Movie Review – Stand by Me (1986)

Stand by Me is a classic that everyone should see. Narrated by Richard Dreyfuss, it is the story of four friends – Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern – who embark on an adventure without the knowledge of their parents. It seems that Vern (Jerry O’Connell) overheard his brother telling a friend that he knew the whereabouts of the body of a young boy, Ray Brower, who had been struck by a train. Vern and his friends set out to become heroes by finding the body.

Vern’s older brother and his gang have the same idea however. Led by Ace Merrill (Kiefer Sutherland), the older and stronger boys challenge the younger boys when they encounter them in the brush where the body is hidden. Chris (River Phoenix) had brought along his father’s gun with which Gordie (Will Wheaton) threatens the older boys. When they leave quietly, Gordie decides that no one should get credit for finding the body and makes an anonymous phone call to the police relaying the location of the missing body.

In the course of the two-day adventure, we learn a great deal about the background of each of the boys who all had difficult childhoods and carry heavy burdens as a result.

Jerry O’Connell has continued his acting career as has Corey Feldman and Will Wheaton, to some extent. You may recall that River Phoenix suffered an untimely death at age 23 by taking a drug overdose. Kiefer Sutherland who played a small but significant role in the film has achieved success starring in the TV series 24. John Cusack is seen in a cameo role in a flashback as Gordie’s older brother who was killed.

Directed by Rob Reiner, Stand by Me is based on the novel “The Body” written by Stephen King. The acting by the four young boys is so authentic and so refreshing, it is a shame that the film did not receive an Academy Award. It did get a nomination, however, for the screenplay. Fortunately, it is still recognized as an outstanding motion picture and continues to receive accolades.

Sources:

Movie – Stand by Me (1986)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092005


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