The River Rat

Tender story about a father and daughter. I wish TLJ would go back to making these quiet little movies instead of barking his way through mainstream action flix. Martha Plimpton is wonderful; it's too bad she doesn't do anything anymore.

Inquisitive teen Jonsy (Martha Plimpton) and her grandma live in a riverside bait shop. Her father Billy (Tommy Lee Jones) is newly released from prison and presumed to be the only one who knows the location of a stolen loot. She has never met him. She is rebuilding a river boat called River Rat. Prison psychiatrist Doc Cole (Brian Dennehy) controls Billy's release.

This is Martha Plimpton's first lead role in a theatrical release. She has her intrinsic powerful voice. It is a bit raw, but it is undeniable. She also has some great co-stars. Jones is being the grumpy silent type. Dennehy is a villain walking the line between sinister and cartoonish. Thomas Rickman is using the southern allure of the river like Huckleberry Finn. He even uses creole in the last act. As the director, he does struggle to take it to the next level. It feels very 80's and his cinematic style is quite there.

I was lucky to be able to watch a lot of the production of River Rat. Several scenes were filmed on the Ohio River at Smithland, Ky, where I lived and also operated the local ambulance service. My Father was a Deputy Sheriff and became very friendly with Tommy Lee Jones during the filming. I also had the honor of having breakfast with Mr. Jones.

Smithland was also the location of most of the "Rivers" segments of the classic movie " How The West was Won ". I still have cast photos and autographs from Jimmy Stewart, Agnes Morehead, George Peppard and Debbie Reynolds from that movie. " The River Rat " was and in my opinion is a great movie.

"The River Rat" is too good a movie to lie in a corner without comment. Good grief, this was Martha Plimpton's first major role. For that reason alone it has a place in motion picture history. What a terrific talent, and what great contributions she has made to the art in roles both small and large. In this movie she combines with such recognized stars as Tommy Lee Jones and Brian Dennehy, and takes a back seat to neither. Her father-daughter scenes with Mr. Jones are warm and real. The depth all three of the lead actors brought to their characters was truly remarkable. In sum, the beautiful background of the mighty Mississippi River, an interesting story, some great acting turns, and, of course, Martha Plimpton make "The River Rat" a must-see picture.

I was only 2 years old when this movie was made but I watched a few years later then I understood it, probably the reason I like this movie because it was made here in my home state of Kentucky, but thats not the main reason I like this movie, I also like it because its got action and Drama in it, I love action and drama movies. If any of you are big fans of Tommy Lee Jones then you should see this movie because it is one of his best.