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 | |
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Nicola Kimber | ... | Vanessa Reynolds |
Shirley Anne Field | ... | Mrs. Seth Smith | |
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Pat Keen | ... | Mrs. Tauber |
Amanda De Cadenet | ... | Cathy | |
Gina McKee | ... | Evonne |
Charles Highway (Dexter Fletcher) is in control of his life; he is about to finish sixth form college and start at Oxford. He is nineteen and wants an "older" woman before he turns twenty. Enter the beautiful Rachel Noyce (Ione Skye), and Charles puts his 'master-of-seduction' routines into top gear. Things however get complicated, Charles has a string of exes and a weird brother-in-law. Rachel has a boyfriend named Deforest (James Spader), and Charles' father has a mistress. Written by Matthew Stanfield <mattst@cogs.susx.ac.uk>
This one was an odd, passionate and snappy one, and it's very much more than just a basic teenage love comedy, but it does feel a like a British take on 'Ferris Bueller'. Based on Martin Amis' best seller of the same title, 'The Rachel Papers' is a sensually breezy and topically substantial film adaptation that's poetically told (with plenty of rapid narrative talk to the audience, following the mature progression of our protagonist and cementing a realistic affection between Fletcher and Skye's characters), sharply directed by Damian Harris and terrifically performed by the charmingly gawky Dexter Fletcher, the ravishingly delightful Ione Skye (where she seductively entices the viewer with her beauty) and the scruffy, but useful Jonathan Pryce (who pretty much steals the limelight and well-timed laughs). Also appearing is James Spader, but the role doesn't instill much from him to make an impression. The soundtrack is potent with the time, but the score blends well the drama going on and it's smoothly photographed. A sexy contemporary, but heartfelt feature.