The River [HD DVD]

Scott Glenn plays the real hero in this movie. His character is a fair and honorable business man who warns the farmer of impending doom. The river according to all reasonable expectations will eventually destroy the farm. Even the farmer grudgingly concedes this possibility. The Glenn character offers the farmer a way out, but the farmer is bull headed and places his love for the agrarian way of life over common sense. Is Gibson's character idealistic and worthy of praise, or merely stubborn and selfish? Each person viewing "The River" will have to decide this for themselves.

The great economist, Joseph Schumpeter, originated the paradoxical term "creative destruction." Throughout history, there are always winners and losers whenever new technology replaces the older methods of earning a living. Tractors, for instance, destroyed the relevancy of horses and ploughs. This more efficient manner of tilling the soil dramatically brought down the cost of growing food. The result is that the typical consumer today spends comparatively little for vegetables at the grocery store. Unfortunately, a severe price has to be paid by those farmers who lack the ability to adjust to these improvements. At the beginning of the previous century, roughly half of the American population earned its income through farming. In the year 2000 the number has dropped to about 3%! An educated guess is that a further drop off will inevitably continue to occur. What should a viable democratic society do to address this issue? Is a Laissez Faire response appropriate, a Socialist micro management of production, or something in between? A neo-conservative such as myself opts for the third choice. The viewer once again is free to arrive at their own conclusions. I strongly, though, urge everyone to view "The River" at least once every few years. It might even behoove high school teachers and university professors to consider making this film a requirement for student credit. 'The River" is among my favorite films of all time. Please do not ignore it.


One of Gibson's best!   June 19, 2000
Barbara Farr Kelley
4 out of 6 found this review helpful

This is one of Mel Gibson's best movies. It is a movie about an extremely hard-working man who will work at anything he can to save his land. His wife, played by Cissy Spacek, tries to manage the land and take care of her kids, while worrying if they're going to lose everything they have.

A greedy land barron, played by Scott Glenn, wants that land and he wants Cissy, too. She had turned him down years before to marry Gibson, and he has hated Gibson ever since.

When the rains come and the river overruns its banks, the whole town comes together to try and save Gibson's land from flooding. It is a great movie about teamwork, and I would recommend it to everybody who likes Mel Gibson and Cissy Spacek.


The River   February 14, 2010
Arnita D. Brown (USA)
Farming family battles severe storms, a bank threatening to reposses their farm, and other hard times in a battle to save and hold on to their farm. This is a good, thoughtful movie, not romantic, thrilling or exciting, but one the family can watch together and think what sacrifices they would make to keep a heritage and a way of life preserved.