X
- 1992
- PG
- Columbia Pictures
- 2 h 3 m
- 1992
- PG
- Columbia Pictures
- 2 h 3 m
Summary An adaptation of Norman Maclean's classic memoir. Growing up, Norman (Sheffer) and his brother Paul (Pitt) rebel against their stern minister father. While Norman channels his rebellion into writing, Paul descends a slippery path to self-destruction. (Columbia Pictures)
Directed By: Robert Redford
Written By: Norman Maclean, Richard Friedenberg
- 1992
- PG
- Columbia Pictures
- 2 h 3 m
- 1992
- PG
- Columbia Pictures
- 2 h 3 m
A River Runs Through It
68
6.9
Where to Watch
Summary An adaptation of Norman Maclean's classic memoir. Growing up, Norman (Sheffer) and his brother Paul (Pitt) rebel against their stern minister father. While Norman channels his rebellion into writing, Paul descends a slippery path to self-destruction. (Columbia Pictures)
Directed By: Robert Redford
Written By: Norman Maclean, Richard Friedenberg
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 21 Critic Reviews
68
71% Positive
15 Reviews
15 Reviews
29% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 21 Critic Reviews
68
71% Positive
15 Reviews
15 Reviews
29% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
A tasteful, richly textured, exquisitely nostalgic drama that carries with it an enormous emotional punch. [09 Oct 1992]
A skilled, careful adaptation of a much-admired story, A River Runs Through It is a convincing trip back in time to a virtually vanished American West, as well as a nicely observed family study.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 48 User Ratings
6.9
69% Positive
33 Ratings
33 Ratings
25% Mixed
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
6% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 48 User Ratings
6.9
69% Positive
33 Ratings
33 Ratings
25% Mixed
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
6% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
This movie is great. Awesome performances by the entire cast, especially Tom Skerrrit. The music is fantastic, and really fills the movie with emotion. Beautiful story and script. This is a complete movie that everyone should see.
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The film accomplishes the difficult task in keeping us invested in the lives of two brothers and their family. There is no glamorous extravagance to be seen in this picture, rather, it has an earthy and spiritual quality which gently unfolds.
It envelops us in its quiet wisdom throughout its runtime.
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It's perfectly admirable, absolutely controlled, and fully understandable. [09 Oct 1992]
Whatever the movie's failings, it had enough poignancy and beauty to make me want to find out what was missing. [08 Oct 1992]
Though Maclean's bedrock prose is perfection in print, the film may be another case (like actor Redford's "The Great Gatsby") in which text defies translation. [09 Oct 1992]
An admirable if frequently soporific 1992 adaptation of Norman Maclean's account of life in Missoula, Montana.
It works better as a nature and historical study than as a drama, though.
Based on a memoir, the plot is well supported by the performances of Tom Skerrit and Brad Pitt. It is true that it has a good load of nostalgia and emotion, but something was missing that allows the viewer to feel more empathy towards the characters. Still, give the movie a chance.
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The film is long, almost as long as it took to read the book itself. Unnecessarily long and without proper emphasis on parts that radically change the characters themselves. The story has many intricacies in this matter but seemed to be almost totally ignored. None the less, if you can't bring yourself to read the book (which itself takes disciple as it its not full of excitement) watching this film once may suffice.
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The story of this film is slightly based on a memoir and tells of the youthful adventures of two brothers with very different personalities. Sons of a strict father, who is also the local pastor, the two young men grew up in a rural area of Montana in the early decades of the 20th century. Norman, the eldest, is more serious and sensible while Paul, the youngest, is adventurous, reckless and impulsive. However, despite their differences in personality and directions of life, they always maintained fraternal ties and a strong taste for river fishing, acquired with their father.
The film is, in a word, warm. The story itself is not very remarkable and could almost be said to be common, if it were not for the tragic end of one of the brothers. I understand the interest in the theme of brotherly love and family connections, but there are soap operas that approach the same theme in more exciting and addictive ways than this film, more sleepy than a slow river in Summer. Robert Redford directs, and the somewhat monochordic tone of his narration is perfect for falling asleep.
The cast has a name of great weight and a few others that surround it, so to speak. The cast's heaviest name is undoubtedly Brad Pitt, who was still the good-looking Hollywood boy in this distant year of 1992, and he knew how to perfectly combine intense talent with his face, a dose of irreverence and disheveled and unkempt charm. When watching this film, it was impossible not to compare his performance with what he would do, years later, in "Legends of the Fall", where it almost seems that he has taken over the same character. Craig Sheffer, a much less renowned actor, plays very well with Pitt and both form a positive partnership on the scene. Tom Skerritt also seemed to me quite well in the role of the father of both young people, although his character is excessively formal, taking away some credibility. The rest of the cast is limited to the average, especially the actresses, who practically appear by obligation.
Robert Redford knew how to take advantage of the scarce plot and print the film at a slow pace, almost as if it were a ramble of a man who remembers his own past. It is interesting, but two hours in a film like this is too much and makes us want to jump over all the monochromatic monologues and also all those emotionally charged dialogues. The film has no climax, nor does the death of an important character alter the tone of the film, which runs smoothly until it ends. Cinematography is very good and takes advantage of landscapes, running water, sky and natural elements. Sets and costumes are also very good and allow us to get a good understanding of the years passing. The soundtrack does not stand out, but in return we have excellent sound effects.
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Ah ces acteurs qui se mettent à réaliser des films ! des fois franchement, ça devrait être interdit. Ainsi cette purge de deux plombes bien tapées sur cette famille de péquenots dans le Montana du début du 20ème siècle... Et on fait quoi dans le Montana ? on va à l'église et on va à la pêche ! la pêche à la mouche. Ouais.
Et on se bourre un peu la gueule. Un petit peu quand même. Et même que parfois, ça joue au jeu : aux cartes et aux dés. Et pourtant dans cette famille du pasteur qui prêche tous les dimanches, le démon du jeu est dans la place (yo bro, cool ou bien ?... ah non c'est pas du tout le genre, pardonnez-moi). Il se serait pas planté dans l'un de ses sermons, le père pasteur ? tu parles d'une éducation !
Mais il faut au moins un petit drame juste avant la fin parce qu'il ne se passe strictement rien à part ça, chez les péquenots dévots. Mais c'est purement anecdotique et vite expédié parce que ce qui compte, c'est la pêche à la mouche au milieu de la rivière (qui coule). Et le Redford de filmer ça en bon écolo bien formaté et de filmer ses acteurs qui respirent l'ennui dans leurs dialogues insipides, creux et sans intérêt.
Il faut le voir pour le croire, ce remplissage ballot pendant deux heures qui en paraissent six ! du coup, on ne remarque plus le jeu transparent de Brad Pitre, car tout le monde est transparent et insipide là-dedans. Je crois que même la poiscaille se fait chier à mort dans la rivière, en attendant d'être pêché par cette bande d'abrutis.
Report
Production Company
Allied Filmmakers,
Wildwood Enterprises
Release Date Oct 9, 1992
Duration 2 h 3 m
Rating PG
Genres
Tagline The Story of an American Family.
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
Awards Circuit Community Awards
• 2 Nominations
