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Amazon.co.uk Review
Although not of a genre readily associated with Ken Loach, Riff Raff is basically a romantic comedy--albeit one set against the backdrop of political and social injustice. Robert Carlyle is young Glaswegian Stevie, newly relocated to London and sleeping rough. He finds a job on a building site and embarks on a relationship with Irish singer Susan (McCourt). The struggle that both the couple and their friends and workmates (the film is very much an ensemble piece) have to endure just to survive life on the margins of society paints a grim picture of early 1990s Britain, but also one that is shot through with resilient humour. Much of this comes from from Ricky Tomlinson's sublime performance, one that pre-dates his Royle Family role but bears all the hallmarks of his comic genius. Some of the political interjections are understandably a little dated and a touch heavy-handed, but Riff Raff is a film that successfully combines a sense of righteous indignation with a warm heart. --Phil Udell
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As the film starts, a group of men start a job at a building site. The management seem hell-bent on establishing and stamping their authority, but despite this (and in part because of this) a strong camaraderie is formed between the new labourers.
In a weirdly ironic twist the labourers find themselves living hand-to-mouth whilst working on luxury property designed for the affluent few. As a group they are exploited but within the group they form solid bonds and go out of their way to help each other. The way they quickly seem to become a family is quite touching, and they look out for one and other. It's not very often that a film deals with men's relationship with each other (other than the Hollywood 'bromance' films which are en-vogue at the moment, and those hardly reflect actual life), but Ken Loache has captured a chemistry which rarely appears in film.
Ricky Tomlinson seems at home when giving passionate speeches about how there should be no need for so many people to be homeless and jobless in 1990, there's no reason for so many people to go without. His diatribe seems so personal, and it's no surprise given that it reflects the socialist beliefs of both Ken Loach and Tomlinson himself who has a history of trade union politics in the building trade. It's Loach's magical and methodical way of matching the casting to actors who really don't need to act that give his films that incredibly realistic edge. Within the first ten minutes we get a very real dose of recession politics from the folk who feel it the most - folk who chase the few jobs available, ending up squatting in tawdry digs whilst being exploited by the people they work for because they know that there are plenty more desperate to fill the role.
There's a loose plot to the film which follows Steve (Robert Carlyle) and his romance with aspiring singer Susan (only she's not very good!). Carlyle's natural acting style lends itself perfectly to Loach's directing style and he obviously impressed as he appeared in Carla's Song a few years later. It's Ricky Tomlinson who steals the show though with his patriarchal and eminently likeable portrayal of the idealistic building site philosopher.
In a weirdly ironic twist the labourers find themselves living hand-to-mouth whilst working on luxury property designed for the affluent few. As a group they are exploited but within the group they form solid bonds and go out of their way to help each other. The way they quickly seem to become a family is quite touching, and they look out for one and other. It's not very often that a film deals with men's relationship with each other (other than the Hollywood 'bromance' films which are en-vogue at the moment, and those hardly reflect actual life), but Ken Loache has captured a chemistry which rarely appears in film.
Ricky Tomlinson seems at home when giving passionate speeches about how there should be no need for so many people to be homeless and jobless in 1990, there's no reason for so many people to go without. His diatribe seems so personal, and it's no surprise given that it reflects the socialist beliefs of both Ken Loach and Tomlinson himself who has a history of trade union politics in the building trade. It's Loach's magical and methodical way of matching the casting to actors who really don't need to act that give his films that incredibly realistic edge. Within the first ten minutes we get a very real dose of recession politics from the folk who feel it the most - folk who chase the few jobs available, ending up squatting in tawdry digs whilst being exploited by the people they work for because they know that there are plenty more desperate to fill the role.
There's a loose plot to the film which follows Steve (Robert Carlyle) and his romance with aspiring singer Susan (only she's not very good!). Carlyle's natural acting style lends itself perfectly to Loach's directing style and he obviously impressed as he appeared in Carla's Song a few years later. It's Ricky Tomlinson who steals the show though with his patriarchal and eminently likeable portrayal of the idealistic building site philosopher.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a great little film. The acting is first rate, the characters feel totally real and the humour is equally natural. There are political points being made in the film but again they arise out of the very real life situation the characters are in and the director doesn't hit you over the head with them. Shame the DVD has no extras but for the price definitely worth buying.
33 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The story of people with hopes, dreams and principles they're willing to stand for.
The story of building site workers in a time when...well, just listen to Ricky Tomlinson's monologues on the state of the country!
The story of "boy meets girl, girl moves in with boy, boy and girl try to get along"...you'll never see Mr.Carlyle play a role which demands such tenderness and that dreaded "feminine side".
Fantastically rythmic yet not overbearing score by Stewart (Police) Copeland, some great psuedo-realistic - and, probably knowing Ken Loach - REAL dialogue and a very solid cast of real "characters" make this a must-see early Ken Loach film.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Niff Naff
I was one day outside the 30 day 'guarantee' period (perhaps, like me, you don't watch everything soon after you receive it). Read more
Published 1 month ago by Christine A Large
Comedy With A Message
Ken Loach's 1991 film Riff-Raff is one of his funniest, and can almost be categorised as an out and out comedy. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Keith M
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