Product Description

Based on a terrifying true story. Pleasure turns to terror when a group of executives face disaster as their white-water raft overturns in a churning river. For those who survive, the search for blame begins.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #72548 in DVD
• Brand: HBO HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2004-09-14
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 96 minutes

Customer Reviews

Superior drama with top-notch action sequences
Boasting one of Alan Alda's best performances, this HBO made-for-cable film has an intelligent script, strong dialogue, and excellent acting by all cast members. Based on a true incident, the horrific drowning of several members of a corporate sortie to the treacherous Chilko River for white water rafting, the pacing here is flawless. The writer, Michael Butler, and the director, Robert Butler (related?) have fashioned a seamlessly powerful work that hits the viewer right between the eyes.

Alda's character, Dan Cutler, is a callous, ruthless corporate type who, without question, still exists. One of the top honchos at a prestigious ad agency, he is constantly egging on his subordinates to push themselves, to feel life in their gut and their private parts. He organizes the sortie and in essence bullies both ad agency execs and VIPs from two clients into doing the white water rafting which starts off well, then escalates into a terrible set of events.

The rafting footage is absolutely spectacular; tremendous credit should go to the cinematographer here. This makes the story truly believable; you really feel it when things go horribly wrong.

The endpiece, a courtroom trial, is, in a way, tacked on, but still delivers the goods. See this for Alda's amazing performance. One would think after watching this film that Alda actually IS like this in person; his performance is that believable. Peter Gallagher is also excellent, but this is really Alda's show and what a show it is. He is astoundingly good.

Highly recommended.

Very true to the actual events
I was one of the lawyers for the plaintiff in the lawsuit. I saw the movie several years after the trial, and found it to be an accurate depiction of the facts and events that took place. An amazing story and very tragic.

Cinematic Masterpiece of Whitewater
Think Citizen Kane on the river. Solid acting but the whitewater stunts are not the run of the mill Hollywood. Those guys led by Bryan "River Dog" Koelzer, who sat in the middle of the raft without a paddle, really make this movie special. This movie was voted the top 5 whitewater films of all time by Paddler magazine. If you don't own a copy you are will never reach complete enlightenment.