A River Runs Through It - Blu-ray Review

Robert Redford’s adaptation of Norman Maclean’s acclaimed autobiographical novella might be the most popular fishing movie ever made. Although it’s not a blockbuster, it’s nice to see Sony doing right by the film with a well-intentioned Blu-ray edition. A tale of two Montana brothers (Brad Pitt, Craig Sheffer) and their family’s passion for fly fishing, River’s Oscar-winning cinematography is the main standout here. Strangely, the Blu-ray picture is almost too razor-sharp—particularly during the fishing sequences—and it proved to be a bit of a distraction from the film’s intended nostalgic dreaminess. That said, the crystal-clear visuals work best on the BD-exclusive collection of Montana’s Blackfoot River screensavers. Other newly produced extras include featurettes on the production, fly fishing and the Blackfoot River’s destruction and restoration.

Shelf Talk: The appeal of River’s supplemental package is almost as attractive as the feature itself. The dedicated fan base will no doubt be interested in the film’s history and additional info on fly fishing. For those Blu-ray adopters who want to see just how crystalline a picture can be—whether it befits the film’s story and tone or not—this is one to check out.