User reviews

The River Why is based on a novel, written by David James Duncan. In a few words, it's about a young fisherman who leaves the city life to go and live in a house by the river and do/find/think about what he loves.

If one would like to find himself somewhere, that looks like a nice place to do it. Romance isn't missing, but it's more like an inspiration here (the way love should be, i guess).

The movie was filmed in some very beautiful locations in Portland, Oregon. It seemed like a documentary actually. A pleasant one. Had some good music and lots of nature sounds and thoughts about life. Zach Gillford was really good, so was Amber Heard. As far as William Hurt concerns, i think he's a brilliant actor and manages to bring up small parts in greater levels.

It was nice, quiet and inspiring. It flowed like a river.

"The River Why" was a life-changing book of philosophy and introspection for me. The book is subtly powerful and I highly recommend it. Such a book requires a journey that takes significant internal time. The book lets you wander comfortably for ages through beauty, ideas, love, and fish -- never realizing until it happens that these wonders are slowly and gradually coalescing into something tangible inside the reader.

There's no way for a movie to do the same thing. And so, of course, this film does not accomplish what the book does.

However, it is true to the book in its own way. For one who has read the book, the movie will take you back into it and help you reawaken that feeling inside. It does this by not trying to to it all, but rather, through music, scenery, and pace, reestablishing the feel.

For one who has not read the book, it's likely to be an enjoyable little glimpse into a tiny piece of a much larger river. Sit down and relax with a cup of tea or a glass of wine and let the movie happen.

Gus Orviston (Zach Gilford) is born of an angling family. His father Henning (William Hurt) is a famous writer. His parents often argue over fishing. After one such fight, he leaves to fish on his own. He's taken with fish activist Eddy (Amber Heard). After discovering a dead body, he befriends incompetent fisherman Titus (Dallas Roberts).

The biggest problem with this movie is the lack of hurdles. It makes the story without drama. There is never any obstacles to his family life or the romantic life. There is only one on-screen parental fight before he leaves home. As for the romance, it's cute and sexy but without drama. I don't see any over-arching philosophy being espoused by his non-struggle. This is the lightest of coming-of-age romantic movie.

I have lived in Portland, Oregon since 1981. Last night I viewed The River Why.

I have not read the book and, in fact, may do so having now seen the film. While I don't think this is a life changing experience, I did find the movie charming and loved the cinematography and the scenery of Oregon. The actors all do a good job and the film is thoughtful. The score is also well done. Watch the credits and you will hear a lovely version of "Fishing Blues".

I would definitely recommend a viewing of this heartwarming film. Again do not expect anything earthshaking here but an enjoyable time.

Gus is a young man who is tired of hearing his parents arguing in his family. He leaves home in search of peace and tranquility, slowly feels the need for friendship and meets neighbors and fishing friends. Where a friend discusses and gives books to study. A personal growth film, so it's a must see.

This movie really couldn't get any worse than say, a pile of sh*t. I really wanted to like it. Hell, I could even looked past most of the piles of sh*t just for the scenery alone. But my crumbled Christ why couldn't anyone on the staff of this film stepped in and read the script and said, "Wait a minute, this is one big piece of sh*t!" An easy re-write could have been performed. I personally know 3 monkeys and one certified mentally disabled donkey that have credentials through the screenwriter's guild that could have improved upon this sewage treatment plant of hokum and heavy handed detritus.

I don't even know the point of this movie. Maybe to waste another venture capitalist's money? In which case, bravo!

No true trout or steelhead fishermen would keep every single fish they would return most of them to the river so to me this movie doesn't make sense and whoever wrote the screenplay needs to do their research. I've never read the book so I don't know what the book says I plan on reading it. No true trout fishermen would keep every fish, especially fly fisherman. The fact that the movie depicts him killing every single fish and having this huge cooler full of trout is appalling to me as a trout fisherman.

It is hard to point out certain aspects of life. You live a passion but you do not explain it, but how do you talk about it without demising it. Passion is the essence of life and we can only fulfill it when we feel it. You do not always know what you are passionate about. When life starts to expect something from you and it seems tied to you in particular then you understand the real need. We all expect love from our world but we cannot predict from where. When a gravitational pull comes into play you feel its attraction. Loving someone as they truly are is true love and when really expressed it is invisible. In the 'The river why' it is so pleasantly narrated and it makes you wish it was so easy. Unfortunately it is not always like that but the fulfillment in loving is worth the wait.

Dull, boring, zzzzzz. Nothing happens.

Only worth the watch for Amber Heard in her prime at age 22 when this was filmed in 2008 and the nice cinematography. Even the music score is boring. You have a violin, a banjo and an acoustic guitar. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

"For me happiness would never be found anywhere but on the banks of a river." After a fight with his father pushes him to far, Gus (Gilford) decides to leave everything and just fish. While living in a cabin and fishing 16 hours a day he runs into Eddy (Heard) on the river and begins to rethink his life choices. I'll start by saying that this is a very good movie, but very girly. Think "River Runs Through It" but much more of a love story. The scenery is great, but unless you are a hardcore fisherman it will be tough to get through the long sequences of fishing and fly tying that are scattered throughout. The acting is great, and William Hurt does a great job even though he is only in it for a little while. This is a movie worth watching, but don't expect anything too exciting. Overall, a good movie with great acting that is much more of a love story then "River Runs Through It". I give it a B.

