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Reviews
Everything That Rises (1998)
Best movie ever!
I'm 63 years old and have seen a great many movies, but never a movie this great. This is humanity -- at its best, presented in an "everyday" enironment.
I could synopsize the story, but that wouldn't be fair. This movie is like OCTOBER SKY: the story is not what the movie's about. I could've done without some of the dialog, and a couple of the scenes. It's never gross, but it is pretty earthy and worldly at times. Prayer and God are mentioned in this film, but not as much as they deserve to be. However, this movie has great heart and passionate humanity that more than make up for its flaws.
Ryan Merriman plays the 11- or 12-year-old boy in this movie, and his acting ability is quite impressive at times. Mare Winningham is a great little actress and gives the same kind of performance she always gives: solid and absolutely credible. Mare has some of the best dialog in the movie, and her delivery of every word is flawless. Not a syllable is wasted. Harve Presnell (who, if my past memory is working right, was a male lead on Broadway in his heyday) plays the Grandpa figure in this movie. His performance is terrific. (Watch his portraying humility, charity, and grace in a 30-second or so scene near the end.)
Filmed on location in Montana, the camera bears testimony of the Lord's art. The background music for this life-on-a-ranch movie is sparse, but the hoedown style of the music is of the caliber of Aaron Copeland rather than honky-tonkin'.
The ever-competent Dennis Quaid stars and also directed. Meat Loaf [sic] is great as Dennis Quaid's down-to-earth buddy.
Own this one, so you can watch it again and again. I'm hungrily waiting for the DVD!