A River Runs Through It is a haunting, worthy, nostalgic, drama directed by Robert Redford and based upon the autobiographical novella by Norman McLean. The film follows the McLean family growing up in rural Missoula Montana, raised on a actual diet of coast fishing and strict religious conservatism. The film embodies strong messages about the human condition and man’s struggle against himself and his external reality. Showcasing the unbelievable acting abilities of a young Brad Pitt, breathtaking cinematography, and a lush sweeping catch by Tag Isham, A River Runs Through It is simply one of the finest coming of age family dramas ever created. Won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
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The film opens with a shot of the river, and then a montage of sepia tone photographs of Missoula Montana in the 1930’s. Redford memorably recreates the period, in an ode to early America. Norman McLean is (yelp over narration by Robert Redford) recalling the memories of his life since past. We learn that he and his brother Paul (Brad Pitt) were brought up by his strict Presbyterian preacher father (Tom Skerrit), in an extremely conservative environment, their father introducing them to glide fishing, and yet making no obvious distinction between the two. Although it will reach to succor as a counter point to their religious grounding (Freedom versus Restraint) . Flee fishing serves as a metaphor for the plan that each son will arrive life, literally and symbolically. The River (Water) is a constant motif in the film that also serves as the never-ending physical and emotional challenge that will eventually shape their destinies.
We learn that Paul (Brad Pitt) is the rebellious younger brother, who “toughness came from somewhere deep inside of him”, while Norman (Craig Sheffer) is the more conservative brother. In an early scene, Paul further rebels and refuses to eat his food. We glimpse the boys grow up. Paul comes up with an belief to occupy a rowboat and “shoot the chutes”, (hump the boat down the big waterfall) everyone else chickens out when they finally advance the river, except Paul and Craig. Craig reluctantly goes along with his brother’s impulsive urges, for dismay of looking tremulous. Succor at home, the boys are confronted by their distraught parents, who found out from another one of the boys parents. Their father tells them that they will go to church and pray for forgiveness. The next morning during lunch, Norman and Paul assume in a brawl that is a result of their two personalities clashing. We hear that was the only time they ever fought. Norman is approved into Dartmouth College on the east flit, while Paul stays in Montana. This begins to foreshadow Paul’s inability to change his site, while Norman has the means to peep his have path. Four years later, Norman returns home, Paul has taken a job as a Helena reporter, and developing as a sail fisherman. In their first fishing go together, we learn that Paul has broken free from the structure of his father’s “four count rhythm” and developed a more improvisational technique called “shadow casting”. We inaugurate to ogle how hover fishing will symbolize the course of Paul’s life.
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Norman meets a comely girl named Jessie Burns (Emily Lloyd) at the local fourth of July dance in an awkward encounter. He makes arrangements to look her again, and they meet Paul and his Indian girlfriend one night. Paul, has brought his Native American partner along, (a statement to the rebellion of his character) and causes some commotion at the bar. We meet Jessie’s brother Neal, who is visiting from California, an arrogant, self flattering drunk, who is the heart of the Burn’s family. Norman agrees to consume Jessie’s brother Neal fishing one day, and they return to derive Neal and his friend passed out in the sun among a couple of empty beer bottles. In a mirrorlike set, Jessie and her brother are symbolic of Paul and Norman. Jessie as Norman, and Neal as Paul. (effect the similarity in name) Jessie asks Norman “How near the people who need the most abet, won’t prefer it.” Norman is not able to retort her, and it is through their relationship that we launch to sight the McLean’s more clearly.
