Rain (I) (2001) User Reviews

Fly Over State

[rcdd0823 · 4/10 · 21 February 2006]

The rain was the most intriguing part of the movie. I could have seen that on the Weather Channel though. This movie lacked any charge whatsoever. A movie about the Great Depression would entertain you more. The only reason I stomached this movie for the duration was because the main character was walking around in her slip for the entire length of the film and I was simply stunned. You will feel nothing for these miserable people and might throw things at your TV screen in disgust. I know now why the focal point of this movie took place at a railroad crossing...it was simply a train wreck. It was produces by Martin Scorsese, a far cry from Goodfellas...he must have been on a bender and out of his mind to have put his name on this film. Total garbage. If this is what people are like in the mid-west, I will remember to simply fly over these states.

first try

[DrDVine · 5/10 · 8 April 2003]

I just voted for this movie and heavy hearted had to give a 5, because as a movie it's not better than that. But despite other 5 point movie I don't feel cheated or disappointed by having seen it. This is because there are many good things about it. Small thing like single scenes, shots, dialogs, images, symbolism, a face expression here, a sound there. This movie has potential. It tries to weave a huge picture by single scenes and pictures. Unfortunately it fails completely. The worst thing about the film is it's script, which features a quite uninspired story, with some holes and implausibilities, in rather unconnected scenes and impression, which mostly not fit together. Adding to this you got to many directing mistakes or at least that's what I think they are. Because at times the movie really starts to take you in, let you care about on character or the other and the comes a pointless or unbelievable scene, a dispensable shot and you get set back on the road. There I have to say again, this movie has failed, but being the first movie of Katherine Lindberg, it makes you hope, that the future work of this director might be something to look forward to.

Writer-Director out of her depth

[vsdobbs · 4/10 · 18 January 2009]

This film suffers from being very poorly paced. The cast is the strongest thing about the flick-- the script and direction and editing never rising to their talents. It's unfortunate as the film does have some potential and had a competent writer been given a crack at a polish, it might have picked up immensely.

The film holds no surprises, literally. In fact, the conclusion is revealed on the DVD cover.

I would have given the film a two but Walters and the kids are all aces in it. Unfortunately, the rest is so weak I can't even say it's worth a watch for the performances.

Avoid.

Hometown Horror

[mf3177 · 3/10 · 25 February 2006]

Katherine Lindberg's Rain was filmed primarily in my hometown of State Center, Iowa. I can assure you, the town doesn't look this bad most of the time. It's not heaven, no matter what Field of Dreams tells you, but it's not this hellish either.

That said, I had a lot of trouble caring about Rain. It's one thing for a filmmaker to make a bland, clichéd film (with cardboard dialogue & delivery) about sexual infidelities and their effects, but it's another thing to set that movie in my hometown.

Do I like seeing my old neighbor or the old grocery store in a movie? Yep, it's a lot of fun. Too bad the rest of the movie wasn't.

Oh, and most everyone that still lives in town is over 60, or my family. If the town's really like this, and they're all playing musical beds, then I'm quite glad to be out of there.

A Moody Mid-Western Film

[fallingstar0468 · 7/10 · 1 February 2007]

Reminds me a lot of another moody mid-west film called 'Kansas' with Matt Dillion & Andrew McCarthy. The wide shots of the fields and silos show how remote this particular location is from either of the coasts and is very effective in setting the mood of isolation that prevails in the characters - not because these are bad people, but because, as one character says: "this isn't the kind of place you just LEAVE." Once you've made your bed in a small Iowa town, everyone knows where you're sleeping.

And then there are the trains shooting through the film - a reminder that there is a world out there larger than this one.

The film shows how the characters want to connect to another human being in hopes of relieving this loneliness, and having something to look forward to. The sheriff wants to become the mayor. His wife waits beside a remote farm field for her lover, her ray of hope. His son huffs from a plastic baggie, hoping to feel something - or numb the things he does feel.

Interesting choice of cars for this film - as if the town hadn't updated it's police fleet since 1988.

I gave it 7 out of 10.

Fast-forwarded through it

[weimlady · 1/10 · 6 March 2006]

This might have made an intriguing short subject because there probably is a good 20 minute movie in there. However, the long, looooong empty shots of fields and trains (God, the trains!) didn't convey anything to me and my friend but sheer boredom. We fast-forwarded through the movie and ended up laughing each time yet another train appeared. Could have called it Trainspotting if that name hadn't already been taken. At any rate, I'm certainly glad I wasn't trapped in a theatre with this movie. I would have been hollering out to the projectionist, "Can you fast-forward to the next scene that actually has people and dialog in it, where something HAPPENS, please?"

Surprisingly Moving

[paige-blackmoore · 8/10 · 22 February 2006]

Beautiful landscape, solid writing, and a wonderful story unified by real acting and editing.

I found this film subtle and impactive even through the characters' very dramatic approach to life. I had an opportunity to really get the world of a lover, child, wife, and mother in this cinematic space.

The score worked so well for me and not once did it take me out of the movie. I loved seeing Diane Ladd. It was lovely spending so much time with Melora Walters but this is a Claudia (of Magnolia) type part, with fidgeting and discomfort.

I almost returned the DVD before watching Rain and I'm so glad I didn't.

Boredom leads to bad behavior.

[michaelRokeefe · 8/10 · 11 August 2006]

First of all, the words "Martin Scorsese presents" lured me in. This dark movie is written and directed by Katherine Lindberg. The action or lack thereof takes place in farming country Iowa. What else is there to do besides count the many trains that run through this small sleepy drought stricken community. Paul Biddle has been 'carrying on' with Sheriff Gibson's(Jamie Sheridan)wife Patsy(Jo Anderson). Ellen Biddle(Melora Walters)decides to put a rifle bullet through her cheating husband's head and allures the town's bad boy druggie Richard(Kris Park)to dispose of the body. Richard just happens to be the Sheriff's son. Sheriff Gibson fears that the strange actions of his wife and the misbehavior of his son will harm his chances of winning the election for mayor. There are still secrets to be revealed and more serious misdeeds. Nudity and sexual content earns an R rating. Also in the cast: Ellen Muth, Ezra Buzzington, Adrian Johansson and Diane Ladd.

Really fine film, definitely needs a remastered release on blu ray!

[EyeoftheBeholder1 · 8/10 · 10 February 2010]

Despite the many bad reviews I read about this film on IMDb.com, I surprisingly enjoyed this very much! The setting of the film is almost a character in itself. The bleak and lifeless characteristics it has certainly leave a "presence" on screen. The film wouldn't be the same without it.

The plot is quite good. Almost a bit too many affairs to keep track of but it all comes to make sense at the end. But the doozy of them all (if you see it, you'll know what i mean) seems a bit of a stretch to me. Fine acting by the entire cast.

I'd like to add that this film is in dire need of being digitally remastered and thrown onto a blu ray. Watching this film from a regular DVD on an HD TV doesn't do it any justice and the cinematography is much too splendid to just go to waste.