Rob Reiner’s 1986 film Stand By Me, based on the Stephen King novella “The Body” is one of the greatest films ever made. I just cannot stress enough how well orchestrated and satisfying this film is. The screenplay, which was nominated for an Academy Award that year, is sure to impact you.
What struck me was how it was able to be moving and dramatic without ever being boring even for a second. Stand By Me is beautifully written that is both effortlessly entertaining and touching. Another accolade this film boasts is some of the best child acting I’ve ever seen onscreen. A piece of cinema of this caliber really reminds you just how marvelous and precious filmmaking can be.
You would think that a film about 4 pre teen boys in the 1950s searching for a dead body could maybe get tedious, but there are so many layers within the story that unfolds here and it’ll have you locked in from beginning to end.
The primary focus of Stand By Me is on these boys friendships with one another and the way that is explored is rich and layered. There are several other factors that help to boost the overall story and make it complete. There’s also a very entertaining adventure-esque aspect in regards to the search for the body and the trouble they run into. And then on top of that there’s the fact that this whole story is being told in retrospect by the main boy who’s all grown up in what was then modern day.
Every one of these facets is well tended to and they all work together to form what I would say is one of the most impressive and impactful screenplays ever brought to life on the big screen. It’s also really interesting to see pre teen aged actors heading up a film that’s story is really not at all kid friendly and actually digs pretty damn deep.
This and It feel very similar in that regard and it’s something that really works in both. It’s no shock that Stephen King was behind the source material for both of those film adaptations. As I mentioned, this film contains some of the most impressive child performances I’ve ever seen. The ability of these young actors to portray such raw emotion and for them to never once come across as fake or hollow is deserving of a lot of praise.
Everyone in this is great but the one I remember the most is the late River Phoenix. Phoenix was such a gifted actor and his nuanced intriguing performance in this cements his talents forever. Great performances are also delivered by Wil Wheaton, Jerry O’Connell, Corey Feldman, and Kiefer Sutherland. Wheaton is probably the second most memorable since he’s the lead and because of the intensely emotional scenes between him and Phoenix.
Another card this film plays well is location and scenery. This is just one of the most scenic films I’ve ever seen. The nature and landscape that permeates this whole thing from start to finish is breathtaking and it all seems so intimate, which is the appropriate feel for the films plot. I think the locations also contribute to the coming of age aspect. Every time I’ve seen this I get that nostalgic feeling of what it was like to be a kid and have that sense of adventure that tends to wain as the years go by.
The final piece of the puzzle that I feel must be talked about is how this film wraps things up. I actually think the ending to this film is one of the most impactful endings I’ve ever seen. The issue of really close friends drifting apart and exiting your life is one part of this ending and that’s something I and most people have gone through and it can be really tough and I like the moving way in which that’s addressed.
There’s another detail that I won’t spoil in case you’ve never seen this but suffice to say that while it’s sad, I think it serves the character in question well. The one and only downside of this film is a couple uses of an anti-gay slur, which makes me very uncomfortable.
Stand By Me is one of the best films ever made, in my opinion. The well constructed screenplay, impressive performances, and scenic locations all conspire to create an experience that won’t be easily forgotten.
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