Educating Rita

This film is primarily character-oriented, although the script is quite good. As such, the leads must perform well or the film will die. They pull it off admirably. While Michael Caine is marvelous in his role, the part is one he could do in his sleep. Rita is the linch-pin role and Julie Waters carries the film, playing the role exceedingly well. Without a dynamic performance from her, you migh as well turn this into bookmarks. Recommended.

I'm always upset when I start watching a film that seems like it has the potential to be something really special and moving and by the time it's done it leaves me angry. Angry because I hate to see the good in a movie go to waste by the bad. Educating Rita is one of the best examples of this that I can think of in recent memory. I think Educating Rita has very good intentions - it's trying to make us believe that people can change for the better if they really put their minds to it. It's a nice thought, but one that is pounded needlessly into our head for nearly two hours. I like a good triumphant story as much as the next person but it seems like the scenes never cover any different ground than the first two scenes. Much of the dialogue seems like filler - instead of letting us experience these characters each scene feels like it has an agenda to further the story to that final moment that we've been waiting for. This makes Educating Rita sometimes poignant, but often hollow. By the time the film ends, we haven't experienced much. But credit is due where credit is due and that honor goes solely to the performances of Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Their chemistry (when the script isn't feeding them useless dialogue) is wonderful. Sadly though, this isn't enough to evoke much emotion. We only get to be with these characters for one or two scenes are different points in her education and there are so many time lapses that it rushes right by. Which is to say, that I think Educating Rita moves by much too fast! This is a film where I would have loved to spend more time with these characters. Given a better script, I would have been able to sit through another hour with these two people. There is a marvelous scene where Julie Walters runs to Caine's class just because she wanted to tell him that she saw and loved a Shakespeare play and Caine is touched that she told him first. It's one of the few scenes that evoke any emotion and it's a moment so great that the rest of the film doesn't even come close. If only Educating Rita had more honest moments and less filler. ** out of ****

People who have experienced the mid-life crisis will be at home with this movie, as 26 year old hairdresser, Rita (Julie Walters), is pressurised into settling down with boyfriend Denny. Not only is this an un-needed pressure, but her father is plaguing her about when she is going to have children, but all Rita wants to do is find herself and take up something new. Her common touch and wonderful idiosyncrasies bring a breath of fresh air to snotty high class life, but when she goes to Dr. Frank Bryant (Michael Caine) to not only improve her lexicon, but to improve her image she begins a journey of blood and tears. Frank is assigned to tutor her, and from the start their personalities resonate the human touch. Dr. Frank Bryant's marriage has gone down the pan, and his current girlfriend is playing away. On top of this he has hit the bottle and can only get through the day of teaching the young toffs, with a blend of his lecturing skills and the drink. He is jaded, he is tired of the same lecture routines, and he cannot understand why these students want to discuss the finer points of Blake. But Rita is new and fresh, initially Rita doesn't possess the skills required to write analytical essays; but she is different, she is vibrant, she is funny and she is unbelievably up front. As their relationship blossoms and Rita starts to find herself, she becomes increasingly drawn to the student way of life, and when Franks life is enriched because of her presence and her willingness to learn he sends her to a summer camp, to be educated at a greater level. However, Rita's return with a change of character surprises Frank, and soon they drift away from their zany, affectionate meetings. Educating Rita is funny, expressive, sentimental, poignant and sad, as Frank must come to terms with the young bird fleeing the nest, whilst Rita begins to realize what she is becoming. With one thing gained, many other things are lost, and with Frank's increasing drinking problem because of Rita's character change, the two are headed for disaster. Both Caine and Walters give amazingly touching performances, and throughout I felt myself urging them to each other, only to know deep down that the age gap is just too much. Not many films make the audience care enough about relationships and circumstances, but this brilliant movie not only gets the audience committed to their plight, but also feels the full range of emotions. When Rita gives her own interpretation of what assonance is, Bryant finds himself chuckling away to himself and realising that she is indeed right. What is especially touching is the way that Bryant wants Rita to stay as she is, because life has so little characters left for him. What she wants to become is everything that Bryant wants to forget, and there begins a sentimental tug of war. In between the funny moments, and plot directions is the feeling that life has more to offer than just being able to talk fluently about past authors, something which Bryant is driven to distraction over. But the movie nevertheless doesn't miss a moment to entertain and take the characters to our hearts, ensuring that Educating Rita remains a film classic.

source: Educating Rita

Trailer—Educating Rita

Educating Rita

*Possible Spoilers* Having first seen this at school a couple of years after its release, I fell in love with the play and this film version of it. Julie Walters and Michael Caine absolutely shine together, making the most of the perceptive dialogue and set pieces brilliantly put together by director Lewis Gilbert. By opening out Willy Russell's play to include other locations and other characters (notably Trish, Julia, Denny, and Brian) we get more of an insight into drunken, fading academic Frank and desperate to better herself Rita. The use of music is particularly noteworthy in three scenes - one, where Rita watches her husband burn her books; two, where Trish, so fond of Mahler, tries to kill herself with an overdose; and three, as Frank and Rita part for the last time as he leaves for his sabbatical in Australia. It is a wonderful little gem of a movie. 8 out of 10.

"Educating Rita" is a movie based on the play. And, when you watch it, you realize that the story is very much a reworking of the old film "A Star is Born". Worth watching, even if it lacks complete originality. The story begins with Rita (Julie Walters) seeing Dr. Bryant for tutoring. Despite her being very much a working class lady, Rita wants to become educated and Dr. Bryant is her chance. Through the course of their relationship, he teaches her to think and appreciate literature like a good college student...and, over time, he falls deeper and deeper into self-pity and alcoholism. While Professor Bryant does not drown himself at the end nor does Rita win an Oscar, it's is so much like "A Star is Born". You see Rita grow, blossom and develop courage...much like Esther Blodgett in the other film. Worth seeing and with some really nice performances by both Walters (in her first film) and Caine.

"Educating Rita" is not a huge motion picture. It portrays no earth shattering events. It teaches no overpowering moral lessons. It does not look into the depths of the human soul. This is a little motion picture, but like many little things, it is wonderful. Educating Rita is really a filmed stage play. Julie Walters played the part of Rita on the stage. Michael Caine joins her as Frank in the film version and really puts his heart into the performance. The author shows you surprisingly little about the two characters and yet tells you a very great deal, and most importantly, he lets them grow as they must, not necessarily as we'd wish them to. I cannot recommend this film highly enough. Watch it with somebody you like.

I was introduced to this movie when I was 5 and though I had no idea about the issues being dealt with I was mesmerized. As an American child I was fascinated by the "ultra-odd" culture and cars and streets and language and I loved every second of it. I think I've judged every film since by this one which would explain why I've never really enjoyed the "Hollywood happy ending". I think my favorite line is when Rita says, "It's fun, tragedy, isn't it?". AMEN. I rediscovered it in college and understood that Rita's journey for education came full circle, without convenient resolution, and I can completely relate. Great acting, great directing, truly a human drama ... I'd long for a sequel if sequel's weren't so damn awful. Brava Julie!