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Amazon.co.uk Review
Raining Stones is classic Ken Loach--an overtly bleak piece of drama shot through with defiant humour, a story of life beyond the edge of society. Bob (Bruce Jones in a role that foreshadows his more ludicrous Coronation Street character) is unemployed and struggling to make ends meet, especially with the added pressure of his young daughter's first communion and the expense involved. And that's it really--one man's struggle to maintain his dignity and provide for his family. Despite the film's frequent moments of comedy (more often than not provided by Loach regular Ricky Tomlinson), Raining Stones is ultimately more than a little disheartening. The film is in many ways similar to Loach's previous film, Riff Raff (1991), but here the examples of a community pulling together are countered with backstabbing and exploitation. In the end, there are no winners or losers in Loach's world, only those who survive and those who don't. --Phil Udell
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Next to the magisterial 'Kes', 'Raining Stones' is the ideal introduction to the work of Ken Loach, being a perfect example of his distinctive blend of warm human comedy and rueful reflection on the state of the nation - in this case, exploring the devastating effects of unemployment on a working-class family living in an unnamed town in the north of England. They just about make ends meet, their dole income supplemented by the odd (and mostly disastrous) bit of entrepreneurship, but when Bob decides that his young daughter must have a new dress for her communion, this sets in motion a disastrous chain of events involving a gang of notoriously vicious loansharks. It's a quiet, understated and often unexpectedly powerful piece of work, with sterling performances by Bruce Jones and the ever-reliable Ricky Tomlinson, and it's admirably balanced politically; Labour's failings are blamed just as much as the Tory policies that led to their plight in the first place. The DVD is fairly bare-bones, but it's not the kind of film where you need more than a competent transfer, and you certainly get that here. Highly recommended for Loach beginners - existing fans will almost certainly have seen it anyway.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Raining Stones was Ken Loach's 1993 follow-up to his 1991 film Riff-Raff, and portrays similar themes, exploring a working man's struggle to survive, both economically and morally, against a backdrop of economic recession and high unemployment - a challenge which is, of course, as relevant today in 2012 as it was in the early 1990s. For me, Raining Stones is the more successful of the two films in the way it treats its protagonist's story both with greater intimacy and intensity than the earlier film.
The other elements that are common to both Raining Stones and Riff-Raff are that both films feature an unusually high comic content (even for a Ken Loach film - which, of course, normally would include at least a handful of hilarious scenes) and, perhaps not coincidentally, both contain consummate performances from the great comic actor Ricky Tomlinson. As in Riff-Raff, Tomlinson plays a support role to Loach's central character, who, in Raining Stones, is played by Bruce Jones (Coronation Street's own Les Battersby). Bob (Jones) and Tommy (Tomlinson) are mates who, in a desperate attempt to provide for their families, will try their hand at any scam going, including 'sheep rustling' - their attempts at which are the focus of the film's hilarious opening sequence.
Loach's film compellingly depicts many of his trademark plot devices and themes, namely a central character whose world falls apart following a random fateful event, a family whose aspirations (in this case, the young daughter's desire for a successful first communion) are inextricably linked to the father's bad luck, and a set of unscrupulous authority figures (in this case, debt collectors) only too willing to exploit the situation. Once again, Loach has chosen a relatively unknown cast (Jones and Tomlinson aside) that deliver handsomely, providing deceptively naturalistic acting performances, at times with a near-documentary feel. Particular mention should be made of Jonathan James who plays the frighteningly convincing debt collector Tansey, and Tom Hickey who is superb in his playing of the refreshingly pragmatic priest Father Barry. Incidentally, Hickey played a similar role in Jim Sheridan's 1989 Oscar-winning film, My Left Foot.
As for the Riff-Raff soundtrack, Loach commissioned Police drummer Stewart Copeland, who provides an interesting, jazz-inflected score for this later film.
In conclusion then, Raining Stones is, for me, another great example of the way Loach is, in his own unique way, able to mix tragedy and humour to brilliant cinematic effect. I will always call to mind a number of hilarious scenes from the film, none more so than that where Ricky Tomlinson moons under the dazzling beam of a police helicopter's searchlight - magical.
The other elements that are common to both Raining Stones and Riff-Raff are that both films feature an unusually high comic content (even for a Ken Loach film - which, of course, normally would include at least a handful of hilarious scenes) and, perhaps not coincidentally, both contain consummate performances from the great comic actor Ricky Tomlinson. As in Riff-Raff, Tomlinson plays a support role to Loach's central character, who, in Raining Stones, is played by Bruce Jones (Coronation Street's own Les Battersby). Bob (Jones) and Tommy (Tomlinson) are mates who, in a desperate attempt to provide for their families, will try their hand at any scam going, including 'sheep rustling' - their attempts at which are the focus of the film's hilarious opening sequence.
Loach's film compellingly depicts many of his trademark plot devices and themes, namely a central character whose world falls apart following a random fateful event, a family whose aspirations (in this case, the young daughter's desire for a successful first communion) are inextricably linked to the father's bad luck, and a set of unscrupulous authority figures (in this case, debt collectors) only too willing to exploit the situation. Once again, Loach has chosen a relatively unknown cast (Jones and Tomlinson aside) that deliver handsomely, providing deceptively naturalistic acting performances, at times with a near-documentary feel. Particular mention should be made of Jonathan James who plays the frighteningly convincing debt collector Tansey, and Tom Hickey who is superb in his playing of the refreshingly pragmatic priest Father Barry. Incidentally, Hickey played a similar role in Jim Sheridan's 1989 Oscar-winning film, My Left Foot.
As for the Riff-Raff soundtrack, Loach commissioned Police drummer Stewart Copeland, who provides an interesting, jazz-inflected score for this later film.
In conclusion then, Raining Stones is, for me, another great example of the way Loach is, in his own unique way, able to mix tragedy and humour to brilliant cinematic effect. I will always call to mind a number of hilarious scenes from the film, none more so than that where Ricky Tomlinson moons under the dazzling beam of a police helicopter's searchlight - magical.
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Any movies that's two main stars are Ricky Tomlinson and Corries Bruce Jones (Les Battersby) has to be worth a go, and Raining Stones certainly is worth 90 minutes of anyone's time. Rick and Bruce play two Tommy and Bob (Williams! that's me!) two working class Northerners out to make a, usually dishonest, pound here and there.Bob, a devote Catholic, is certainly finding it tough as he tries to pay for his daughters communion dress, desperate though he borrows the money from a loan shark and from here his problems really do escalate.
Great characters, some nice touch's of humour and a great ending make this a highly rewarding experience.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I thought-provoking film
"Raining Stones" is a very thought-provoking film.
The characters are quite real, and the situations fell
into were realistic.
This film, short, is worth buying.
The characters are quite real, and the situations fell
into were realistic.
This film, short, is worth buying.
Published 17 days ago by Dr. P. Evans
Raining stones
A film which is worth watching, a story line which is very apt for the times we are living in today (2012). Good acting, excellent story line.
Published 1 month ago by daisy
Great item
I got this for my boyfriend as he grew up in the area it was filmed in,he was very happy with the dvd!
Published 1 month ago by demoness
A fantastic British "feel good factor" film
This is a really wonderful grity British film. Some fantastic acting and great story line.
Published on 12 Mar 2010 by Dr. Dawn E. Clarke
Effective agitprop in the Ken Loach tradition, and a bit more than...
Raining Stones is one of the long line of Ken Loach's broadsides against the way that capitalism destroys communities and individuals because of its emphasis on the power of market... Read more
Published on 10 July 2009 by Humpty Dumpty
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