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Film Description
Critically acclaimed story set in 1959, which tells of four friends who go on an overnight camping trip to find a missing teenager's body, but ultimately find out a lot about themselves. An adaptation of Stephen King's short story 'The Body'.
On hearing that an old friend has died, a writer (Richard Dreyfuss) reminisces about his childhood in the 50s. As a 12 year-old boy, Gordie's friends consisted of 'bad' kid Chris (River Phoenix), Teddy (Corey Feldman) and the pudgy Vern (Jerry O'Conell). When the latter hears his older brother bragging that his gang have seen the dead body of a local missing person by the railway track, the four boys set out to find the corpse for themselves.
Rob Reiner’s film based on a short story by Stephen King is a classic of the kids-growing-up genre. Four boys from a small town in Oregon head out along the railroad ... more >
Rob Reiner’s film based on a short story by Stephen King is a classic of the kids-growing-up genre. Four boys from a small town in Oregon head out along the railroad track in search of a missing teenager. In fact, the trip represents in many ways the friends’ last real summer together, each one destined to take his own path in life as they teeter on the brink of manhood. Set in 1959, the soundtrack is an absolute classic, and heard through the boys’ tinny radio that they carry with them, the rock-and-roll has such authenticity. Prepare to be transported back to the days when nothing really mattered that much. < less
The eternal charm and appeal of this film lies in it's simplicity. The straightforward storyline never falters, whilst Richard Dreyfuss' wry narration adds an element ... more >
The eternal charm and appeal of this film lies in it's simplicity. The straightforward storyline never falters, whilst Richard Dreyfuss' wry narration adds an element of retrospect. The warmth between the four main characters is conveyed subtley and realistically, without being sappy. The film manages to be very sweet, whilst never descending into saccharine. There is no shortage of laugh-out-loud moments and suspense although parts of this film are also terribly sad.
The performances in Stand By Me are fantastic, especially the four main actors; Wil Wheaton and River Phoenix show depth and sensitivity, Jerry O'Connell and Corey Feldman are also excellent, whilst Keifer Sutherland's villain Ace Merrill is extremely menacing. The film is interspersed with flashbacks, involving the brother of one of the characters, which neatly serve to both explain the background of that character, and break up the action aswell.
Made in 1986, the majority of the film takes place in 1959, which is probably the reason that the film hasn't aged at all. The music from that era also makes for a great soundtrack.
There are some uniquely memorable scenes in this film, particularly the pie-eating contest and the 'All-time train dodge'. The cinematography is excellent, the mountains and woodland of Oregon provides a beautiful backdrop to the action.
The atmosphere of the Stephen King novella, 'The Body', on which Stand By Me is based has truly been captured by director Rob Reiner. Overall, this is a fantastic film; with outstanding performances from it's young cast, and a strong, character-driven plot, this is surely a treasure. < less
