Member-only story
The Best of British Cinema: ‘Educating Rita’ (1983)
Lewis Gilbert’s adaptation of Willy Russell’s romantic comedy is warm, frank and thoughtful
Let’s begin with some blasphemy, maybe even some sacrilege — generally speaking, I do not think very much to Michael Caine as an actor. That’s right, I admit it. Now, that will likely seem especially wrong coming from somebody actively discussing British cinema so often and championing it, but it is the truth. Of all of the Michael Caine films I have seen, few of them I have enjoyed because of his involvement. He is in many very good films, from almost every single Christopher Nolan film to Children of Men, Death Becomes Her and even Austin Powers: Goldmember, but the only two films — before now — which I enjoyed actively (in part) due to Caine’s performing is his hilarious turn in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels opposite a prime Steve Martin and his relatively minor role in one of the very few Woody Allen films I enjoy, Hannah and Her Sisters (imagine my shock, enjoying a Woody Allen film starring Michael Caine when I generally steer clear of both!). That seems an important opinion to declare before we move into the many, many reasons why I believe that Educating Rita is so wonderful, with Caine himself being one of the foremost among them. (Also, yes, I have indeed seen Get Carter — sorry!)
