Customer Reviews

Everything That Rises [VHS]

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I have never seen anything that Mare Winningham was in that wasn't five stars and this one doesn't fall short. She is my favorite and I'd like to see all her work.If you love touching story lines like I do you will love this film. Diane

I liked Everything that rises because it has real things that happen to people. The movie shows a family that is going through losing there ranch that has been past down for a few generations, and put with that their son was recently paralized in a truck accident, but it shows thefamilies struggle to keep the ranch and keep the family together. I thought it was well acted by Dennis Quaid, Mare Winningham, Meat loaf, Harve Presnell and Ryan Merriman.

Seldom does a movie come along that offers humor, family bonding, and overcoming tragedy all rolled into one--Everything That Rises does just that and more! It is a movie that touches your heart. Dennis Quaid and Mare Winningham did a fantastic job as did the rest of the cast! It is a must see movie.

I saw this movie on TNT and fell in love. This movie in one phrase would be.."God created family so hopeless wouldn't get the last word!"(Hope Floats)

I love the way they stuck together and worked things out even when tragedy came close to home.

Quaid did a great job both acting and directing! I will definatley buy this when it is re-released!

The only disappointment I can possibly associate with Everything that Rises would be the fact that I can not purchase it on DVD. Directed by Dennis Quaid, Everything that Rises has an all-star cast and takes full advantage of its beautiful Montana setting. On the surface it is a story of a family falling on hard times financially, compounded with the debilitating injury of their 12 year old son. On a deeper level, it is a celebration of human relationships, the resilience of the human spirit and the bonds between sons and their father figures. The characterizations are excellent and seeing the characters transformed by the events in their lives will touch anyone! You will laugh, you will cry, and your heart will be filled with joy as you rise and fall with the characters in the film.

A brilliant, moving, story of what seems to be a real family, dealing with ranch life in modern Montana. The casting is on the mark, as are the shots, especially in the opening sequences, and the humor has been placed well within a very strong story. Meatloaf, reminds us of a great sequence between Henry Fonda and James Stewart as they rode for days on end, as Fonda lacked economy with his words, and stories. A great supporting role for him, along with Harve Presnell keeping it lively, and Ryan Merriman very believeable in the circumstances. Mare Winningham reacts and is as much a ranch wife, and mother as one can be, and Dennis is very generous with his part in the film, and tells a great story that will move anyone to tears, and joy. Sounds like a chick flick, but made for guys, as Brian's Song, or Field of Dreams, was done, and just as powerful in the end. A sure winner of a film. The only disappointment is that it is not available on DVD, as I would love to see how the film was made, and have the wide screen version of many of the shots created.

This movie is a big MUST for the whole family,It brung tears and joy into my eyes. And it was made to make you stop and think of ones family and to hang onto each other instead pushing eash out of the circle. You all have to see this movie no words can tell you , Only feeling