SHOOTING FISH (1997) **
Starring: Dan Futterman, Stuart Townsend, Kate Beckinsale, Nickolas Grace, Claire Cox, Ralph Ineson Director: Stefan Schwartz running time: approximately 100 minutes Rated PG (for mild language, thematic elements and some sexual suggestions)
By Blake French:
It is never a good sign when a movie's title has nothing to do with the movie itself. I still have no clue of why this film is called "Shooting Fish." No, it isn't about hunters, fisherman, or people that shoot fish, but about two con men who have a hard time dealing with stolen money, romantic relationships, and their friendships.
The film stars Dan Futterman and Stuart Townsend as the con men, Dylan and Jez. They used to be orphans who have had dreams of building a mansion of their own for years. But where are they going to get the money? They start out with a business fraud in which they convince high stakes corporate owners that they have a talking, digital computer system when actually it is a regular machine with a microphone built into it and a friend from the other room gabbing away.
Then Dylan and Jez go to false instillation where they walk up to a random house and tell the pedestrian that their spouse has told them
The film then takes a rapid, conventional turn for the best and concludes with a sappy ending in which everything turns cheerful and all of the characters live happily ever after. It does realize the emotional aspect of the characters, but so many movies today end with such beatitude instead of being gutsy and feverish. There are exceptions, ("Arlington Road"), and "Shooting Fish" is not one of them.
The production has a cute and interesting premise, but it doesn't get anywhere with it. It is "Robin Hood" territory in many ways, but that doesn't mean the concept can't work again. The cleaver ideas are dragged on way too long, and to much of the film rely on them. There are a few funny scenes. The characters do have a charming chemistry together. And what better to do than investigate personal and work life of appealing characters. At least the director gets that much right.
Most of "Shooting Fish" does not have a whole lot of a structure to it. It was kind of all over the game board at random points in the script. Thus, the overall production was hard for me to understand...and I study film, and screen over 100 movies each year.
About half way though "Shooting Fish," the story let go of my interest and I began to day dream about what I needed at the grocery store, what movie I was going to screen next, what review will I post next etc...I wanted a break from all the hustle bustle the characters created for themselves. To generalize the failure of Stefan Schwartz's comedy-drama, I'd have to say that "Shooting Fish" lacks a dramatic purpose. The scenes only exist, never actually concluding any kind of an impact to the audience. They don't have inspiration or meaning to them and I don't recommend the film.
Starring: Dan Futterman, Stuart Townsend, Kate Beckinsale, Nickolas Grace, Claire Cox, Ralph Ineson Director: Stefan Schwartz running time: approximately 100 minutes Rated PG (for mild language, thematic elements and some sexual suggestions)
By Blake French:
It is never a good sign when a movie's title has nothing to do with the movie itself. I still have no clue of why this film is called "Shooting Fish." No, it isn't about hunters, fisherman, or people that shoot fish, but about two con men who have a hard time dealing with stolen money, romantic relationships, and their friendships.
The film stars Dan Futterman and Stuart Townsend as the con men, Dylan and Jez. They used to be orphans who have had dreams of building a mansion of their own for years. But where are they going to get the money? They start out with a business fraud in which they convince high stakes corporate owners that they have a talking, digital computer system when actually it is a regular machine with a microphone built into it and a friend from the other room gabbing away.
Then Dylan and Jez go to false instillation where they walk up to a random house and tell the pedestrian that their spouse has told them
The film then takes a rapid, conventional turn for the best and concludes with a sappy ending in which everything turns cheerful and all of the characters live happily ever after. It does realize the emotional aspect of the characters, but so many movies today end with such beatitude instead of being gutsy and feverish. There are exceptions, ("Arlington Road"), and "Shooting Fish" is not one of them.
The production has a cute and interesting premise, but it doesn't get anywhere with it. It is "Robin Hood" territory in many ways, but that doesn't mean the concept can't work again. The cleaver ideas are dragged on way too long, and to much of the film rely on them. There are a few funny scenes. The characters do have a charming chemistry together. And what better to do than investigate personal and work life of appealing characters. At least the director gets that much right.
Most of "Shooting Fish" does not have a whole lot of a structure to it. It was kind of all over the game board at random points in the script. Thus, the overall production was hard for me to understand...and I study film, and screen over 100 movies each year.
About half way though "Shooting Fish," the story let go of my interest and I began to day dream about what I needed at the grocery store, what movie I was going to screen next, what review will I post next etc...I wanted a break from all the hustle bustle the characters created for themselves. To generalize the failure of Stefan Schwartz's comedy-drama, I'd have to say that "Shooting Fish" lacks a dramatic purpose. The scenes only exist, never actually concluding any kind of an impact to the audience. They don't have inspiration or meaning to them and I don't recommend the film.