The film slowly unfolds itself, letting the viewer be pleased it’s subtle yet grand storylines. Perhaps it is so effective because it appears matter of factly. It does not arrive across heavy handedly. Norman is called by the police state to remove his brother up one day, having gotten into a fight over his girlfriend. Paul becomes increasingly in debt at the local gambling house, and has also become an alcoholic. As his life slowly spirals into oblivion, he is unaware of the consequences of his actions. Norman immediately recognizes the destructive path that his brother is heading towards and offers to attend. Paul stubbornly refuses to grasp the money and wait on that his brother has offered to him. Norman has been celebrated to state at the University of Chicago and urges Paul to approach with him. Paul realizes that he will never leave Montana, and so does Norman. In the family’s final coast fishing breeze together, Paul has seemingly transcended the art of hover fishing, having mastered his map of “shadow casting”, and makes an wonderful obtain. Paul has ironically found freedom from his father’s religious upbringing through coast fishing, although he is simultaneously being destroyed by his occupy rebellion. We are presented with the duality of man and his conflicting inner desires to accept equilibrium on many levels. Although Paul has found peace with nature, he is struggling to determine inner demons that plague him. The inner demons that will eventually extinguish him.
Redford’s commentary on the healing power of nature and the stubbornness of the human spirit is a a testament to man’s universal struggle against himself. Indirectly, we search for that there is only so grand a family or person can do to protect someone. We realize that fancy is simply not enough, and that eventually a person will lift their contain path that they were meant to choose. The River ultimately symbolizes the destinations that are unstoppable as grand as nature itself is unstoppable. Everyone’s course is their fill. In its ambiguity and power, it is at once haunting and elegant.
*The rerelease A River Runs Through It contains a mark original Anamorphic widescreen presentation, the image is magnificent, although “Deluxe Edition” is misleading. Aside from trailers, text only filmographies, and a collectible scrapbook, there are no additional special features*
This review refers to the Columbia/Tristar DVD edition of “A River Runs Through It”…
Even with Brad Pitt co-starring in this film, it was the awesome cinematography that kept me mesmerized. Filmed in the lush mountains and rivers of Montana, director Robert Redford and Director of Photography Phillipe Rousselot(who won an Oscar for his work on this film) steal the beauty of this land and the anecdote.
Based on a autobiographical novella by Norman Maclean, we are swept aid to the earlier fragment of the 20th century with the Maclean family. Family, church and Sail fishing came above all else. Norman, played at the younger age by newcomer Joseph Gordon-Levitt(who was honored with the Young Artists award in 1993 for his performance), and his younger brother Paul are finish and near from a loving but highly disciplined household, accelerate by their stern father(Tom Skerritt) the Reverend of the shrimp town church. The Rev. is strict when it comes to their education, but a gigantic fragment of that education is the freedom to fly-fish, enjoyed by all the Maclean men.
We behold as Norman and Paul grow into men(Craig Scheffer/Brad Pitt) and how differently their lives turn out. Norman grows into a exquisite scholar, but Paul takes a different path. His is one of a rebel, who finds anguish at every turn. But always they have their care for for each other, their family, and their like of fly-fishing. Paul turns it into an art that is a survey to eye in that comely Montana scenery.
Other ravishing performances are turned in by Brenda Blethyn as Mrs. Maclean, Emily Lloyd as Jessie Burns, the girl Norman loses his heart to and Vann Gravage who plays the young Paul. A blooming music accept by Stamp Isham adds greatly to the understanding without being obtrusive to the myth. A ravishing screenplay by Richard Freidenberg will intention you in and support you there. It’s a colossal wreck from action movies without getting overly dramatic.
It is rated PG, but probably not appropiate for the younger viewers, there are some adult themes as well as brief nudity.
Columbia has done justice to this beautifully filmed movie in it’s transfer to DVD. Honest Dazzling! Remastered in anamorphic widescreen(if you catch corpulent cloak, that is on side B) with friendly clarity of the colors as well as the narrate. The sound remastered in Dolby 2.0 Surround was very pleasant, but I would have loved to hear it in 5.1. It may be viewed in French, Spanish(also stereo),or Portuguese(mono), and has subtitles in these languages as well as English. There are theatrical trailers and Talent files, but no other special features.
If your in the mood for a astronomical action thriller, this is NOT it! This is a film to impartial sit encourage and be pleased…..Oh and I really did indulge in Brad Pitt’s performance(almost as distinguished as the scenery) …relish….Laurie
also recommended:
Meet Joe Black
The Color Purple
Studs Lonigan (1960)
Bid Cactus
Donna and Eric Sleepover - Donna spends the night with Eric and all they do is cuddle.
… again, I digress…
