A River Runs Through It

Sincerity swims alongside breezy direction.Robert Redford's A River Runs Through It (1992) is a riveting coming of age period drama that centers around the ideals of families and our expectations of what we should be doing with our lives.Redford directs lust natural surroundings with the same care for faces reacting to uncertainty and pain as he tends to a river flowing quietly along through time. A River Runs Through It is honestly the finest directing of Redford's career. Philippe Rousselot's truly beautiful cinematography and thoughtful shots let you ponder these characters and their perspectives with a patient empathy.A River Runs Through It is similar to Stand by Me and Legends of the Fall with their period setting and an air of classic Americana. Robert Redford recreates World War I era America through the Great Depression era with a realistic feeling of sleepy Montana conservatives and earthy aspirations. The hair, makeup, and outfits hark back to this older time period perfectly as you feel like you are watching the past. Redford's attention to detail and respect for the past comes across as genuine as Redford clearly reveres hard working Americans and sincere interactions between family members. Even Robert Redford's own narration gives the story a friendly and warm voice that adds a layer of depth and seriousness.Brad Pitt is amazing in this early career appearance. He emanates charisma and energy as the younger brother Paul MacLean. Pitt feels like a professional fly fisher and free spirit that is at home in the river fishing with his brother. His good nature and natural likability alongside Pitt's heavy weight dramatic skill culminate in a fascinating nuanced performance within A River Runs Through It. Brad Pitt was destined to be a movie star, but continues to prove his high caliber skill level as a dramatic lead.Craig Sheffer's career peak is as the thoughtful intellectual Norman MacLean. Sheffer captures a sincere kindness and sympathetic viewpoint as Norman. He is not the smooth fun man that Brad Pitt plays. He is quiet, observant, and sentimental. Sheffer gives a likable awkward performance that comes across as so genuine to heart that he endears himself to you. You believe he is the man he says he is at all times.I must mention the excellent supporting role from Tom Skerritt as Reverend MacLean. His strict, yet nurturing disposition makes him feel so real. You believe that Skerritt is preaching and teaching his congregation as his children, likewise. Skerritt employs a subtle level of understanding without having to make grand speeches and endless monologues. He says so much with a single sentence that cuts through all pretense. Skerritt is incredible in A River Runs Through It.A River Runs Through It features three distinct supporting roles from its leading ladies. Brenda Blethyn's role as Mrs. MacLean is really interesting. She gives the mother a caring sincerity and a fervent belief in God. I liked her acting choices a lot. Emily Lloyd plays the early American love interest with a look akin to a young Lillian Gish and an attitude like an aloof sweetheart. She's really intriguing in A River Runs Through as her character Jessie Burns is not initially likable at all, but she develops into a sympathetic figure with real feeling. Lastly, I want to commend the sultry and lovely Susan Traylor as Rawhide. She is a comic and tragic all at once. Her disheveled appearance offsets her natural beauty all while you watch her stumbling lady Rawhide with a sympathetic sadness and a humorous joy.Overall, A River Runs Through It is compelling for its American narrative of grounded ideals and realistic relationships. The acting is top notch all around, especially as it is elevated by Robert Redford's focused direction and engaging storytelling.

They simply just don't make movies like this anymore…it is indeed sad. I laughed. I cried. I walked down memory lane, thinking back to the days when my own father taught me how to flyfish…when he is gone, I will always have that treasure, in my memory, that only a father can share with his son. 5 star masterpiece, and one of the best movies, in my opinion, ever made!

