A River Runs Through It (1992)
If you've ever wondered how people can rhapsodize poetically about fly fishing, then this one's for you. Beautifully adapted from Norman MacLean's autobiographical novella, the film follows two brothers who have taken nearly opposite paths in life but find a common bond in fishing the rivers of Montana. Brilliant photography brings both the landscape and the art of fly fishing to life. This movie rarely fails in appealing to a broad range of people, combining sport, family, nostalgia, and, romance. Of course, having Brad Pitt as one of the brothers doesn't hurt.

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Breaking Away (1979)
This feel-good movie, which exudes Americana, won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay in 1979. Breaking Away follows four friends in Bloomington, Indiana who don't know what to do with their lives after high school. One (Dennis Christopher) escapes into the world of Italian cycling and leads the gang to compete in the real"Little 500." It's an adorable and humorous film-and you don't even have to understand or like biking to enjoy its warm embrace.

Deliverance (1972)
One of Hollywood's great movies follows four Atlanta businessmen on a weekend canoe trip in Appalachia that turns into something more than they bargained for. Far more. Adopted from James Dickey's novel, Deliverance exposes the dark and wild underbelly of American culture. Bert Reynolds, Jon Voight, and director John Boorman bring this tale to gritty life.

Local Hero (1983)
When Mac MacIntyre (Peter Riegert) is sent to Scotland's west coast to swindle the "simple" townsfolk out of their drilling rights, you know the natives are going to somehow turn the tables. Great performances throughout (including Burt Lancaster as a wonderfully crazy Texas oil magnate), a loving portrayal of small town life, and beautiful scenery will surely have you contemplating a trip to Scotland before Mac comes to grips with his direction in life. Funny, charming, and quirky, this movie is a joy ride from beginning to end.

The Bear (1984)
Suffusing his movie with a sense of nature's magnificence, director Jean-Jacques Annaud creates a captivating and unusual story about an orphaned bear cub and his Kodiak protector. What makes the bears' quest to elude their human pursuers such a surprising and fascinating treat is that it's gripping tale of survival contains very little dialogue. Although some might find The Bear a bit "soft-hearted," few films are more successful in giving us a sense of life in the animal world.

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