Something in the fashion of A River Runs through It, only with pace and plot. The essential situation is simple enough: a team of armed robbers, making their getaway down a turbulent Montana river, co-opts a vacationing family going the same direction. It also is complicated enough: the expert rafter among the robbers, wounded in the holdup, will soon die. The mother in the family, a native of these parts, is herself an expert rafter. Her son, celebrating a birthday, will receive en route such handy gifts as a waterproof camera and a Swiss army knife. The mother's father's deafness will permit all the family members to communicate by sign language. Etc., etc. Solidly constructed, masterly crafted thriller from Curtis Hanson (Bedroom Window, Bad Influence, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle). Meryl Streep, who perhaps puts more into her role than required or wanted (one laughing jag particularly), doesn't miss the chance to show off new and unsuspected facets of herself: a gracefully maturing body and an impressive set of rower's shoulders and biceps. With Kevin Bacon, David Strathairn, Joseph Mazzello. (1994) — Duncan Shepherd
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