R | 1h 35m | Drama | 2025
Model-actress Andie MacDowell broke into the movies with “Sex, Lies, and Videotape” (1989) and hit stardom with “Groundhog Day” (1993). MacDowell has two daughters, Margaret Qualley, whose acting career is now well established, and sister Rainey Qualley, a singer-actress. Little sister Margaret’s got actor animal-magnetism in spades; big sister Rainey’s got musical chops plus mom’s bombshell model looks.
That is to say, Margaret is no slouch in the looks department either, and Rainey can act—she just needs a better vehicle than “Off The Record,” the feature debut of Kirsten Foe, who wrote and directed.
Casting Couch, Kinda
Rainey stars as Astor Grey, an aspiring L.A. singer-songwriter who pays the rent with commercial acting, in addition to gigging. Brandyn Verge (Ryan Hansen), a not-quite-washed-up, still fairly famous rock star, notices Astor and reaches out to her on social media. Naturally flattered, Astor agrees to a date—she’s starstruck and 25 years old.She’s also not immune to the temptation of knowing how effectively one hand washing the other can get immediate results in showbiz. She lets the date move way too fast.
Red flags appear almost immediately. Brandyn promises to kick Astor’s career into overdrive. The next day on a sight-seeing date, he cluelessly runs his fancy red Porsche out of gas in the middle of the desert. It’s not entirely cringe, because rock band ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons gives them a ride to a gas station. Gibbons doesn’t play his rock star self, but it’s a fun cameo. Another fun cameo is hall-of-fame quarterback Peyton Manning as a commercial director.
‘Off the Record’
It’s almost the perfect break-out role for Qualley, who’s also got a recording career, where she goes by her full name (and stage name), Rainsford. She’s got a striking singing voice that ranges from a raspy alto to pop diva, and she’s a bit reminiscent of “Transformers”-era Megan Fox. Her acting is a little thin here, but with a more experienced director, it’s clear there’s plenty more talent to be trotted out at a later date. While she doesn’t have her sister’s quirky mega-charisma, hers will nevertheless most likely be a slam-dunk film career, but this wasn’t quite the movie-basketball to insure a place on Hollywood’s A-list.
“Off the Record” also features two songs by Qualley: “Love Me Like You Hate Me,” and “2 Cents.” These singles will be included in her upcoming album, which will be released alongside the film.
