, so just what was he expecting - that it would be set in the 1800s or something?!
The opening titles give more than a nod towards those featured in the first "Back To The Future" film, but there is some cool incidental music, plus the soundtrack boasts Willy DeVille's lovely tear-jerker "Assassin Of Love", the seductive "Electric Moon" and the sassy "You Made Me", both by Shakespeare's Sister, and Jools Holland's catchy "We're Through", which plays as the closing credits roll.
All in all, however, this film fails to recapture the spirit of Martin Amis' original novel. In summary - quite good in parts, and a noble effort to bring Martin Amis' finest work to the big screen, but falls too much into mediocrity overall.
It's nowhere near as catastrophic as 'Godspeed You Black Emperor's very harsh review makes it out to be (bearing in mind that he described it as an "embarassing train-wreck of a movie" despite then going on to admit to not having watched the whole film, which to my mind makes his comments count for very little), but there's no way it will ever be held in the same high regard as any of the other classic 80s films I've name-checked in this review.
As an aside - Notably, Dexter Fletcher took an enormous amount of criticism for trying to copy Matthew Broderick's style of monologuing to the camera in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". However, in his defence, the original novel was told from the point of view of a narrator describing physical as well as emotional experiences in a format not unlike a diary, therefore it is difficult to think of any other way that he could possibly have played Charles Highway. In this respect, the Bueller-isms could have been (and quite possibly were) accidental and unintentional. Aside from the monologuing and the fact that both films have a scene set in a gallery, "The Rachel Papers" is otherwise not even remotely similar to "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", although Fletcher's skill on a computer does evoke memories of a another Matthew Broderick film ("WarGames").