The River Wild (1994)

Thirty years ago, director Curtis Hanson (LA Confidential, 8 Mile) helped introduce us to what was seemed like a very novel concept on-screen for the first time: "MERYL STREEP, ACTION HERO."  Up until this point, Streep had already been nominated for multiple awards along with winning several - she was and still IS considered Our Greatest Living Actress who had delivered memorable performances in mostly serious dramas though in more recently years (in the early '90's) had often branched off into comedy including recent gems like Death Becomes Her and Postcards From the Edge.  This adventure thriller set alongside the rapids of a river in Montana was the actress' first real stab at action on-screen....and she did not disappoint playing Gail, an expert rower and rafter who was taking her family (David Strathairn, Joseph Mazzello) for a trip on very dangerous river.  Of course, things do not go as planned as they soon encounter a couple of armed killers lead by Kevin Bacon who are fleeing a recent robbery.  And what results could somewhat be described as "Die Hard on the Rapids" even featuring Streep and crew performing most of their own stunts. 

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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Transcript

THE RIVER WILD - 1994

Directed by Curtis Hanson 

Starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Bacon, David Straithairn, Joseph Mazzello, Benjamin Bratt, William Lucking, Stephanie Sawyer, and John C. Reilly

Genre: Adventure Thriller (Audio clip)

STREEEEEP!!! 😯 Who know she had some action chops too? I remember seeing this at an advanced screening in '94 and being pretty pumped...at the time, it was kinda being hyped up as "Die Hard on the Rapids with Meryl Streep" and I remember being a bit disappointed that it didn't end up quite being like that. She only ends using a gun ONCE as it turns out. :(

But rewatching it now, it's still a pretty damn good little adventure thriller...it was also the last (of many) gig-for-hire that director Curtis Hanson would do before taking his career to the next level a few years later with LA Confidential. And he does a nice job of maintaining the tension and filming the action effectively - what helps is that he keeps the story pretty simple and straightforward, the premise is pretty simple: a small band of robbers lead by a sniveling Kevin Bacon have to get down the river to escape to Canada...and they end up taking hostage a small family lead by Meryl Streep’s Gail Hartman who is a rapids whiz and happens to be the ONLY person who can steer them through "The Gauntlet." :o

Meryl is a pretty commanding presence steering us through this - as the opening credits quickly establish, there's nothing she can't do with a pair of oars! It's all very '90's tropey - especially with some early conflict set up early on between Streep and her workaholic husband Tom (David Straitharn) but it's fun to watch the 20-time Oscar winner navigate her way through it. :) She even has some stirring monologues she gets to deliver along the way. And the rest of the cast – Bacon’s Wade who is the main villain, Joseph Mazello as Streep's plucky son Roarke (just a year after he broke out in Jurassic Park) and John C. Reilly’s Terry as the predictably shlubby sidekick to Bacon's smooth talker - all play their roles effectively.  

Best Needledrop (best song cue or score used throughout runtime of film): 

GOLDSMITH!  Yup the late, great composer returns again with yet another banger score.  Throughout the ‘90’s, Jerry Goldsmith was about as reliable as any one else when it came to conducting memorable music for genre films like this.....once again delivering an effective mix of orchestral themes with some muscular synth to punctuate the action.  And YES this DOES sound a bit reminiscent of his music for the Rambo movies….hey why not? (Audio clip) 

However when it comes to a main theme, he takes things in a more elegant direction with a mixture of flutes and horns…..a nice tone-setter which we first hear over the opening credits as the camera follows our star rowing in the very early morning through Boston harbor.  It’s a gorgeous sequence with lovely music and this track is fittingly called, “Gale’s Theme.” (Audio clip) 

Wasted Talent (most under-utilized talent involved with film):

For as solid of a job that Curtis Hanson does directing his first big-budget action thriller here, I really have to give a shout-out to a talent specialist involved who TRULY elevates this movie into something more memorable than your typical ‘90’s thriller.  As pretty much the entire film is shot outdoors at some impressive locations throughout Montana and Oregon, it all looks very picturesque thanks to strong work from the cinematographer.  And that would be Los Angeles’ OWN DP favorite son…Robert Elswitt.   This guy has been doing FANTASTIC work for more than 40 years and if his name sounds a bit familiar, well that’s because he would eventually become a frequent collaborator of PT Anderson, including winning a VERY deserved Oscar for exemplary work – just AMAZING how he shot fire in that movie -  for shooting There Will Be Blood about thirteen years later.  And what’s also impressive is just how varied his best work can be….this guy can make the inside of a boardroom look just about as cinematic as Oregon rapids OR….the top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.  That’s right – he has also become a big collaborator of the Gilroy’s and Ralph McQuarrie, doing exceptional work for previous episodes Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol, Micheal Clayton, Boogie Nights, Duplicity, and Bob Marley: One Love. (Audio clip) 

And….Elswitt has recently brought his talents to the TV/streaming world, having deservedly JUST won his first Emmy for what many (myself included) consider to be THE best looking streaming show of recent years….watched this earlier this year, truly dazzling…..the recent Netflix limited series of “Ripley” directed by Steve Zaillian.  It’s was a great show in its own right featuring an amazing titular performance by Andrew Scott but seriously….the deep focus black & white photography is just astounding to look at.  Robert Elswitt is just one of the best in the business and brings his A-game to this movie as well.  

Trailer Moment (scene or moment that best describes this movie):

Ok I’m going the obvious route here but of course it has be the most impressive sequence in the movie…..what the whole story as been building towards…..The GAUNTLET.   Late in the movie when Streep’s Gail under duress leads this small band of amateur outdoorsman on this series of rapids, rocks, and plunging falls….well it’s quite the sight to see and we’re also NEVER in doubt that Streep among the others is doing most of her own stunts.  Truly thrilling stuff as we’re never less than convinced that these guys are not only getting positively drenched again and again but are being jerked around in every possible direction.  The camera is either RIGHT there inside the boat or panning just above them and for about seven minutes, the movie becomes a genuine RIDE. (Audio clip)  

MVP (person or people most responsible for the success of this film):

Bottom line, this is Streep’s movie as seeing her in action for the first time was not only the initial main draw but decades later, it remains the most compelling aspect of this film.  Back in ’94, this was amidst of series of roles and performances by the actress where it at least seemed – on the surface – that she was making an attempt to go more mainstream and more genre.  She-Devil, Postcards From the Edge, Defending Your Life, The Bridges of Madison County, Death Becomes Her, and this…..and the thing is that even though those were all more commercial films than the stuff she had done back in the ’80’s, she NEVER seemed to be slumming it or going through the motions.  Just like here…..it’s a convincing physical performance action-wise but still compelling and emotional.  (Audio clip) 

Disappointingly, this film was NOT the blockbuster which the studio had hoped it would be but it did OK at the box office, making almost $100 million worldwide on a $45 million budget…not bad but not the Cliffhanger or Under Siege-like numbers I’m guessing they were hoping for.  But at the very least, it helped further establish Meryl as a genuine movie star…..strangely, she would not have her first authentic run as an actual box office draw for another twelve years starting with a star turn in previous episode The Devil Wears Prada.  Hey better late than never right?  For once again reminding us that there is nothing she can’t do regardless of genre, Meryl Streep is the MVP. (Audio clip) 

Final Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Happy 30th Anniversary to a fun ‘90’s studio programmer featuring a top-flight cast….we need more films like this today.  

Streaming on Apple TV Plus & Netflix

And that ends another WHITE WATER SUMMER review!