British filmmakers have always had a good line in films where chaps break off what they are doing, usually the ardent pursuit of the opposite sex, and talk directly to the camera.
Michael Caine in "Alfie" started it, or was it Shakespeare? Anyway as far as films go, Barry Evans used the technique next in "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush", and Dexter Fletcher as Charles Highway gave it another go in this film.
It's an arresting technique breaking the fourth wall. "Alfie" was brilliant while "Mulberry Bush" was hard work saved only by Judy Geeson. "The Rachel Papers" is definitely a notch above that.
Speaking directly to us invites us in like a good friend needing a few pointers.
While cramming to get into Oxford, young Charles spots American Rachel Noyce (Ione Skye). Although Rachel is about the same age, normally she would be way out of Charles' league. She's the most beautiful girl in the room and popular. As is the way of such things, she also has a much older American boyfriend, DeForest (James Spader). I love the way DeForest is so confident in his relationship with Rachel that he is condescending towards Charles, letting him hang around.
Charles, who shares a complicated homelife with his sister and brother in law, begins a plan to win Rachel over that makes the plans of the Dam Busters seem haphazard.
It's fascinating looking back at this movie as Plan Rachel takes shape on Charles' early Commodore computer.
Every now and then, Charles looks us in the eye and takes us into his confidence. To be honest Chas is a charmless lad, conniving, relentless, but arresting looking in a Mick Jagger kind of way. Charles' strength though is in his massive reserves of Chutzpa.
I know this movie doesn't have a high rating critically, but it's quite funny and actually keenly observed, especially when Charles actually gets Rachel to fall for him, then goes off her. He needed a smack obviously, but the ending is bitter sweet.
I think "The Rachel Papers" is slickly made and worth double the ratings it seemed to get. We may not love Charles, but the way he gets to where he should never have been is amusing and different.
Michael Caine in "Alfie" started it, or was it Shakespeare? Anyway as far as films go, Barry Evans used the technique next in "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush", and Dexter Fletcher as Charles Highway gave it another go in this film.
It's an arresting technique breaking the fourth wall. "Alfie" was brilliant while "Mulberry Bush" was hard work saved only by Judy Geeson. "The Rachel Papers" is definitely a notch above that.
Speaking directly to us invites us in like a good friend needing a few pointers.
While cramming to get into Oxford, young Charles spots American Rachel Noyce (Ione Skye). Although Rachel is about the same age, normally she would be way out of Charles' league. She's the most beautiful girl in the room and popular. As is the way of such things, she also has a much older American boyfriend, DeForest (James Spader). I love the way DeForest is so confident in his relationship with Rachel that he is condescending towards Charles, letting him hang around.
Charles, who shares a complicated homelife with his sister and brother in law, begins a plan to win Rachel over that makes the plans of the Dam Busters seem haphazard.
It's fascinating looking back at this movie as Plan Rachel takes shape on Charles' early Commodore computer.
Every now and then, Charles looks us in the eye and takes us into his confidence. To be honest Chas is a charmless lad, conniving, relentless, but arresting looking in a Mick Jagger kind of way. Charles' strength though is in his massive reserves of Chutzpa.
I know this movie doesn't have a high rating critically, but it's quite funny and actually keenly observed, especially when Charles actually gets Rachel to fall for him, then goes off her. He needed a smack obviously, but the ending is bitter sweet.
I think "The Rachel Papers" is slickly made and worth double the ratings it seemed to get. We may not love Charles, but the way he gets to where he should never have been is amusing and different.