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Date:         Fri, 6 Nov 1992 10:10:00 EST
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From:         AFCOLYER@PSUCES.BITNET
Subject:      A River Runs Through It

                  I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O R A N D U M

                                        Date:     06-Nov-1992 08:37am EST
                                        From:     Anita F. Colyer
                                                  AFCOLYER
                                        Dept:     Independent Learning
                                        Tel No:   (814) 865-5403

TO:  Remote Network Mail User             ( _IN%CINEMA-L@AUVM.BITNET )


Subject: A River Runs Through It

I went to see Robert Redford's latest directorial effort last night, A River
Runs Through It, starring Tom Skerritt, Brad Pitt, and Craig Sheffer.

The story is set along the Blackfoot River in Montana--and the scenery (I
assume it was actually filmed there) is gorgeous.  Lots of long shots of water
cascading over the rocks and mist rising off the mountains.  The story is
about a Presbyterian minister (Skerritt) and his relationship with his two
sons, with whom he shares his two greatest joys in life:  religion and fly
fishing.  The older brother (Sheffer, the serious, introspective brother) goes
East for several years to get a college degree and then returns home, while the
younger brother (Pitt, the charming, fun-loving brother) stays in Montana and
becomes a hard-drinking, wild-living newspaperman.

The pace of the movie is even, and the tone (the story is narrated by Redford,
as he--the older brother in the story--as an old man looks back on some of the
significant events of his life) is one of thoughtful contemplation.  The
narrator's language is beautiful and poetic.  I don't know how much of the
script was taken directly from the novella of the same name by Norman Maclean,
but I found that listening to the narrator was much like listening to someone
read literature--freed from the "work" of doing the reading yourself, you can
relax and listen, and just appreciate the beauty and imagery of the words.

There are no amazing special effects, no wild sex scenes, and very little
violence, so I imagine that the public, inured to such things by the typical
Hollywood offering, will have a difficult time placing this film in a
particular genre (some people might find it a trifle too understated);
I would guess that the film will not be one of this year's top grossers,
money-wise.  In some ways, I found that this film reminded me very much of Out
of Africa; it deals with the grand epic of human beings playing out their lives
in a rhythm that is at some times in harmony, and at other times in discord,
with the beauty of a nature that can be alternately placid and lovely, and dark
and threatening.  It also deals with themes of love and competition, and
silence that too often stands between people where communication should be,
that are so much a part of the "family" experience.  It is about learning to
accept loss, and coming to terms with the reality that you can love completely
(without understanding completely) someone who is not perfect.

I recommend it.  If you know anyone who is an avid fly fisher, tell them they
must see it.  Better yet, go see it yourself . . . and take your dad, if you
can.

Anita
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