A River Runs Through It

“A River Runs Through It” is a thought-provoking movie about a small family living in Montana in the early 1900's. While this movie could have had great potential, it fails to be a great movie due to a poor plot, profanity, obscenities, and ungodly lifestyles.

Norman (Craig Sheffer) and Paul Maclean (Brad Pitt) are two young brothers who have a very close relationship. Tom Skerritt co-stars as the boy’s Presbyterian father, who is the preacher at their local church. All three men love fly-fishing, and this bond keeps them close for many years.

Each boy carves his path in life—Norman grows up and becomes an English-teacher at a university. Paul, on the otherhand, is more wild and reckless, drinking away his life in bars.

Robert Redford directed this film, which, if photography and scenery alone were the judge of this film, would have created a masterpiece. The on-location filming in the Montana wilderness is breathtaking, and the scenes of the fly-fishing were exceptional. However, partial nudity, an overabundance of profanity, and an excessive amount of drinking and smoking ruin this film. “A River Runs Through It” is based on a true life story, but it isn’t even exciting. The movie drags is in many parts, just plain boring.

This movie, while the front cover may make it look promising, does not fit the criteria that a Christian father and mother should be looking for themselves or their children.