The River ★★ 1984 (PG) Farmers battle a river whose flood threatens their farm. Spacek, as always, is strong and believable as the wife and mother, but Gibson falters. Beautiful photography. The third in an onslaught of films in the early '80s that dramatized the plight of the small American farmer. "The River" isn't as strong as "Country" and "Places in the Heart" which managed to convey important messages less cloyingly. 124m/C VHS, DVD, Wide. Mel Gibson, Sissy Spacek, Scott Glenn, Billy Green Bush;
Director:
Mark Rydell;
Writer:
Julian Barry, Robert Dillon;
Writer:
Vilmos Zsigmond;
Cameo:
John Williams.
