Rachel River

Maybe the first commentator, Dave, is a 'terminator' type guy. If you are looking for fast cuts, lots of action and have a short attention span this movie is not for you. If you like slower, slice of life, meandering movies you will like this. I thought the acting was good and the story dealt with life's little uncertainties in a convincing way.

All of my movie reviews so far have been really positive & praiseworthy. But the time has come to finally cut up a movie for what it is, and this is a good one to start with. Rachel River is one of the worst movies that I have ever seen. What was Craig T Nelson thinking of when he was offered a part in this first class clunker? It's a good thing that Coach was a hit for him or his acting career would have been in a landfill site along with the script of this sham of a picture. I would have rather stood in a corner and stared at the wall for 88mins. Two other things that I can,t get over, is the fact that this movie won an award from the U.S Film Festival for Best Cinematography. WHAT A STINKIN JOKE!!!! It should have won the award for turkey of the year. The other thing is, why would they release this movie on Laser Disc? This was one of the .50cent discs that I bought when Camelot had a huge blow out sale, but I felt ripped off at even paying .50cents for this awful movie called Rachel River. I hope that this film is waiting for 5 votes for a long time. It should be taken out of your data base. TOTAL CRAP!!!!!

Other comments notwithstanding, this is a very good film. Literate, understated, atmospheric, with good understanding of the human condition, and sympathetic treatment of character. Definitely not a film for action freaks, but a treat for those who appreciate depth and characterization. A solid 8.

If you want car chases, gunfights and explosions, this isn't the movie for you. If you enjoy the craft of simple storytelling, small town life and the picturesque nature of Sandstone Minnesota, well, then I think you should buy this movie.

The attempt to make a movie of this subtlety in the United States of the late 1980s was extraordinary, and the measure of how simply yet successfully it was done equally so. The result is moving and exemplary, and especially so for screenwriters, for it shows how much can be done at little cost if a company of filmmakers commit themselves to focusing upon people rather than hype. Readers of this comment needn't read further, for it ends here. However, the 'guidelines' for posting require me to 'hype' its length to ten lines - so I am obliged to repeat: RACHEL RIVER is moving and exemplary, and especially so for screenwriters, for it shows how much can be done at little cost if a company of filmmakers commit themselves to focusing upon people rather than hype.