sarakurtis I was expecting the collaboration of Robert Redford and Brad Pitt to be something stellar but the River runs through it is clearly not that film. This is a slow paced meditation by Redford which involves small town politics, fly fishing and the understanding of family dynamics. This isn't a bad movie but more of a tempo that it should be watched in the right frame of mind.

jsk32870 I count this among my favorite films, one I can watch time and again without getting bored. Beautifully shot and acted, and with a memorable score, it's a perfect way to pass the time on a rainy afternoon (like today).Plot in a nutshell: two brothers, Norman and Paul, take divergent paths on the way to manhood in early 1900s Montana.Perhaps this film speaks so effectively to me because I, like Norman, grew up with one brother (although, unlike Norman, I am the younger of the two). And like them, my brother and I share some similarities, but we are more different than we are alike. No differences, though, are strong enough to overcome the fraternal bond that unites them. Both in their youth and young adulthood, you see Norman and Paul "being there for each other" when push comes to shove.Some reviewers have stated the film is boring; I don't see that. Perhaps they were looking for an action/adventure film, I am not sure. This is drama, pure and simple, and done on an exemplary scale. It's like "Little Women," but for guys, and instead of four sisters, you have two brothers, Norman and Paul. We see their triumphs, their failures, their relationships....but most of all, we see that bond they share, shining through. I've always taken that as the theme of 'running through it'...their family bonds, and their fraternal bond with each other. It's a deep film, in that way. It can be uplifting, but also tragic; a sheer reflection of life itself.I've loved the film since I first saw it in '92, and my opinion hasn't changed. Even the music is wonderful; I bought the CD for the soundtrack I liked it that much (CDs, I know, but c'mon, this was 1992 after all!). Watching "A River Runs Through It" is like catching up with an old friend; every few years I make sure to revisit it, because it's time well spent.10/10. Poignant coming-of-age tale which also won the Oscar for Best Cinematography, and was nominated for Best Original Score. Would I watch again (Y/N)?: Absolutely, yes.

Natalie Rosen The film, "A River runs Through It" says so much to me about things I think on often speaking to the eternal question we all have trying to give answer to the rationale for life despite the almost incomprehensible vicissitudes of it and the the incredulity of man's inhumanity to his fellow man's contribution to it.It tells the story set in the early 20th century of a Montana family composed of two brothers different in every way but, though different and incomprehensible one to the other, loving each other nonetheless despite those differences. I urge you to watch it if you can. In my opinion it is a beautiful film worthy of thought.There is a poem within the film that is quoted. "Ode, Imitations of Immortality" written by William Wordsworth (1779-1850) which speaks to the drama of the film. It happens to be one of my favorite poems that gives credence and reality to life.Norman Maclean the writer of the semi-autobiographical book "A River Runs Through It" writes two of the most revelatory soliloquies of the father Reverend Maclean in one of his sermons after the death of his youngest son and one of the surviving son Norman's summary at the end of the film pictured as an aged man fishing in the river both he and his sons had experienced in their youth. They say:Reverend: "Each one of us here today will at one time in our lives look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question: We are willing to help, Lord, but what, if anything, is needed? For it is true we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give or, more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it is those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them - we can love completely without complete understanding." Norman: "Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs --his father and brother --. I am haunted by waters." We, as I understand the film, go through life only to see at the end, if we live long enough, most those whom we knew and loved die. How do we give credence to this if all that we ever knew and loved leaves us and in time we, too, leave the earth? Our works, who we are, and who we loved, I think the film says, still live as eventually every living thing passes out of this earth but the reality of one's existence lives on as Norman says "in the basement of time" and a river runs through it carrying the words spoken indelible in the sands of time.Ode, Intimations of Immortality (in pertinent part)Then sing, ye birds, sing, sing a joyous song! And let the young lambs bound As to the tabor's sound! 175We in thought will join your throng, Ye that pipe and ye that play, Ye that through your hearts to-day Feel the gladness of the May! What though the radiance which was once so bright 180Be now for ever taken from my sight, Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower; We will grieve not, rather find Strength in what remains behind; 185 In the primal sympathy Which having been must ever be; In the soothing thoughts that spring Out of human suffering; In the faith that looks through death, 190In years that bring the philosophic mind.

Blueghost A superbly cast, well acted, exceptionally well shot film with lots of production values, but no plot elements to hold it together.This films looks at a time gone by. Early turn of the century Americana (or a decade or so after) in the Midwest, and specifically Montana. The cinematography is fairly well crafted, and the actors and on set people all do their jobs.But where's the story?The copy on the DVD box says this is a character study. Okay, but what about this character makes him interesting? The fact that he's a minister's son? That he dates women others might not? In the midst of a very picturesque location with lots of period props and costumes, there is absolutely nothing here to hold your attention.Does he engage in courtship with these women? Did he get his cues from another character who had loose morals? We don't really know, nor are we given any real insight, other than he's degenerating until he meets his end. And even then we don't get insight as to why it happened, though we can sort of piece things together.It's a film that looks like a masterpiece, but is ultimately pretty devoid of any feeling other than looking like it should have been more than it is.