Raining Stones (1993)

June 14, 2024 9:38 AM

[TRAILER] 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 in search of 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 may cost him everything.

Directed by Ken Loach. Written by Jim Allen. Produced by Sally Hibbin for First Independent Films. Cinematography by Barry Ackroyd.

100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes (with 11 reviews).

Currently streaming in the US on Tubi and Plex. JustWatch listing.

posted by DirtyOldTown (6 comments total)

The scene where the loan shark threatens Bob's family is scarier than most horror films.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:40 AM on June 14

"We never invented the system son, but it's up to us to change it... And you know, it could be a lovely estate to live on. Y'know, we're like punch drunk fighters, hammering on each other, instead of us getting together and sharing around the power for us to make all the changes. And that's all it is in a nutshell. The rest is propaganda."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:13 AM on June 14

Holy shit, I love this ending.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:47 AM on June 14

you had me at Ken Loach

here's the Tubi link
posted by elkevelvet at 12:26 PM on June 14

It's a very good poverty-is-hard/the-system-crushes-good-people Loach story until the ending, which has a TURN and is so fucking good.

Watching it alone, I had to fight the urge to stand and applaud.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:57 PM on June 14

Our main character has almost comically bad luck and poor judgement. Probably a misplaced sense of pride expressed as religiosity, too. I always enjoy the "kitchen sink realism" filmmaking.
posted by 2N2222 at 6:47 PM on June 23