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Shooting Fish

Shooting Fish

  • Status: Released
  • 22-08-1997
  • Runtime: 109 min
  • Score: 6.3
  • Vote count: 84

Two con artists hire an unwitting medical-school student as a secretary for their latest scam.

Dan Futterman

Dylan

Stuart Townsend

Jez

Kate Beckinsale

Georgie

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, aged 8

Tom Chadbon

Mr Greenaway

Phyllis Logan

Mrs Ross

Vicki Bensted

Bank Clerk

Peter McNamara

Geoff

Ralph Ineson

Mr Ray

Nicola Duffett

Mrs Ray

Larry Randall

Golfer 1

Neil Peplow

Golfer 2

Claire Cox

Floss

Arabella Weir

Mrs Stratton-Luce

Nickolas Grace

Mr Stratton-Luce

Annette Crosbie

Mrs Cummins

Peter Capaldi

Mr Gilzean

Dominic Mafham

Roger

Nicholas Woodeson

Mr Collyns

Louis Mahoney

Magistrate

John Clegg

Vicar

Adam Fogerty

Bruiser

Ronald Markham

Crematorium Vicar

Geoffrey Whitehead

Horse Owner

Tim Stern

Panfield, Jockey

Richard Graydon

Horse Trainer

Paul Williamson

Weighing in Official

Linda Spurrier

The Hon. Mrs Wescot

Ahmed Khalil

Prince Ahmed

Barry Woolgar

Friend of Lady Georgina

David Glover

Prison Governor

Catherine Russell

Crematorium Cleaning Lady

CinemaSerf

From opposite sides of the Pond, but with a similarly parent-free upbringing, “Jez” (Stuart Townsend) and “Dylan” (Dan Futterman) have crafted themselves quite a nifty little grifting business. The former is a bit of a tech whizz, the latter could sell sand in the desert and together, from their home in a disused London gasometer, they have a target of raising £2 millions so they can buy a stately home - the kind the poverty-stricken “Dylan” dreamt of when he was a boy. It’s their latest wheeze that ropes in posh gal "Georgie” (Kate Beckinsale) and leads to two becoming three as their enterprise enters the home straight. Then, though, they fall foul of one of their more savvy marks, end up in jail and discover that Her Majesty is not only going to keep them for three months, but that she’s also fallen out of love with her visage on a £50 note. These are all to be withdrawn before the boys are set free. What to do? Meantime, “Georgie” is about to marry the venal “Roger” (Dominic Mafham) whilst trying to keep her late father’s charitable foundation afloat - a matter particularly close to her heart as her younger brother has Downs Syndrome and lives with his friends in a converted wing of their family home that is now required by the taxman. Now she is as honest as the day is long, but when needs must might she be tempted to help the boys to save their fortune - but on her own terms? It does blow hot and cold a little, especially towards the end, but there’s an engaging chemistry on display here between the two lads and between Townsend and Beckinsale and their antics as they sell sixth generation computer chips, adeptly recycle loft insulation and come up with quite an innovative jockey’s aid all made me smile. The soundtrack, with loads of “Space” and their “Beautiful Neighourhood”, and some quite entertaining writing all made this a film that I really quite enjoyed. A simple story of the urchins that turned.