Product Details

• Actors: Ryan Akin, Michael A. Art, Derek Bronken, David S. Cass Sr., Denise Durham
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Turner Home Ent
• VHS Release Date: October 5, 1999
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0780624130
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,572 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

A realistic portrayal of the struggles of today's American farmer. Each family member must make their own sacrifices - as they are able. Inspiration for all Americans.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong story of father and son, January 8, 2003

By 

Ronald Scheer "rockysquirrel" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Everything That Rises [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This made-for TV movie has many of the cliches of the modern-day western -- young family struggling to hang onto a ranch, the bank threatening to foreclose, developers buying up land to turn into "ranchettes." The difference in this case is that the writer, Mark Spragg, knows this material first-hand. He grew up on a dude ranch in northwestern Wyoming and knows the people who have lived in this part of the world all their lives. He's written about it in a fine collection of essays, "Where Rivers Change Direction," and many of the themes in that book emerge again in this very enjoyable movie.

The struggle to hang onto the ranch is a backdrop, like the breathtaking footage of Montana, to the personal story of a father and son. Dennis Quaid, who also directed, plays a very convincing rancher-cowboy, who has learned to live in the unforgiving man's world that he inherited from his own father, but who knows little how to communicate his love to his own 14-year-old son (Ryan Merriman), eager to grow up and be a man just as strong. Their relationship is prickly until the boy is injured in an accident, and the difficulties between them are aggravated by the father's concern that he's about to lose the ranch.

The link between them is the rancher's wife (Mare Winningham) and an old cowboy (Harve Presnell) who lives and works on the ranch. Each in their way try to bring boy and father together and help keep the family on the ranch. Spragg's gift for revealing character through dialogue (evident in his book) and Quaid's direction make the scenes between characters rise again and again above the preditable. It's also a pleasure to have the "bad guys" come across sympathetically -- it's painful to watch the loan officer at the bank squirm in discomfort as he has to deliver bad news, and the land developer is portrayed as a generous man making every effort to preserve another man's wounded pride.

I recommend this film to anyone interested in the modern west, especially the high plains and mountains, and the details of ranch life. It's also a fine father-son story, with moments of well-earned pathos that bring a tear to the eye. As a companion, I recommend any of Mark Spragg's books. He's a fine writer.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful family movie!, November 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Everything That Rises [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I saw this movie on TV and thought it was great! I have since purchased the video and have watched it several times. It is a great story, so touching and moving. Dennis Quaid deserves an award for his directing and acting. I will watch it over and over and loan it my family and friends to watch.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely worth watching, July 20, 2000

By 

Sandy Warner (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everything That Rises [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is Dennis Quaid's directorial debut and filmed in the Paradise Valley area of Montana. The scenery is gorgeous and worthwhile to see it [Montana] in person! It's a sweet story of a family relationship and how they endure the tradgedy that strikes them. The acting is well done, with some humor to ease the seriousness of the storyline. My eyes welled up during both sad and happy moments during this film.

Dennis did a good job with this film.