River Phoenix for Brad Pitt's Role?
I heard the River Phoenix was turned dow by Redford for Brad Pitt, does anyone know if that is true?
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MovieChat Forums > A River Runs Through It (1992) Discussion > River Phoenix for Brad Pitt's Role?
yes, i heard that too. redford is a moron. pitt isn't half as talented as phoenix was. phoenix was easily, hands-down the best actor of that generation. pitt over phoenix? it's such a stunning mistake
shareRiver himself said Redford will find THE guy for the role. The guy who just is that image-that Montana mountain boy, fly fisherman image. IMO, I don't think River was right for the role either. I can't see him as the "Montana mountain boy, fly fisherman." Plus he looked to young. River may of been more talented but I think Brad Pitt was more suited to the role as did River.
,Scarlett Rose
"Love conquers all.Even the ass holes that don't want it."
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i hate posts like this, just because someone is dead doesnt make them a better actor. Its like looking at tupac and biggie, because they were violently murdered doesnt necessarilly make them the two greatest rappers ever. People create martyrs out of individuals who may not be all that talented. I can name a dozen better rappers then those two and i am sure i can name a dozen better actors then phoenix. Brad Pitt made this film and to assume it would have been better with phoenix is just stupid. Pitt did a great job and played the character perfectly.
share"hate posts like this, just because someone is dead doesnt make them a better actor"
mmm...i don't think he was a better actor than brad pitt just because he's not alive. i think johnny depp is a better actor than brad pitt and he is, in fact, alive... why would that matter??? and when brad pitt passes away...he's not becoming a better actor than he is while living... i don't think anyone's opinions are based on the fact that an actor is good or bad because they're alive or dead .
brad pitt did a fine job with this character, stop whining
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exactly!! i think brad pitt was perfect in that roll, and hes a great actor too
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This is the first movie I remember noticing Brad Pitt in when I was 7/8 years old. I absolutely fell in love with him in this movie. He really did play this role perfectly. I thought all the actors were well picked by Redford! As for Phoenix, he was an excellent actor but it just wasnt meant to be for this movie. I can't see it made any other way.
shareThere is a 7 year age difference(Pitt 29, river 22) perhaps River looked too much like a kid for the role at 22.
shareAs far as Phoenix being ''turned down'' for the role: Despite what's being said here, it's somewhat of an urban legend that formed after Phoenix's passing, the movie's coinidental timing and title, and an interview he gave a magazine the year before the movie's release.
The fact is that Phoenix was one of many young actors who read for the part. He did not, however, make it as far as a screen-test. Phoenix, while undoubtedly talented, was not the kind of Hollywood commodity where not getting a role would be considered a ''snub'' of somekind. However, after his death, his stock sort of reinvented itself. So while Phoenix had auditioned and missed many potential roles in his career, the unique traits of the movie (including Brad Pitt's rising stardom) somehow made this particular incident blow way out of proportion.
You say Pitt is a bad actor, but i could bet money that you are basing that fact on films he has done recently which perhaps don't demand the high quality performances that he is able to give. eg Oceans 11, he is good in it, but not amazing simply because he is simply required to be cool. Pitt is a very good actor and at the time a very up and coming actor. He is brilliant in this film and portrayed paul exactly how i imagined in the book. He is a very good actor with stunning performances in this, kalifornia, legends of the fall, 12 monkeys, fight club.. the list goes on! redford is not an idiot, you obviously are just very ignorant.
shareI've always thought River was an amazing actor, a lot better than Brad. (Brad's a good actor, but he doesn't compare to River) River really wanted the role, but said that if he didn't get it, it doesn't matter, he just wasn't right for it. He believed so much in the film and loved the script, he just wanted the film to do well.
Love + Peace
Sam x
River will flow through my heart always...
This road will never end...
Yeah, I think that showed his artistry. He wasn't going to do a role if he didn't think that Redford thought he wasn't right for it. He was probably too young looking. He just wanted the movie to be made because he thought the script was good. How many actors can say that? To be ok about not getting a job, because they believed in the film makers that much?
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Brad Pitt fans crack me up. Brad Pitt was nothing more than serviceable in this film. This movie was just a touching, unbelievably good story and if Pigpen from Peanuts somehow came to life and got the role of Paul I would still love this movie. Brad Pitt made this movie?? LOL
"True wisdom comes from knowing that you know nothing. That's US, Dude!"
Since River was only 22 when this film was made, I'd say he was too young. Remember, by the end of the film, Paul has an established newspaper writer career and is known around several towns in the area. Having a 30 year old playing that person is about right.
Physically, Brad Pitt(6') is a better fit to be brother of Craig Sheffer (6'2") and son of Tom Skerritt (6'). River Phoenix, a slender 5' 10", wouldn't seem to fit in as well.
Sorta like someone else said above, Pitt did well in the role, the movie is done filming, end of story. He's not a fly weight actor but I think the films success is based on the perfect mixture of compelling story, father and sons chemistry and the combined background of the river and fly fishing. All of these things working together made the movie work.
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Never was a fan of River P. Brad Pitt was the outstanding choice for this film. I had never seen him before, but I recognized a future movie star immediately, and so did Robert Redford when he cast him.
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I dont think Phoenix was even half as talented as Pitt who is in fact a method actor like Robert De Niro.
shareScheffer isn't 6'2 he's the same height as Pitt. 5'11. I dont think height had much to do with casting either. Phoenix was probably just too young-looking to play a 30 year old.
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