Saturday Night at Chess Cinemas
Twenty years later, I can vividly remember sitting in a theater being mesmerized by the cinematography in the film, A River Runs Through It (1992). Based on the true story of Norman Maclean’s life in Missoula, Montana, Robert Redford directs a gripping period piece about fly fishing and the different paths that two brothers take after their upbringing by a Presbyterian minister. The great Philippe Rousselot deservedly won Best Oscar for Cinematography, with the great Mark Isham nominated for his brilliant score. The soundtrack alone is worth watching the film. Brad Pitt, just as he was beginning his ascent to fame, plays the troublemaker brother.
You will not see too many other films, if any, as visually stunning as this one. And that includes all of the over-the-top-special-effects/compensating for a miserable plot/script films being made today.
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6 Responses to Saturday Night at Chess Cinemas
Nice pick. The lost art of cinematography. ‘Days of Heaven’ 78 was another pretty picture. Something to be said for class. Not that it is gone. Just on hold off and on.
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Thanks Chess. Another one for the bucket list.
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Each of us here today will at one time in our lives, look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question, “We are willing to help, Lord, but what, if anything, is needed?”
It is true we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don’t know what part of ourselves to give or, more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it is those we live with and should know who elude us but we can still love them. We can love completely without complete understanding.
Now nearly all those I loved and did not understand in my youth are dead, even Jesse, but I still reach out to them. Of course, now I’m too old to be much of a fisherman and now I usually fish the big waters alone although some friends think I shouldn’t. But when I am alone in the half-light of the canyon, all existence seems to fade to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish wil rise. Eventually, all things merge into one and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by the waters !!!
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Very nice, Alf!
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chess, this passage actually is “affixed” to the door of my refrigerator (and has been for at least 15 years) along with various other mementoes and refrigerator magnets. As I’m sure you know, it comes at the very end of the movie. Hardly a day goes by that I don’t glance at it or, stop for a second and read it. It has always moved me. Partly because I have done a good bit of flyfishing in my life and can relate but also because of the sorrow of not being able to reach someone you cared about and whether you did all that you could … while they were alive.
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Great movie, chess !
Without a doubt one of my Top 10 (maybe top 5) !
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This was such a beautiful and well made film. And not just because Brad Pitt looked so good in it 