*Also try - River Runs Through It

I love this movie! If you're a fly fisher, great. The River Why is about much more than that. Don't review it as a Bill Dance fishing review! It's a great reminder of why we want to be outside and knee deep in the water!! It's a story of the kid we all wish we could have been.

Give this movie a shot. we need another generation of kids loving the rivers of America. This movie does a lot. It wasn't a theatrical destination, but it has what we need. Watch this movie and respond.

Don't think this is a fly fishing movie . . . it is not. A River Runs Through It will forever be the standard. This is a move about fishing as a means to escape.

The majority of this movie was filmed on our family homestead in Western Oregon. The location is not mentioned, nor is the family, by request. However, this gives the story special meaning to the descendants or my Great Great Grandparents who homesteaded the valley.

It is interesting to see how people find meaning in life, events, and what is important in life. While this is not a story about our family, there are traits that replay in all people, and families.

If it does not help you understand yourself, it may help give you insight into those around you.

Obviously today the particular cabin in the movie is know to us as the River Why Cabin.

The actors were good, especially their facial nuances.

The landscape cinematography captured a vista that leaves me wanting to experience the view in person. It is the one where a long stretch of the river can be seen from a bird's eye point-of-view.

Friendships work sometimes when, each sees something in another that they need, and thus obtain it by giving something of equal value. So there is an exchange. And thus, a friendship evolves. Titus was an erudite man, but lacked the worldly experience of fly-fishing. He saw in Gus, the absence of enlightment. After a game of billiards, Gus accepts something he in the past could not understand by an analogy presented by Titus, and Titus is tutored in fly-fishing by Gus later in the film.

The relationship with Gus and Eddy is refreshing and somewhat similar, yet well-acted. Again, their facial features add to the quality of their performances.

Overall, this an excellent film and I enjoyed it very much. I am not a film critic or movie buff, but I give it an EXCELLENT rating. Don't take my word for it. See it for yourself.

First: I loved the book and still do. Read Duncan's novel, please.

Second: I've lived and fished in NW Oregon (and in NE Idaho, also a location for some of the filming) and agree with those who sing praise for the beautiful cinematic qualities of much of the film.

Third: Rarely do great books become great movies. This is true here. Still, given this reality, the film is good enough to watch, enjoy, ponder, discuss and watch again.

Fourth: I commend the review by Hollywood Jesus (listed among critics above) which convinced me both to go see it last night and to encourage you to do the same ---

A coming-of-age story philosophically inter-woven into a rather detailed exploration of freshwater angle fishing, this movie is pleasantly unique and, oddly, manages to be both relaxing and thought-provoking. While those into fishing will almost certainly find it particularly enjoyable for its "fishing-talk," I believe that most of those who love contemplating such fundamental issues of human existence as the meaning of people's lives and the place of love and social connections in human lives will also find much to enjoy about it. Personally, I found its emphasis on the importance of human connections in people's lives and its critique of ordinary notions of "success" to be among its major positive highlights. However, I found its pseudo-philosophical attempts at introducing a spiritual/religious dimension to its story to be somewhat under-developed and cringeworthy.

Besides its philosophical themes, I also found the romance arc involving Gus Orviston (played by Zach Gilford) and Eddy (Amber Heard) to be quite captivating. This, to a great extent, is due to the performances of Gilford and Heard, whose chemistry as the two awkward "fishing nerds", Orviston and Eddy, is as heartwarming as it is funny and engaging. At this point, I must single out Heard's performance and say that for those familiar with her movie performances, they will definitely know, after watching this movie, what I'm talking about by saying that Heard breathes into Eddy such agency, authenticity, and beauty that seem almost impossible to imagine would another actor have played her. And, I like that, contrary to what some directors had done to her characters in her earlier movies by that time, Matthew Leutwyler (director) did not oversexualize and objectify her character in this movie even as she was the love interest of the protagonist.

Another thing positive about this movie is its rustic and isolated, yet communal, setting and mood especially as exposed through excellent cinematography and writing. Its positive messages about the importance of protecting the environment are also commendable in their subtlety and significance.

That said and opposed to its positive aspects, are the movies negativities including: Its lack of racial diversity, its poor gender diversity and representation, and its promotion of gun ownership alongside its promotion of harmful gender stereotypes.

In conclusion, I recommend the movie the most to lovers of coming-of-age dramas and romances as well as to fishing and environmental protection enthusiasts/nerds. I also recommend it strongly to fans of Amber Heard because, I assure them, this is a must-watch for anyone interested in Heard's film career. Although less strongly, I recommend the movie to philosophically-minded individuals as well as to anyone else that is looking for a feel-good but thought-provoking movie. In the end, I give the movie a 9 instead of the 7 I would likely have given it for its cons, just because of Heard's magnificent performance in it alongside Gilford.

I thought this was a good movie, in fact I saw most of it this afternoon and am watching it again in 20 minutes. I love fishing.

I like parts of A River Runs Through It and didn't like others. Although A River Runs Through It was one of the single most films that brought fly fishing to so many people, I was left wanting more. I was already a fly fisherman before the movie, so I wanted more fishing scenes.

The River Why was the type of movie I've wanted to see for decades. I'm 50 and still enjoyed the movie. I've lived in Oregon near Portland since 94 and this move was able to explain to my family back east why I now call Oregon my home. The cinematography was excellent and I give it two thumbs up.