academy award winner robert redford ( best director . ordinary people 1980 ) capture the majesty of the montana wilderness and the strength of the american family in this acclaimed adaptation of norman macleans classic memoir . craig sheffer star a the young norman and and brad pitt star a his brother paul and an irresistible daredevil drive to challenge the world . grow up and both boy rebel against their stern minister father ( tom skerritt ) . while norman channel his rebellion into writing and paul descend a slippery path to self destruction . also star emily lloyd a wild hearted jessie burn . the film win an academy award for best cinematopghaphy in 1993 .