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Ratcatcher Reviews

1999

70
from 3083 members

Lynne Ramsey's bleak, beautifully photographed debut unflinchingly portrays life in a Glasgow housing project during the 1973 garbageworkers strike as seen through the eyes of 12-year-old James Gillespie (William Eadie, in a soulful debut). As the film opens, James is playing with a friend near a filthy canal behind the .. Read more

Starring	Tommy Flanagan, Bill Eadie, Mandy Matthews, Michelle Stewart
Director	Lynne Ramsay
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of Ratcatcher
View all critics' reviews (6)
- "...Ramsay creates a searing portrait of a boy in a spiritual trap. Pay particular attention to Rachel Portman's spare music score that in counterpoint offsets Ramsay's imagery with a presence that does not simply massage our mood..."
- 11801
- - Chicago Sun
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Ratcatcher
View all members' reviews (38)
- - 20
  - 9
  ratcatcher
  
  This artily shot and well-acted film is certainly evocative, but ultimately it's dull. Although bookended by two shocking events, there is next to no plot ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 10023
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Surrey, England
  - 10 Jul 2004 at 08:30
Most recent members' reviews of Ratcatcher
View all members' reviews (38)
- - 0
  - 0
  Ratcatcher review
  
  Original and uncomfortable viewing with a bleakness that is punctuated by moments of true visual beauty and moments of warmth.
  
  Definitely one to ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1113608
- - Jumoak
  - 12 reviews
  - 23 Apr 2012 at 16:26
- - 0
  - 0
  A great debut
  
  A beautifully shot and powerful film. Lynne Ramsey's bleak and poignant debut film is a must-see piece of British film art. Don't let the pace put you ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1093295
- - a customer
  - 16 Feb 2012 at 23:54
- - 0
  - 0
  Groundbreaking for Lyne Ramsey
  
  This is the feature that really made people sit up and take notice of Lyne Ramsey. Bleak in terms of the storyline, with even bleakier locations, nevertheless ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1069689
- - rogerg
  - 17 reviews
  - SOUTHSEA
  - 03 Dec 2011 at 09:42
- - 0
  - 0
  A great debut from Lynne Ramsay.
  
  A very quirky yet moving film about life on a Glasgow estate in the 1970's seen through the eyes of a 12 year old. The film is quite bleak but is ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1059157
- - gingerspike
  - 289 reviews
  - Grimsby
  - 05 Nov 2011 at 22:14
- - 1
  - 0
  Well worth watching
  
  This film captures life on a run down council estate where people wait to be rehoused. The story is portrayed in gritty reality with believable characters
  
  Report this review
- 925310
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - mrjimlowe
  - 7 reviews
  - Birkenhead
  - 20 Sep 2010 at 23:43
- - 4
  - 0
  Bring in the Army
  
  Beautifully, beautifully photographed. Not showy but extraordinarily resonant images that read with the intensity of childhood dreams. A film that completely ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 907643
- - RichPickings
  - 150 reviews
  - 'kin Bruges
  - 23 Jul 2010 at 12:19
- - 1
  - 0
  Excellent debut from Lynne Ramsay..
  
  Ratcatcher is a film set in Glasgow in the 1970’s. It’s a poignant film about the life of a boy living on an estate, where the level of boredom is ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 864106
- - Piccolina
  - 10 reviews
  - Bath
  - 20 Feb 2010 at 20:16
- - 0
  - 0
  ..the last 35mins were surblime
  
  Perhaps some of the finest moments you'll ever see in a British film. Stay with it. Struggle with the Scottish accent and the wavering storyline... And then... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 831060
- - Sebastian362
  - 46 reviews
  - England
  - 14 Nov 2009 at 17:33
- - 0
  - 0
  Very Dull
  
  Dearie Me. This is a dull movie. Yes its a slice of urban decay in a place thats a fertile source for this material but really there is no plot or story simply ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 804509
- - me1me1me1
  - 24 reviews
  - Osmotherley, Northallerton
  - 29 Aug 2009 at 22:07
- - 0
  - 0
  seriously disturbing film
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Good photography - that's the only good thing about this film. The rest of it is rubbish, literally and figuratively. What is most disturbing though is what... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 792141
- - a customer
  - Folkestone
  - 31 Jul 2009 at 21:09
View all members' reviews (38)

