Raining Stones

Released Sep 9, 1993

1h 30m

Comedy

Drama

List

100%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

91%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Bob (Bruce Jones) is a religious but poor man intent on earning enough cash to buy a new communion dress for his daughter. With his loyal sidekick, Tom (Ricky Tomlinson), Bob takes odd and sometimes ill-advised jobs, like building a fireplace and stealing sheep, which he thinks will provide some quick cash. But Bob's bad luck follows him everywhere in this working-class town. When his van gets stolen, Bob makes a disastrous choice that has him risk everything he's worked for and dreamed of.

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

Brisk, richly characterized fiction that cuts as deeply and truly as any documentary.

Rated: 4.5/5

May 20, 2003

Full Review

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Without ever mentioning politics, Loach makes the most powerful and effective of political statements -- one that relies on subtlety and the intelligence of the audience.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Hal Hinson

Washington Post

Gripping and sadly true to life.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Ken Loach: the master.

Rated: 5/5

May 23, 2008

Full Review

Louis Proyect

rec.arts.movies.reviews

A Ken Loach masterpiece. Deals with poverty-stricken Irish Catholic's struggle to raise money for his daughter's communion dress.

Aug 12, 2007

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 4/5

Jun 18, 2005

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harwee h

It hits a good balance about the film's themes of morality, resilience and continued struggles of the working class.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/17/23

Full Review

Matthew B

There are the ingredients of a light and insubstantial comedy in Raining Stones, Ken Loach's 1993 movie set in Middleton, in Greater Manchester. The story sounds like a conventional comic plot – a father getting into various ludicrous scrapes in an attempt to make his daughter happy. There is also the germ of a tragedy in Raining Stones. Five years later, in My Name is Joe, Loach would use a similar plot template to produce a less happy result. Both films portray a well-meaning man living in an area of deprivation who gets involved with the wrong people while trying to perform a kind act for someone else. He gets in deeper, and feels more and more trapped and frustrated by his inability to do the right thing, until finally there is an explosion of anger and violence. The two elements of Raining Stones here balance one another out. What we have instead is a film that is broadly comic and one of Loach's happier films, but which also contains a serious undercurrent to it. It is a comedy that veers towards tragedy at times, but finally managed to avoid it. The most serious situation occurs towards the end of the movie when the sadistic loan sharks that we have seen earlier turn up at Bob's house. It seems that he has borrowed money for the dress, and a less scrupulous individual has bought his debt. Father Barry prevents Bob from taking a course that will have bad consequences for Bob, because he recognises that our hero is essentially a good man: "You're not an evil man, Bob. People like yourself are hungering for justice in the name of Christ who was himself the bread of life you deserve it." Whether or not you believe in Father Barry's religion, I hope that you will join with me in agreeing with the priest's verdict on Bob's character. I wrote a longer appreciation of Raining Stones on my blog page if you would like to read more: https://themoviescreenscene.wordpress.com/2019/05/19/raining-stones-1993/

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/05/23

Full Review

dave s

In Raining Stones, the story is simple: an unemployed laborer in northern England desperately tries to scratch up enough money to pay for his daughter's communion dress. Whether it's stealing sheep, cleaning out sewage drains, or relying on a loan shark, Bob is intent on paying for a new dress so as not to be judged by others. Director Ken Loach has always had an eye out for the economically downtrodden and the unfair hand they've been dealt. Raining Stones does not deviate from this in any way. As grim as the situation may be, the characters always maintain a sense of humor and, more importantly, a sense of dignity. The film has an appropriately gritty look to it, the characters feel real and the acting is great, but a word of warning: if you're not familiar with the Scouse accent of Liverpool, make sure you have the option of subtitles when viewing Raining Stones. Otherwise, it may be a frustrating experience.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I wasn't surprised when I saw that this movie had a 100% rating, simply one of the best films ever made. It conjures up the full spectrum of emotions and is a tribute to the craftsmanship of Ken Loach. Thank You, Ken

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

anthony p

Ken Loach bores the audience with yet more stories of social woes in northern England. This time the film follows a down on his look guy played by Bruce Jones (famous as Les Battersby in Coronation Street) struggling to raise the funds for his beloved daughter's Catholic Church Communion dress. He resorts to any old job he can get some legal some illegal and eventually succombs to the local Mancunian loan shark. What makes me cringe with these Loach films are that everyone is made out to be broke yet the evil Tories are living in comfort. Total Communist bull as a Conservative Club caretaker says in the film.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the greatest British flicks ever made. Bruce Jones is quiet remarkable as the unemployed Catholic father hell bent on getting his daughter the best communion dress.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

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Ken Loach

Director

Bruce Jones

Bob

Julie Brown

Anne

Ricky Tomlinson

Tommy

Tom Hickey

Father Barry

Gemma Phoenix

Coleen

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Synopsis

Bob (Bruce Jones) is a religious but poor man intent on earning enough cash to buy a new communion dress for his daughter. With his loyal sidekick, Tom (Ricky Tomlinson), Bob takes odd and sometimes ill-advised jobs, like building a fireplace and stealing sheep, which he thinks will provide some quick cash. But Bob's bad luck follows him everywhere in this working-class town. When his van gets stolen, Bob makes a disastrous choice that has him risk everything he's worked for and dreamed of.

Director: Ken Loach
Screenwriter: Jim Allen
Distributor: Northern Arts Entertainment
Production Co: Channel Four Films, Parallax Pictures
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 9, 1993, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.2K
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Stereo

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