VIEW TRAILER
A River Runs Through It was the first film that I am reviewing for my blog. Bare with me.
This film is a sentimental drama set in the early 1990s in the backwoods of Montana. The story is a classic coming of age film, with the main character, Norman (played by Craig Sheffer), experiencing the universal joys and sorrows of adulthood. The film is one of those movies that doesn't exactly have a direct purpose in its plot, yet still manages to be enjoyable for the most part. However, I did get the sense that this film tried to grasp at something bigger than what it was.
For me, the most enjoyable aspect of the film was the way in which Norman and his younger brother Paul (played by Brad Pitt) interact. So many of us can relate to one or the other in our own lives. On the one hand you have Norman, the older, more responsible, brother who goes off to college and pursues a career in teaching. On the other hand is Paul, the younger, more adventurous, free spirited brother who is the apple of his parents' eye, yet has haunting problems that he keeps hidden from his family. This dynamic was played out very well by both characters, but I thought the father (minister, overbearing, can-do-no-evil) and mother (quiet, subservient, an afterthought in the household) were both less-than-imaginative characters.
This film did have its fair share of slow and sometimes downright awkward moments. I would not recommend it for someone who heads to the movies with the hopes of being visually assaulted by action and special effects. I would recommend it to sentimental folks, especially fathers or sons with fond fishing memories.
- Will like if you enjoyed... - A Beautiful Mind, Dances with Wolves, My Dog Skip, Simon Birch, Field of Dreams
- Stay Away if... - You don't enjoy the outdoors, if you need action in your films, if you are looking for an easily defined plot
- Best Performance - Brad Pitt (Paul Maclean), who plays the younger brother who is impossible to dislike, yet destined to fail. He lights up the screen, and displays a side of his acting arsenal that most people aren't familiar with.
- Worst Performance - Stephen Shellen (Neal Burns). His character wasn't likable in the film, or as part of the plot in general. Never really got a grasp of why he was even in the film.
- Quote of the Film - "In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing."
- Image I will Remember - Paul Maclean walking into Lolo's as Norman drives off.
- RATING - 6.5/10. This film was good, but it wasn't great. To relate it to fishing (which this film deals with greatly) it nibbled at my emotions here and there, but never took the bait hook line and sinker. If you are in the mood for a slightly uplifting, slightly depressing film, give this one a go.
Again, this is my first film, so I am hoping to make improvements and adjustments as I go.
