| Product: |
Educating Rita (DVD) |
| Date: |
05/08/03 (3375 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Good acting, Good script
Disadvantages: None
Hollywood is known for its brilliant filmmaking. It is true; most of the time Hollywood make a top-notch movie that's fun and exciting. But, sometimes there's a British film that's touching and funny. One that is much better than those in Hollywood.
Willy Russell, also writer of Shirley Valentine, is absolute talent. It's confirmed here that he is, as he was the writer of Educating Rita - a popular comedy-drama British film, with two of Britain's best actors.
Those actors being Julie Walters, putting on a Liverpudlian accent, and Michael Cain. The chemistry between the two is electric, and that brilliance adds to the genius of the film.
The film has depth and feeling, just like a book has, and rather than being boring shit, it's fun and it's entertaining. It's movie genius, and a lesson to everyone.
**Cast and Other Info**
Rita - Julie Walters
Dr Frank Bryant - Michael Cain
Director - Lewis Gilbert
Screenplay by - Willy Russell
Running Time - 110 minutes
Certificate - 15
**The Plot**
Rita is a hairdresser. Her husband wants to have a baby. Her Mum and Dad want her to have a baby. But Rita doesn't want a baby. Rita wants a "life". Rita wants to "find herself" first. So, she books to study literature at 26 in an open university with Dr Frank Bryant.
Immediately at the beginning Rita makes us laugh with he slightest of things she's doing. For instance, two minutes into the film when Frank tells her to come in after she knocks, she tries to, but can't open the door!
Rita comes across dumb at first. The dumb-blonde-hairdresser who comes from Liverpool. It's such an easy label to put on someone like her, but immediately you realise she's not so thick as she looks.
She begins work with Frank having to write essays after essays for him, and at the beginni
ng, she's awful at it, writing on six words and one line for a whole essay. It's easy to say she hasn't got a clue. But, that's the thing. She wants to learn.
Rita isn't really happy at home. Her husband is still pressing on her to have a baby, but she doesn't/t want one. Oblivious to him, she's still taking the pill, but when he finds it, hell breaks loose, and it's the start of the breaking down of their marriage.
Rita continues her education with Frank and after a while they become close friends. Friends who can tell each other everything and enjoy each other's company. Best Friends.
**Performances**
On both fronts the acting in this film is what made it so magical. The chemistry between Walters and Cain is electric. They are the characters, and they convince you that they are they!
Both Cain and Walters an award for their outstanding performance in the film, in the BAFTA's in 1983. The film also won Best Film, and it certainly deserved it!
Educating Rita is a comedy-drama, and you have as much laughs as you do enjoyment. Walters is her usual comical self, and even Cain can be funny in parts of the film.
That's what entertains me. A comedy-drama with a story, but one that can makes you laugh but also cry and appreciate. That's what it is, because Walters plays the determined Rita so well, that for many yeas after watching the film, I associated Walters with Rita!
That, ion my opinion, shows good acting. When you remember the person's role in another film whilst watching them in one film. It shows that they've left something in your brain telling you that the actor was outstanding.
Cain doesn't have to do much in the film. He's the drunken teacher who forever feels sorry for himself, but there's something more to him than meets they eye. We never find out what this is, but Cain tells us this merely through acting
, and no words.
The two together is brilliant. Cocky, facetious, funny Walters and drunk, deep, intelligent Cain. When you mix them together they make Educating Rita a proper film.
**My Opinion**
What I have often found with some popular films that are entered into the BAFTAs and the OSCARs is that most of the time it's not a good film, but because the actors are well known it's assumed to be good.
That's not the case with Educating Rita at all. The story is so magical, an set over a space of three-years it's part of someone's life. It's a part of Rita's life when it's changing.
I think Willy Russell wrote Rita wonderfully. First meeting Frank, she tells him that her name is Rita. He asks why the initial of her first name begins with S, and she answers:
"Oh yeah, Susan. My real names Susan, but I've changed it. To Rita."
That sentence in my opinion tells us so much about Rita from the start. It tells us that Rita isn't happy with herself. She thinks Rita is a nice clever name. Susan is silly. Susan isn't intelligent, but Rita is. Rita is who she wants to be.
Rita is unhappy with who she is. We don't know what happened to her in school, but for some reason she didn't further her education. And now she's unhappy and wants to do something about it.
Frank is a rather depressing character to watch. He's such an unhappy man, and also with him, Russell writes him wonderfully. Also telling us things, but only when we look deep into the conversation.
From the moment Rita walks into that door she admires Frank so much. She admires him for being so intelligent and for being who he is. But, Frank admires Rita. He admires her for going out there and getting a job. For being herself.
The two are very fond of each other, but there is no romance. Yes, there is love there, but the love is not love for marriage, it is
love friendship. It is better than romantic love, and so real.
Educating Rita is a film everyone should see that isn't only clever but so interesting. Like Shirley Valentine it's about a woman who's just fed up, and in many ways it's like it.
Like Shirley, Rita's story is set over many years and carries on. We get to see how life changes for better, and we really like and think Shirley and Rita are both lovely people.
Educating Rita doesn't have a bad scene in it, and this is what films are supposed to like. Films are supposed to be entertaining and have an actual story. Educating Rita is one of the classics that shall always be remembered in my heart.
**Where Can I Buy Educating Rita?**
From Amazon you can buy the DVD for £9,99 and the VHS for £5,99. These or both good deals, because chances being you'll want to see the film more than once. And, if you're intrigued, you can buy the screenplay for £6,50. A must!
**Final Thoughts**
Educating Rita is a film everyone should watch, especially if you have dreams. The dreams will then grow, and maybe Rita will persuade you to do something about it. An excellent movie.
Written By: Matt Roberts.
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