Product Details

• Actors: Tommy Lee Jones, Martha Plimpton, Brian Dennehy, Shawn Smith (III), Nancy Lea Owen
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300214516
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,486 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Raging River, June 24, 2004

By 

C. A. Luster "The Rook" (Burke, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: River Rat [VHS] (VHS Tape)

It is always a treat to find movies like this one. When it first came out I happened to rent it because I like Tommy Lee Jones and Brian Denehy. I certainly wasn't disappointed, they are both fine actors. In fact if you haven't seen everything they have made you have probably missed some of their other gems that are not well known like this one. Martha Plimpton does an excellent job as Jone's daughter. Any fans of movies like "The River Wild", "Cape Fear", and "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" should enjoy it. Little touches like trotline fishing, barges hauling freight, and the realism of the river towns make it stand out.

Jone's reunites with his daughter after many years absence in prison. He takes her on a river trip down the muddy Mississippi, and more than the river is murky. His past plays a pivotal part in deciding their future. A cunning killer wants something that he has and will do anything to get it. They must rely on their wits to escape certain death. It becomes obvious they will be tracked no matter where they go and must find a way to stop the killer once and for all.

This story is strong in many ways. The loving relation between father and daughter and the passion of a murderer make it a winner. The setting on the Mississippi river adds a bit of Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn that we love. The directing by Thomas Rickman is very impressive. The acting, sets, and scenery are great too. Music by Mike Post, Alabama, and the other bands are a nice touch as well. I was born in Illinois and lived a fair portion of my life in Alton, Illinois near the river. This movie does an excellent recreation of life on the river. I highly recommend this movie. I bought this on VHS since I can't get it on DVD just because it is well worth owning. My whole family loves this movie.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Collector's Item, May 18, 2000

By 

Gordon Kearns (St. Louis,, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: River Rat [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"The River rat" marks the auspicious debut of Martha Plimpton as an actress of substance. The movie depicts the evolving relationship between a young adolescent girl (Miss Plimpton) and her estranged father (Tommy Lee Jones) within a story of murder, greed, intrigue, and suspense. Brian Dennehy gives a chilling performance as the menacing villain. There are some beautifully touching scenes between father and daughter where loyalty, love, and courage settle in solidly as the relationship develops. With the mighty Mississippi River as the stage, this movie becomes a classic. By all means, rent, buy, or both; but definitely see this fine movie.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic, in many ways..., January 19, 2003

By 

R. Gawlitta "Coolmoan" (Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: River Rat [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I really love this film. We have a most auspicious debut from Martha Plimpton (not used to good advantage since, except by Woody Allen in "Another Woman"). She is insightful; and overly smart, belying the idiot behavior of her father (Jones) years before that sent him to jail. It's refreshing to see a kid go after the affection of a parent, as opposed to the other idea that has inundated our airwaves. Martha Plimpton's natural curiousity is so genuine, not contrived, and purely of love. What a treat! The ensuing story is thrilling, with a particularly nasty performance by Brian Dennehy. The magnificent photography of the Mississippi River leaves strong marks in my memory; this film, written and directed by Tom Rickman, is to be applauded for its depth, integrity and solemn simplicity. Paramount doesn't seem to care about their films...if they did, this would be out on DVD with, I'm sure; insightful comments from Ms. Plimpton (whom I've grown to admire) and Mr. Jones, of whom commentary could be nothing less than entertaining. With all the other garbage out on DVD, this one should be there, not only for its worth, but for a widescreen view of the mighty Mississippi, I relate to this flm, on many levels. UPDATE (5-15-08): Mr. Jones got another Oscar nomination this year. It's time for a DVD Collection, and this one should definitely be included.