Raining Stones

Just some information for you - I met Bruce Jones briefly yesterday (Mar 5/05) at the British Isles Show in Toronto. I asked him about this film (I could not remember the title) which I had seen on TV a few years ago. He told me that the film is now used by the Catholic church as part of their training program for new priests. He also commented "There was a lot of language in it." - leading me to believe that he felt it was a bit over the top in that department. Personally, I thought it fit in with the story and characters, but his comment was a small, yet interesting, insight into Bruce Jones - who most of us only now know as Les Battersby!

Quite uneven movie. Starts very slow, spend too long in episodes that could be abbreviated then squeezes the final act in a dubious conclusion amid the general tone of the movie. Despite that the direction is strong and the acting excellent. The soundtrack by famous musician Stewart Copeland from The Police is a tremendous disappointment. Made on the cheap with synthetizers is really disconnected from the bleakness of the movie. Not only the limited musical cues are badly placed but they also lack any melodic quality (one of the themes sounds like random notes in a sequencer against uninspired chords). It really gives no support for scenes and characters.

A lot like Brookside, but it rains more. Seriously, I really think this is a very well made film, but I think Ken should be forced to make a feel good Disney movie at least once.

"Raining Stones" is a gritty slice-of-life dramady about a working class family man who has to persevere through difficult financial times to save enough money for his daughter's first communion. An excellent little film by all accounts, this flick builds great depth in its characters making empathy so easy you'll likely speak with a brogue by film's end. In typical Loach fashion, "Raining Stones" works hard fleshing out its characters in fine detail and realistic fashion rather than going for easy, expansive sensationalism. A good human drama with a sense of humor which will most likely be appreciated by more mature audiences. (B) Note: The DVD I watched had no subtitles or CC and the accents were so thick much of the dialogue was difficult to understand.

Bob has problems making a living. His wife mainly cares for the house and their daughter, and finds it hard to get a job as well. Bob and his friend Tommy are involved in tiny crimes-stealing a sheep, a part of a lawn etc, but ends never meet. The situation becomes worse when Bob and Anne's daughter is going to have her communion. Bob wants to buy her a new outfit, no matter what everyone tells him. He gets into deeper trouble by the day. Loach has compassion for his characters, however, and the film is not depressing although it shows poverty and how it drains people. He also discusses religion here-the priest is a human version, and Bob's F-I-L represents the opposition. Interesting that he hasn't written the script, and yet it has so much to do with many of his films.

This film, based on and shot in Langley, Middleton. Having grown up on Langley, this film is as real as it was. Jim Allen, a local writer, lived in the heart of this community, so he knew it inside out. (I even had the pleasure of going to school with his daughter Catherine). Bruce Jones and Ricky Tomlinson set this film a light from the first frame. Even the local gangsters get a cameo role! You should not be disappointed with this film. Nothing much has changed in the town, just a few more boarded up houses and demolished houses.

This film I saw when it first came out in 1993. It made such an impression that I can still recall many scenes and the whole story. Ken Loach creates really believable characters who might live next door. He builds and presents the story so the viewer really becomes involved in the cast's problems. It remains my favourite Ken Loach film. An excellent film in its category.