本片不以《圣经》为依据，而是以故事为线索展示心灵内在的信仰冲突。当以色列处于罗马统治下的时候，木匠耶稣（威廉·达福 Willem Dafoe 饰）为罗马军队制作十字架，他为冥冥中似乎来自上帝的召唤而困扰。耶稣动身探求真相，于路邂逅起义者犹大（Harvey Keitel 饰）和昔日的朋友妓女抹大拉，他们指责耶稣的懦弱，使其坚定了信仰，越来越多的信徒加入了耶稣的队伍，施洗者约翰指点耶稣前往沙漠。耶稣抵御了诱惑，获得更大的力量，他带人围攻耶路撒冷神殿，令犹大去罗马当局告发自己，在十字架上的耶稣得到天使的信息，他走下十字架，过上了平凡的生活，直到多年以后，耶稣发现了事情的真相，重新回到了自己命运中……　　本片根据卡赞察斯基的同名小说改编，自从1983年斯科塞斯第一次筹划将本片搬上银幕，宗教团体的反对声便喧嚣尘上，致使拍片计划一再拖延。

一位报社编辑每晚会在广播节目中讲一些报纸故事，这次他讲的故事是：一位警探，虽然深爱着妻子和儿子，却和一个交际花有染。一天他俩将车停在偏远的路边，正巧目击了一起谋杀案。警探由于做贼心虚，没有去抓杀人嫌犯，也没有报警。后来，警局让他负责这个案子，她发现他只有自己直面作证，才能抓住杀人嫌犯，也才能不然无辜的人蒙冤。

Lois Ames is devoted to her job as the editor of a magazine, and her wealthy husband Fred is equally dedicated to polo and parties. Lois's long hours drive her secretary to quit, and she replaces her with Tom Sheridan, who happens to be in the office demonstrating a rowing machine. Tom likes the work and continues to advance until he is indispensable to Lois. Ruth Holman, Tom's fiancée, is jealous of Tom's relationship with Lois and with some reason, as he is falling in love with her. In the meantime, Fred is having an affair with Ann Le Maire, a woman whose interests are closer to his own. Because he feels his love for Lois is hopeless, Tom quits his job and plans his marriage to Ruth. Lois tries to patch things up with Fred, but he suggests that they divorce instead. On Tom's last night, Lois keeps him working late. Ruth is furious and storms up to the office where Lois and Tom are dining. She threatens to tell Lois's husband about their relationship, which leaves the way clear for Lois to announce her pending divorce. Ruth breaks off her engagement to Tom, and he immediately asks Lois to marry him.

　　本片探讨七个大学室友从1960年代起的成长经历。大学毕业後，大家各奔前程，有的成为企业巨子，有的成为八卦报新闻记者，有人成为电视台星探、有的成为药商、有的则当了医生、有的成为律师、也有人成为家庭主妇。这次，在一个朋友的葬礼上，他们再次聚首，重新审视自己的人生。

两兄弟经常跟父亲一起钓鱼。潺潺河水，静静午后，成了父子间最难忘的时刻。父亲是一个老牧师，常常在镇上布道，大儿子诺曼（克莱格?谢佛 Craig Sheffer 饰）正是继承了父亲的事业——他擅长讲课，大学毕业后回到家乡传道授业。小儿子保罗（布拉德?皮特 Brad Pitt 饰）却有着迥异的性格——他热爱自由，有一套奇特的钓鱼方法。然而，令人担心的是他迷上了赌博，并因此欠钱遭打。 　　诺曼结婚后收到一封芝加哥大学的聘用书，他离家前往芝加哥之前，和父亲、弟弟一同在大河边再次享受钓鱼时光。他劝保罗跟他一起离开这里，然而保罗痴迷钓鱼，不愿离去。怎料，这竟是最后的相聚。