Robert Redford's third film as director is a poetic tale of a Montana childhood. Mention that it's also about fly-fishing and you might run a mile. But you would be mistaken. For, although this film never savages the emotions, it certainly stirs them through its tale of the sons of a fishing preacher. One is destined for an academic life and, on a return to Montana, tries to look after the life of his wilder, charismatic and clearly doomed younger brother. Brad Pitt not unnaturally steals the film in this latter role with his flashing smile and star personality, though one hoped (to no avail) that there might be an Oscar nod for the long-serving Tom Skerritt for his deeply-etched and never overstated portrait of their father.

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