So much time has passed since the movie was released that only die-hard fans (like me) still are interested. But if A River Runs Through It never really left you after all this time, you're likely to think this is a good documentary that can answer some of the questions on how the big movie was made -- especially if you have wondered about the significant differences between the book and the movie. It was great to hear from Robert Redford as well as some of the author's surviving family about how the movie was approached and the relationship that developed between author and director long before the filming began. It's interesting to hear the actors' takes on their roles as they are filming, the trouble spots they have, and the way they work through them. Punctuating throughout are some funny images like Tom Skerritt's interview: He's wearing both his minister's costume of Rev. Maclean AND a pair of Raybans. Emily Lloyd looks spectacular in her black I'm-all-grown-up period outfit and a chic hat over blonde curls -- speaking all the while in her mesmerizing British accent. Yeow. But equally interesting are all the comments from the crew, giving you the sense each member believed his or her responsibilities were the most critical to the production. It's pretty obvious, however, that each speaker had been pre-interviewed because several people refer to previous conversations that never made it into the final cut: "It's like I was sayin' before..." You would think movie people would know better than that. It may be a bit unpolished, but it makes up for it when you see how sincere and honest everyone is, particularly the author's family. Top it off with some really dramatic ending music that adds this spooky sense of life just rushing away, and you get something really watchable. I've seen it several times now, and I'm left with the feeling that even after Redford put so much of his own stamp on the big movie, he didn't fully grasp all the depth, themes and good nuances he was capturing in this version. Good stuff.
