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A River Runs Through It
- Review Date: April 17, 2003
- PG
- Genre: Drama
- 1992
Common Sense Media says
Moving, powerful movie of two brothers.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie deals with issues between adult brothers, drinking, and gambling.
What's the story?
In A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT, Norman and Paul Maclean are raised by a Presbyterian minister father (Tom Skerritt) who taught them their schoolwork, religion, and fly fishing as though they were all one subject. All were strict and thorough. Norman (Craig Sheffer), though more sober, loved the wild streak in Paul (Brad Pitt) that made him "tougher than any man alive" but feared that it would destroy him. And it did. While Norman becomes a professor of English literature and falls in love with Jessie Burns (Emily Lloyd), Paul becomes a reporter and gets into trouble drinking and gambling. Norman is called by the police to get Paul out of jail, and ultimately, he's called again when Paul is killed.
Is it any good?
Based on writer Norman Maclean's autobiographical story of growing up in Montana, A River Runs Through It is a moving, powerful drama that combines gorgeous cinematography with earnest, heartfelt performances. It's not perfect, but its father-son themes (and all of the fishing) have given it a special place in a lot of grown men's hearts.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how you can love someone without being able to understand or save them. Like Norman, Jessie has a brother who is self-destructive, though his part of the story is played more for comedy. In today's terms, Jessie's mother would be considered an enabler because she does not impose any limits on her son, and does not insist that he recognize the consequences of his behavior. If you were Norman, what would you have said to Paul? When? Why didn't Norman say those things? If you were Jessie, what would you say to Neal? Why was it important to have Neal's story in the movie? What does Norman mean when he says that his father saw no difference between religion and flyfishing?
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AGE
This was not good
This movie was not a good one at all. The story line was bland and the only redeeming quality was Brad Pitt's acting.
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AGE
Good movie, good lesson.
It's actually really good! This is not the kind of movie I would normally watch, but it was well done. It's not perfect, but it was a good story of two brothers. It teaches us that if you take things more seriously like Norman and care about education, you'll be successful, and if you do stupid things and make bad decisions, your life will go downhill. Other people gave it bad reviews because it requires you to use your brain! You have to think during this movie to understand what's going on.
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AGE
Great movie without judgement about highly complex issue
This is a great movie to watch as a family, double so if you have a child/family member who is different from everybody else, or considered a trouble maker. This movie about very painful situation when you have a child who is not like you, or wouldn't fit. What should you do? I like this movie because it is just telling the story without judgement. It opens the door for discussion within families.
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| Topics: | book characters, brothers and sisters |
| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | Robert Redford |
| Cast: | Brad Pitt, Craig Sheffer, Tom Skerritt |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 124 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 9, 1992 |
| DVD release date: | April 2, 2002 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
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