A River Runs Through It

REVIEW
A meticulous and beautifully rendered adaptation of Norman MacLean's autobiographical novella, A River Runs Through It, with a romanticized view of aw-shucks country living and astonishing picturesque backdrops. The story follows the relationship between young MacLean, a straight-laced scholar played by Sheffer and his wilder, younger brother, Paul (Pitt). Though opposites in temperament, it is their reverence for fly-fishing which bonds them. As Norman travels to the East to attend college, Paul stays behind in Montana and lives the life of a boozing, cynical journalist. As the brothers are reuinted, MacLean's text is movingly realized: "It is those we live with and love and should know who elude us." Though the entire cast is outstanding, it is Pitt whose star-making performance anchors the film.