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Shooting Fish

Shooting Fish

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Another great Kate Beckinsale performance in very funny film
Review: I won't try to detail the plot of this movie because that might spoil it. I'll just say that it has enough surprises and turns to work. But what makes this movie shine is the characters, especially Georgie played to perfection by Kate Beckinsale. By now it's getting difficult to praise Ms. Beckinsale's performances without repeating myself because she is always so excellent in every role. Her Georgie is wonderful and she hits every note exactly. Her character is the central point of a three part comedy about con men and love. I know it may sound strange but you must see this movie. Very funny! Hilarious! This is the kind of film the English can do so well and I hope they keep sending them to us. Especially with Kate Beckinsale in them. We don't see enough of her on this side of the Atlantic. Buy this DVD and enjoy a great comedy (in widescreen!) that you can share with your friends. They'll thank you.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: average.
Review: I've seen worse, and I've seen better.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "It's Self Self Self with some people!"
Review: Like frothy, feathery British Comedies? Don't let this little-known gem pass you by. Dan Futterman and Stuart Townsend play Dylan and Jez respectively; two con men who rob from the rich to house the orphans (and they're the orphans). Kate Beckinsdale (not nearly as annoying as usual) plays a med-school student who is unwittingly sucked into their scheme (they need a typist for one of their more inventive cons) but who promptly begins nudging them toward the straight and narrow. Well, almost. As my Dad used to say "If it's for good cause, who cares if it's illegal!", and Dylan and Jez pretty much live by that thought. However, what goes around comes around, and all things catch up with you eventually....
With a smart and funny script, good acting (especially by Futterman) and just plain sweetness , this film charms and pleases for the length of it's hour and a half. Don't hesitate to buy a copy and save it for a rainy day, or when you're just feeling blue. It's sure to cheer you up, and you might just come away with a new appreciation for Burt Bacarach. Anyone know the way to San Jose?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A good pick-me up when your down movie!
Review: Shooting fish doesnt have the funniest jokes, or the deepest plot. But something about it is indescribable. Its the little mischeivious plots that the con-orphans go through that makes the movie so humorous. Its not really a romantic-comedy or any type classification that I know of, but if your looking for a good all around movie just for fun, Shooting Fish is great!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: VERY ENJOYABLE
Review: SHOOTING FISH is one of the most smartly done films I have ever seen.The only bad note was that Stuart Townsend(RESURRECTION MAN)could have been better but the rest is top notch.Miss it at your peril!!!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A Pleasant Evening's Entertainment
Review: Take a couple of con men who see an opportunity to separate a mark from his money in just about everything, throw in an attractive young woman with an altruistic agenda, blend together for about ninety-three minutes and the result is "Shooting Fish," an amiable, entertaining comedy, directed by Stefan Schwartz. It's the story of two guys who grew up in orphanages on opposite sides of the ocean, Dylan (Dan Futterman) in America, Jez (Stuart Townsend) in England; and who, by the time they had reached the age of consent, had each been endowed with a particular talent: Dylan has the gift of gab, Jez is a technical wizard. Dylan's gift has quickly gotten him into hot water with the wrong kind of people, however, and to stay healthy (read: "Alive") he flees to England, where he meets Jez. And it's a friendship/partnership born in scam/scheme heaven. If there's a way to make a fast buck, they know it-- from selling bogus computers, to selling insulation for homes that's never installed, to entering any and every contest that comes down the pike. If there's a nickel in it, they're in.

Then one day they hire a girl from the temp pool to help them out with one of their scams. Georgie (Kate Beckinsale) is beautiful, smart, and has a cause she's trying to fund, so she needs the job; but from day one she's on to what Dylan and Jez are trying to pull. She stays on board, however, when Dylan convinces her that they are something like modern day Robin Hoods-- that the money they're "raising" is going to orphans. What he doesn't tell her is that the "orphans" he's referring to is them. And Dylan is a born salesman-- not to mention the fact that he's a real charmer-- and the three of them become a real team.