- - 20
  - 9
  ratcatcher
  
  This artily shot and well-acted film is certainly evocative, but ultimately it's dull. Although bookended by two shocking events, there is next to no plot ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 10023
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Surrey, England
  - 10 Jul 2004 at 08:30
- - 10
  - 1
  Star catcher
  
  Lyne Ramsey's debut feature is a truly magical experience. Despite the grim nature of the setting and the story, it manages to lift you beyond the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 305748
- - johnnyfraudster
  - greater london
  - 29 Jun 2004 at 13:12
- - 4
  - 0
  Find a scriptwriter
  
  No doubt about it Lynne Ramsey is a rising star among our young directors. This is a film that was clearly close to her heart and she films her story with ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 94179
- - Zamy
  - 552 reviews
  - London
  - 19 Apr 2005 at 12:29
- - 4
  - 0
  Bring in the Army
  
  Beautifully, beautifully photographed. Not showy but extraordinarily resonant images that read with the intensity of childhood dreams. A film that completely ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 907643
- - RichPickings
  - 150 reviews
  - 'kin Bruges
  - 23 Jul 2010 at 12:19
- - 4
  - 1
  Superb
  
  Ken Loach at his best,fantastic acting,excellent screenplay.Grimm reality that is very gripping and amusing. HAD to watch it twice.Martin Compstom(lead role) a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 61038
- - Lee Arnold
  - Liverpool England
  - 29 Dec 2004 at 01:53
- - 2
  - 0
  Infests your Mind
  
  Deeply beautiful, powerful and absorbing film about a young boy growing up in 1970's Scotland.
  
  Managing to get convincing, natural performances ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 446638
- - fredfunk
  - 28 reviews
  - Derby
  - 04 Jun 2007 at 13:54
- - 2
  - 1
  depressing
  
  i'm all for being socially enlightened
  
  i usually enjoy a good Brit kitchen sink drama and i tried very hard to watch this but after 20 mins had ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 66689
- - a customer
  - Basingstoke, Hampshire
  - 24 Jan 2005 at 18:04
- - 1
  - 0
  Superb
  
  OOPS The review above was meant for 'Sweet Sixteen' much better than Ratcatcher so rent that instead if you haven`t seen it. Ratcatcher was fairly good ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 61040
- - Lee Arnold
  - Liverpool England
  - 29 Dec 2004 at 02:01
- - 1
  - 0
  Excellent debut from Lynne Ramsay..
  
  Ratcatcher is a film set in Glasgow in the 1970’s. It’s a poignant film about the life of a boy living on an estate, where the level of boredom is ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 864106
- - Piccolina
  - 10 reviews
  - Bath
  - 20 Feb 2010 at 20:16
- - 1
  - 0
  Well worth watching
  
  This film captures life on a run down council estate where people wait to be rehoused. The story is portrayed in gritty reality with believable characters
  
  Report this review
- 925310
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - mrjimlowe
  - 7 reviews
  - Birkenhead
  - 20 Sep 2010 at 23:43

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Critics' reviews
- "...Ramsay creates a searing portrait of a boy in a spiritual trap. Pay particular attention to Rachel Portman's spare music score that in counterpoint offsets Ramsay's imagery with a presence that does not simply massage our mood..."
- 11801
- - Chicago Sun
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...A gorgeous blend of beauty and squalor, packed with imagery that will play over and over in your head for weeks....The most lovely debut in a long time."
- 11803
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...RATCATCHER is clearly the work of a natural film artist, and experiencing her debut is as much a privilege as it is a pleasure..."
- 11802
- - Los Angeles Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- Set in and around a Glasgow tenement block during a dustman's strike in the mid-'70s, Ramsay's astonishingly assured... read more on Time Out
- 46022
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:16
- "...The cast is packed with first-timers, who give wonderful, skinless performances..."
- 11804
- - Total Film
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...Spare and harrowing..."
- 11800
- - Box Office
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

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- Ratcatcher
  
  Lynne Ramsey's bleak, beautifully photographed debut unflinchingly portrays life in a Glasgow housing project during the 1973 garbageworkers strike as seen through the eyes of 12-year-old James Gillespie (William Eadie, in a soulful debut). As the film opens, James is playing with a friend near a ...