Director Ken Loach returns to showing life as it is, and this is a well-made, if depressing look at the workless (though not workshy) working-class of Oldham. Bob (Bruce Jones) will turn his hand to anything from sheep-stealing to drain-cleaning to make a few bob for his family. Of course he gets into trouble after going to the local loan shark. But it's hard to feel as much sympathy for the guy as Loach wants us to. While resorting stubbornly to illegal activities to pay £100 for his daughter's Confirmation outfit, Bob stills finds plenty of ready money for a profuse amount of smoking and drinking, plus an occasional flutter on the nags. Character inconsistencies and poor continuity, coupled with inadequate acting in minor roles (although Julie Brown is excellent as a long-suffering wife) all conspire to drain your interest in this one, however commendable its intentions. Still worth seeing for some fine moments, this is not quite the director at his best.

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