… one of which I will never practice – fly fishing - since there are far too many beautiful passions available than time left in this life.For decades I considered fishing to be BORING, a la Tom Sawyer, sitting under a tree, with a string attached to a worm at one end and a bamboo pole at the other. I had a friend who lived in northern Minnesota who commenced my education into the skill and art of fishing. He was the one who gave me Russell Chatham’s book, “Dark Water,” which provided much additional instruction. A bit more than a decade ago I read Norman Maclean’s eponymous masterpiece, upon which this movie is based. I rated it a solid 5-stars.Robert Redford directed the movie adaptation of Maclean’s book, which he released in 1992. Craig Sheffer so-often has an admirably perplexed look on his face, as he plays Norman, confronting the dilemmas of life. Brad Pitt plays his younger brother, Paul, who would stay in Montana and become a newspaper reporter. (Norman would go to Dartmouth for six years in the 1920’s, before commencing his career as an English professor at the University of Chicago.) I love Tom Skerritt, always associating him with his role as the sheriff in the TV series, “Picket Fences,” though of course he has played many other admirable roles. In this movie he plays the stern Presbyterian minister father, who taught his sons the “religion” of fly fishing. He also instructed the youthful Norman to make his stories shorter.“America as it used to be,” was once the tagline for the Idaho Department of Tourism. The book and movie are set in Missoula, Montana, near the border with Idaho and the Bitterroot Mountains. In the movie a similar sentiment is expressed by the youthful Maclean: “…the Montana of my youth was a world with the dew still on it.” (Note: the credits indicate that the movie was filmed further east in Montana, in Bozeman and Livingston, both of which could provide mountains in the background.) Maclean was born in 1902. Redford did an impressive job of assembling black and white photographs from the period, and then going forward through 1917, when all the able-bodied lumberjacks went off to fight in The Great War, which facilitated Norman’s hiring by the Forest Service at the age of 16.It is not all paradise. To Redford’s credit, he shows the underbelly of frontier life: the drinking, gambling, whoring, and bigotry against Indians. Though it is revealed early in the book, Redford delays to the end the murder of Norman’s younger brother, Paul, who allowed himself to be sucked into the bad influences of that underbelly.The real star of the movie is the beauty of the land itself, coupled with that ever-so-graceful ability to place the fishing line exactly where you want it. (How many takes were required, I often wondered?) Though I will never flyfish, I do have a strong passion for being able to experience a few days camping in the Bitterroots. This movie was another hard push. 5-stars.

My reviews are more how movies touch me emotionally. I enjoyed the realness of life shared, no overly strong good vs bad. The romance is what seems normal in life, enjoyable and touching. It's a beautiful movie in many ways. I'm not a fly fisherman, but I loved learning and seeing the art of it. For the time of 1915..., the pastoral father did not buy into scripture that says spank "spare the rod spoil the child" - seems unusual for that day. He drew me closer to him over time; while stoic he comes through with love; this surprised me in a pleasant way. I was touched by sibling love that is pure and enduring; this is the best part - saying less is more. Good life messages are shared. I like the narrative style, pondering and insightful about a life from beginning to end.

Viewed this stunning film again, for the first time in a few years. Beautifully acted, wonderfully photographed, with a script which is a fine tribute to the original novella, and a narration, by Redford, that is elegant and sensitive. This was a tour-de-force when issued, and remains so. Each of the main characters is highly believable, but what a wasted talent is Emily LloydDo not think that this is merely a film about fly fishing, it really isn't. It is a film about life, families, helplessness, values and regret. I have always found it deeply moving.Not to be missed, one of my real all time favourites

Saw this film a long time ago then watched a series including fly fishing which took me back. Brad Pitt at his most glorious!! A wonderful, wonderful story with every actor contributing to their part making this a film which should be included in any top feature films. Will be enjoyed by all ages.

This item was bought as a Birthday gift for my Father, therefore I am not reviewing the film as I have not seen it.I ordered the item late so was concerned about it not arriving on time, but I had nothing to worry about as it arrived swiftly the following day after requesting next day delivery. The item was packaged simply, but well and the DVD arrived clean and undamaged. The case includes one disk and the DVD worked well.The recipient of the DVD is a keen fly fisherman and already owns the book and audio book of 'A River Runs Through It', he enjoyed the film and would recommend it to other fans of the original.Overall, very happy with the product and service.

A fine film with an excellent cast, and filmed in glorious surroundings – I'm hoping the rain will cease and I can go to the beach and cast a fly.

My neighbour loves this film so I got the dvd.It is a tale about a preacher & his family.Good story but slow going for me.