A River Runs Through It (1992)

All Critics (40) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (7) | DVD (11)

A skilled, careful adaptation of a much-admired story.

November 8, 2007 Full Review | Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

This may work for you if you settle at the outset for a nostalgic, all-American mood piece.

November 8, 2007 Full Review | Comment

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Here are two things I never thought I'd say: I like a movie about fly fishing, and Robert Redford has directed one of the most ambitious, accomplished films of the year.

May 20, 2003 Full Review | Comment

Caryn James

New York Times

Top Critic

Redford's movie is too little show and too much tell.

May 12, 2001 Comment

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

In its determination to emphasize character and thoughtful content over formulas and facile sensationalism, it's a movie that's proudly out of step with Hollywood trends.

January 1, 2000 Full Review | Comment

Hal Hinson

Washington Post

Top Critic

Redford and his writer, Richard Friedenberg, understand that most of the events in any life are accidential or arbitrary, especially the crucial ones, and we can exercise little conscious control over our destinies.

January 1, 2000 Full Review | Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Moving, powerful movie of two brothers.

December 21, 2010 Full Review | Comment

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Fans of this film will want to know how good it looks on Blu-ray, and the answer is, awfully good.

July 14, 2009 Full Review | Comment

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

Sherritt has been in a lot of movies, but the role of Rev. Maclean seems like one he was born to play. He owns it, the way that Pitt and Sheffer own theirs, and as a result it takes no time at all to believe this group as a family and become involved.

July 14, 2009 Full Review | Comment

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

There is too much taste, discretion and detachment in Redford's rendition of MacLean's sprawling family saga, but the scenery and Brad Pitt are nice to look at due to Philippe Rousselot's gorgeous Oscar-winning cinematography.

March 24, 2008 Full Review | Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Although heart-throb Pitt steals the film to some extent, veteran actor Skerritt scores highly with his outstanding and heartfelt portrait of the watchful father.

November 8, 2007 Full Review | Comment

Film4

Even set against the Sierra Club beauty of Redford's Montana, it's hard to get excited by fisherman casting their lines into the water.

November 8, 2007 Full Review | Comment (1)

TV Guide's Movie Guide

A great movie to watch with the family at Christmas.

December 4, 2006 Comment

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Leave your preconceptions about fishing at the door: you'll be caught hook, line and sinker.

June 24, 2006 Full Review | Comment

Time Out

A specialist in bringing books to life as movies, Redford has a knack for finding what matters in the text and making sure it ends up on screen.

September 22, 2005 Full Review | Comment

Don Willmott

Filmcritic.com

Brad Pitt's breakthrough...a nostalgic, fine telling.

January 3, 2005 Comment

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan

Nice to look at but rather dull

June 25, 2004 Comment

Jon Niccum

Lawrence Journal-World

How exciting is fly-fishing as a metaphor?

January 21, 2004 Comments (5)

Victoria Alexander

FilmsInReview.com

• 1. Norman Maclean: And I knew just as surely, just as clearly, that life is not a work of art, and that the moment could not last.
  – Submitted by Mackenzie M (6 months ago)
• 1. Reverend MacLean: 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 those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them - we can love completely without complete understanding.
  – Submitted by Mackenzie M (6 months ago)
• 1. Reverend MacLean: Each one of 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 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 those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them - we can love completely without complete understanding.
  – Submitted by Chad E (6 months ago)
• 1. Narration: Like many fly fishermen in western Montana where the summer days are almost Arctic in length, I often do not start fishing until the cool of the evening. Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise. 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 those rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.
  – Submitted by Chad E (6 months ago)
• 1. Narration: My father was very sure about certain matters pertaining to the universe. To him, all good things - trout as well as eternal salvation - came by grace; and grace comes by art; and art does not come easy.
  – Submitted by Chad E (6 months ago)