The Rachel Papers

Rating:
Summary: OK, I admit the real reason I first saw this movie...
Review: ... ten years ago was because I heard from a friend that Ione Skye had a pair of nude scenes in it. However, I found myself completely taken in by the movie...One scene in particular was priceless. Rachel has just climbed into a taxi and closed the door but left open the window. Just as Charles works up the nerve to try to kiss her through the window and leans foreward, the cab pulls away. The look on his face is pitiful. But when you see her smile back, it's just magical...Oh by the way, Ione Skye DOES take off her clothes repeatedly, so guys who normally shun this sort of movie have a valid reason to watch it, too!

Rating:
Summary: Movies never are as good as the books...
Review: A very good movie, not quite up to the standard of the book it is based on (and follows rather closely).

The book was written from the point of view of the main character, but it has two voices. One was Charles Highway's inner meanderings and pronouncements, the other (still by Charles) was the unadorned, unanalysed description of the things that happened to him. And generally there is a glaring difference between the two - they don't match up. In the view of the first voice, Charles is a wise and funny schemer. But the events related in the second voice show him to be inept, unlucky, and chronically unsure of himself. The ending was similarly riven. You can't tell if things ended-up the way they did by choice or design. Perhaps the author didn't know.

So anyway, the movie has to deal with that dichotomy, and it does it by pretty much ignoring the second voice. Charles comes across as boastful and shallow, for the most part, and a lot less likeable. The film also has to drop a lot of his hilarious caustic monolgues, so it's less funny than the book, too. That being said, there's enough left to allow fans of the book to fill in the blanks, and it doesn't attempt to force in a standard Hollywood ending. Plus the three main actors and the supporting cast were very good - Jonathon Pryce as Charles' deranged uncle is so good that it's hard to keep your eyes on Ione Skye in the few scenes they have together.

Rating:
Summary: Skye, Fletcher, Spader, who could ask for anything more
Review: In Skye's only movie worth seeing other than the incredible Say Anything, we see a slightly edgier "romance" than in Say Anything.

Fletcher, who lives with his sister (like in Say Anything) has a crush on the gorgeous intelligent Skye (like her character in Say Anything).

In this film, however, there is another man (Spader). That adds a bit of intrigue to Fletcher's pursuit. Another significant difference is that the relationship is, shall we say consummated, onscreen (thus the R-rating). Notwithstanding the joy of seeing Skye in her most "revealing" role, this film has that kind of British sensibility that makes it an enjoying ride.

However, don't expect the sophistication of Say Anything. Just an entertaining little flick with good dialogue and intriguing relationships.

Rating:
Summary: The Rachel Papers
Review: Perhaps not on par with the novel but more accessible. Although brilliant and highly original, I think Martin Amis' first book contains some obscure passages and insider English schoolboy jokes. Also, the 1970's setting of the book has been replaced by the 1980's in the movie.

Ione Skye and Dexter Fletcher portray the growing relationship between Rachel & Charles rather well. James Spader fills in nicely as DeForest, the rival boyfriend. The college scene with Michael Gambon as Doctor Knowd is particularly humorous.

A good study in adolescence.

Rating:
Summary: The Rachel Papers
Review: Perhaps not on par with the novel but more accessible. Although brilliant and highly original, I think Martin Amis' first book contains some obscure passages and insider English schoolboy jokes. Also, the 1970's setting of the book has been replaced by the 1980's in the movie.

Ione Skye and Dexter Fletcher portray the growing relationship between Rachel & Charles rather well. James Spader fills in nicely as DeForest, the rival boyfriend. The college scene with Michael Gambon as Doctor Knowd is particularly humorous.

A good study in adolescence.

Rating:
Summary: Creepy guy gets lucky.
Review: The Rachel Papers is a showcase film intended to introduce the world to Dexter Fletcher whose obvious appeal is he is Mick Jagger at 16 if Mick Jagger could be sixteen again. The Rachel Papers refers to a computer diary Fletcher's character keeps about his relationships with women. As he is too young to have any relationships of consequence and is trying too hard to be clever and a sophisticated man of the world "the papers" are insipid. If your sister was dating him, you would find him a little creepy. However persistance pays off and in a moment of generosity or lapse of good judgement, Rachel agrees to a date. Rachel is played by the lovely Ione Skye who you will remember from a much better movie, "Say Anything". In a double stroke of good fortune, Rachel likes sex. To quote the film, "For Rachel, sex was Disneyland and I was the ride." This is the only real reason to purchase this film. The two of them go at it in several fairly long scenes. Ione looks absolutely wonderful so if you ever had any fanatasies about her, this is the film for you. You will not be disappointed if that is what you are looking for. I will suffice it to say that this is a boy meets girl, boy loses girl film and I leave it to you to discover how this unravels. Its a downer not because you feel bad he gets dumped but because you feel sorry for her getting hooked up with the guy in the first place. In keeping with the spirit of the film, Ione Skye went on to bigger things more worthy of her charms and Dexter Fletcher sailed on to oblivion. The best way to enjoy this film is to pilot the remote with a heavy thumb on the fast forward button stopping regularly to get a gist of the story 'til the relationship gets going. Then enjoy the film to its inevitable conclusion. Its a poor film but a must see for Ione fans.

Rating:
Summary: Aaaahhh....First Love!
Review: This is a terrific coming of age movie, probably one of the best from the 80's. The main character, Charles Highway, uses his computer to map out his mating strategy. This works very well for him until he meets Rachel and falls in love. Rachel is beautiful, has a boyfriend and is way out of his league, but this doesn't stop Charles. It's fun to watch Charles as he is trying to win Rachel's heart. This is a wonderful bittersweet romance and I would recommend this to anyone who ever loved someone who was just beyond their reach.

Rating:
Summary: Aaaahhh....First Love!
Review: This is a terrific coming of age movie, probably one of the best from the 80's. The main character, Charles Highway, uses his computer to map out his mating strategy. This works very well for him until he meets Rachel and falls in love. Rachel is beautiful, has a boyfriend and is way out of his league, but this doesn't stop Charles. It's fun to watch Charles as he is trying to win Rachel's heart. This is a wonderful bittersweet romance and I would recommend this to anyone who ever loved someone who was just beyond their reach.