‘Off The Record': Andie MacDowell's Oldest Daughter Hits the Big Screen

Epoch Times

03-05-2025

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.
Astor Grey (Rainey Qualley), in "Off The Record."
Quiver Distribution
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.
Brandyn Verge (Ryan Hansen, L) and Hal (Billy Gibbons), in "Off The Record."
Quiver Distribution
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.
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Astor's bestie Noelle (Olivia Sui), and her mom, Rosemary (Julia Campbell) metaphorically put a megaphone in Astor's face and scream about all the red flags they're seeing, but Astor is already lost in euphoric, young-woman-powerful-older-man, codependent, people-pleasing, maybe-I'll-get-famous mode. Brandyn can do no wrong, even when he drunkenly rag-dolls out of his Porsche door and pukes on her boots. Nice. Even when her manager Kate (Rebecca De Mornay) sits Astor down with one of Brandyn's exes, who he took for everything she had, Astor has her fingers in her ears, going
'la-la-la-la-la!!'
Will Brandyn go to rehab? Will he say 'No, no, no'? Will he invite Astor on a tour as an opening act, proceed to shamelessly lounge around with a groupie on his private jet, and throw Astor's new lyrics out a train window? Will Astor sign a contract? Will she break free of this idiot?
'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.
Astor Grey (Rainey Qualley) performs, in "Off The Record."
Quiver Distribution
'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.
New York's highest court recently overturned former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's 2020 conviction.
The timing of this new indie film about a young woman trying to make it in the record industry with the help of an abusive narcissist is suspiciously coincidental. Intentionally timed or not, 'Off the Record' takes the opportunity to illustrate the trafficking element that continues to plague the entertainment industry. It's a commendably heavy-hitting and necessary topic. Unfortunately 'Off the Record' remains lightweight fare.
'Off The Record' is set to premiere simultaneously in theaters and on digital platforms on May 2.
Promotional poster for "Off The Record."
Quiver Distribution
'Off The Record'
Director: Kirsten Foe
Starring: Rainey Qualley, Ryan Hansen, Olivia Sui, Julia Campbell
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hours, 35 minutes
Release Date: May 2, 2025
Rating: 2 1/2 stars out of 5
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