Shooting Fish (1997)

Two con artists' plan to steal enough for a house are twisted when a pretty girl enters the picture.

Director:

Stefan Schwartz

Writers:

Stefan Schwartz, Richard Holmes

Stars:

Dan Futterman, Stuart Townsend, Kate Beckinsale

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rowena Cooper	...	Jez's Teacher
Scott Charles	...	Samuel
Antonia Corrigan	...	Antonia
Myles Anderson	...	Jez - Age 8
Jane Lapotaire	...	Dylan's Headmistress
Harry Ditson	...	IRS Man
Jacob Macoby	...	Dylan - Age 8
Dan Futterman	...	Dylan
Tom Chadbon	...	Mr. Greenaway
Kate Beckinsale	...	Georgie
Stuart Townsend	...	Jez
Phyllis Logan	...	Mrs. Ross
Vicki Bensted	...	Bank Clerk
Peter McNamara	...	Geoff
Ralph Ineson	...	Mr. Ray

Storyline

Dylan and Jez are con artists, Dylan is a charming American who's run from some characters in the states and Jez is an English techno nerd. During one of their scams selling a voice recognition computer they hire Georgie as a secretary for the job. The romantic triangle between Dylan, Jez and Georgie appears, but she is also not a secretary, but a student, and her marriage with rich Roger is upcoming.

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Plot Keywords:

secretary | money | con artist | scam | orphan | 

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Taglines:

As con artists they were hard to beat. But they were easy targets for LOVE.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements, suggestive humor and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

To research their roles as conmen, both Stuart Townsend and Dan Futterman spent time flogging perfume from a suitcase in London's busiest shopping area, Oxford Street.

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Goofs

In the first shot of Dylan and Jez's place, there are clocks on the walls. The clock for New York says 12 o'clock. In the next scene, the clock for Frankfurt also says 12 o'clock. In fact, all their clocks are stopped at 12 o'clock.

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Quotes

Friend of Lady Georgina: Well done! Marvellous race, Lady Georgina.
Georgie: Oh thank you. Oh, I forgot to mention that.
Jez: *Lady* Georgina?
Georgie: You're not cross, are you? No, you're pleased.
Dylan: Doctor, peer of the realm and with secretarial skills? Who'd be cross?

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Crazy Credits

The three blow-up dolls are listed among the cast in the closing credits as Frankie, Sally and Angie.

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Alternate Versions

Amongst many short missing shots throughout the film, three noticeable scenes are not in some versions:

• While getting back his computer and planting the loft insulation, Jez stops the video recorder taping 'Blind Date' and sets it to tape a documentary.
• Immediately after leaving her wedding, Georgie is being driven by her sister to see Jez and complaining about everything wrong with her life including the fact she's "fallen for a scientist".
• While Jez and Dylan hide in the underground safe, they hear their house being destroyed by several of the middle-class men from the loft insulation scam, who shout about the good things of Britain.

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Connections

Referenced in The Adam and Joe Show: Episode #2.2 (1997)

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Soundtracks

Golden Skin
Written & Performed by Silversun

User Reviews

Charming

If this quirky British comedy could be summed up in a word, that word would be "charming".

The story is a simple, low-budget British one: two orphans scam as many people as they can for as much money as they can in an effort to buy the stately home they always dreamed of as children.

Everything is going swimmingly, until they join forces with a typist, Georgie (the perfect Kate Beckinsale), and the plot leads on from there...

The acting is perfect for the film, neither overstated nor low key, and suits the plot and style very well. The direction is quirky, but makes no new ground, and also fits the script to a tee.

This film would be great viewing for a date (perhaps not for a lads night in), and has the simple comedy you might expect from such classic British TV series as "Only Fools and Horses", or "Last of the Summer Wine".

It doesn't require much brain power, but is one of the best homegrown (British) comedies of recent(ish) years.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 May 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Atirando em Peixes

Filming Locations:

Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham, Dorking, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$56,240, 3 May 1998

Gross USA:

$375,261

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$375,261

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gruber Bros, Tomboy Films, Winchester Multimedia PLC

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min 99 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1