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Shooting Fish

84 votes

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

Status: Released

Released Date: 1997-08-22

Runtime: 109 mins

Director: Stefan Schwartz

Writer: Stefan Schwartz, Richard Holmes

Spoken language: English

Genres: Crime, Comedy, Romance

Original title: Shooting Fish

Production Companies: National Lottery, Tomboy Films, Gruber Bros., Winchester Multimedia PLC, Arts Council of England

Production Countries: United Kingdom

Cast

Dan Futterman

Stuart Townsend

Kate Beckinsale

Rowena Cooper

Scott Charles

Antonia Corrigan

Myles Anderson

Jane Lapotaire

Harry Ditson

Jacob Macoby

Tom Chadbon

Phyllis Logan

Vicki Bensted

Peter McNamara

Reviews

Geronimo1967

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 These are all to be withdrawn before the boys are set free.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.

2025-12-20

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