Schwartz delivers a film that is in no way exceptional nor particularly memorable, but it is entertaining. It's exactly what it promises to be: a diverting hour and a half or so that provides some laughs and a good time. It's pleasant fare that's inoffensive and features some engaging performances and a story that will keep you involved. There are a couple of scenes, in fact, that are downright hilarious. And Schwartz has good timing and sets a pace that keeps it all moving right along, which, when you add it all up, makes for a satisfying, enjoyable experience.

Futterman has a winning personality and a resonant, mesmerizing voice that fits his character perfectly. Dylan is the salesman you hope you'll never meet, because if you do, chances are you'll walk away with the deed to the bridge. He's a likable heel, convincingly brought to life by Futterman (who is probably best known for his role of Vincent Gray in the "Judging Amy" TV series). It's a good performance, and one of the strengths of the film.

As Jez, Townsend does a fine job, too, and though he's overshadowed a bit by Dylan-- intentionally the flashier of the two-- Jez is the one who secures the sympathy of the audience. After all, this is the guy who at least seems a bit remorseful as he's taking other people's money and trust. And it's interesting to compare Townsend's fairly reserved performance here with his role of the vampire Lestat in the more recent "Queen of the Damned." He's a fine young actor whose style contrasts nicely with Futterman, and along with Beckinsale they make quite the team of scam artists.

The one who draws the attention, however, is the lovely and charismatic Kate Beckinsale, who is beguiling in the role of Georgie. She makes her character accessible, and plays her with a savvy, rather than naive sensibility, and it's a portrayal that works well. Most importantly, she makes Georgie real, with a winsome appeal that makes you care about her and what happens to her. She's the most grounded of the trio, and it's her character that keeps the story within the realm of credibility. This may not be the stuff Oscars are made of, but it's an enjoyable, engaging performance that will win you over, without question.

The supporting cast includes Rowena Cooper (Jez's Teacher), Myles Anderson (Jez, aged 8), Jacob Macoby (Dylan, aged 8), Jane Lapotaire (Dylan's Headmistress), Tom Chadbon (Mr. Greenaway), Phyllis Logan (Mrs. Ross), Peter McNamara (Geoff), Arabella Weir (Mrs. Stratton-Luce), Nickolas Grace (Mr. Stratton-Luce) and Claire Cox (Floss). An easy-going comedy with enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes, "Shooting Fish" is a solid, feel good film that will put a smile on your face and provide a pleasant evening's entertainment. And in the final analysis, that's not such a bad deal; and it's all a part of the magic of the movies.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A ruddy-fantastic British comedy!!
Review: This film is a top example of why the British Film Industry is really taking off. Clever, witty, exciting, very amusing with a lovely twist in the tale - a must for all comedy fans!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Very funny and imaginative
Review: This film is very funny and imaginative. The wide range of scams used by the two con men, ranging from simple to high tech related, showed great imagination by the creators. I'm looking forward to see what the creators come up with next. The casting is also excellent.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: highly enjoyable
Review: this film was very enertaining as it was very funny,romantic and had a good storyline.Even with a small british budget the film looks good as all three main actors futterman,townshend and beckinsale were all excellent.I highly recommend this as an enjoyable 2 hours

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Witty, though morally questionable Brit-pic
Review: This is a very amusing comedy telling the tale of a couple of innovative conmen and their novel ways of scamming people out of money. It joins 'Shallow Grave' and 'Trainspotting' as one of the slew of British comedy-dramas of the mid to late 1990s that were great, original entertainment, but whose moral basis raises an eyebrow. In this particular offering, the crooks' greed and selfishness give way to a turn of events that ends up with a more 'Robin Hood' edge to it: steal from the rich to give to the poor etc. As with the other two pictures, there is a strong sense of identification with the main characters' attempts to make their fortune by robbery, deception, and trickery at other people's expense. Isn't it a sign of the times that we can watch a 'feel-good' movie that makes us 'feel good' about deception and falsehood, especially when it is motivated by greed and self-interest?

Still, it is a riveting movie with twists galore. There are a few scenes of laugh-out-loud hilarity, yet it is also a very subtle, refreshing type of comedy.


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