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Actors: Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt, Tom Skerritt, Brenda Blethyn, Emily Lloyd
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about A River Runs Through It |
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Robert Redford directed this 1992 realization of Norman Maclean's bestselling, autobiographical novel about growing up in rural Montana, although the film shifts the story back into the Prohibition 1920s from its 1937 setting in the book. Norman is the good son, his younger brother Paul rebels against their Scottish minister father, the Reverend Maclean; but all love flyfishing. Norman watches helplessly as his wild and independent brother descends into gambling, boozing, and more dangerous pursuits. "River" is a slow and stately, almost mythic, film whose pace may wear on some viewers. It amplifies a love story about Norman and his wife Jessie Burns, although the women are still somewhat left out of the guy games that anchor the tale. But the Montana vistas are unquestionably moving and the acting reasonably good. Redford also serves as the voiceover narrator of Maclean, looking back more than 50 years on the pivotal events of his youth.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of A River Runs Through It |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
elements, all of which are searchable (click here). |
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Kids growing up/acting up?
Yes
Kids:
- boozing
- fighting with parents
- general coming of age story
Family, struggling with
Yes
Struggle with:
- Father
Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?
Yes
Story of city/rural life?
- Small Town
Culture clash?
- family young v. old guard
Culture of surrounding area:
- American West
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Events of movie makes character more...
- sad
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- blonde
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- religious figure
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- West
Forest?
Yes
Water?
Yes
Water:
- river
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting
- resort/hotel
- bar
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- thoughtful
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
- sex under blankets
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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