Stand by Me (1986)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

I really love this movie, the soundtrack was awesome, the actors were great, the plot was riveting enough to keep you glued to the tube. made me wish i was young again and lived back in that era!

Remember the days of your youth, when Summer was just one long vacation - where you and your buddies would take off and let the day unfold as it presents itself - no schedules, no meetings and the only clock was the rising and setting of the sun?Such, nostalgic, feelings and remembrances is at the heart of the 1986 Rob Reiner film, STAND BY ME, a "coming of age" tale of boys on the cusp of leaving boyhood behind.Based on a Stephen King novella, STAND BY ME follows the adventures of Gordie LaChance and his pals Vern, Teddy and Chris as they set off to find the body of a young man who has been missing - and presumed dead.But it is not the destination that is at the heart of this story, it is the journey - and what a journey, filled with heart, it is. We join in with these 4 boys as the walk towards the unknown - both physically and (more importantly) metaphorically, growing and developing in front of our eyes.Credit for this film has to start with Director Rob Reiner - mainly known before this film as "Meathead" on the classic TV Series ALL IN THE FAMILY. This was Reiner's 5th film as a Director and, I believe, announced his "arrival" as a signature Director. Look at the run Reiner had. In order, he directed THIS IS SPINAL TAP, THE SURE THING, STAND BY ME, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, MISERY and A FEW GOOD MEN. I would also include THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT and GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI in this list, but they come after the misfire NORTH. But, 9 out of 10 good films is quite the track record.What struck me in this showing of the film (seen on the big screen for the first time by me since 1986) is the contrast between intimacy and enormity. When the boys are on their trek, Reiner shoots a good deal of these scenes from a distance - showing how small these boys are in comparison to the world around them. But, when the scene is an intimate, dialogue, character-driven scene, he tightens his shots right into the faces of the 4 leads, creating an intimacy that draws us into these characters.The other credit has to go to whomever cast this film - for the 4 unknown boys that were cast in the leads were well cast, indeed.Start with Wil Wheaton as Gordie. Gordie has spent his whole life in the shadow of his over-achieving "All American" brother, trying to be noticed for who - and what - he is, an author, not an athlete. Wheaton brings the right combination of determination, intelligence and vulnerability to Gordie, giving us a protagonist we can root for. Jerry O'Connell was funnier than I remembered as the "fat kid", Vern, who just wants to play by the rules, but always goes along with his friends, despite his better judgement. Corey Feldman has never been better than he is here as Teddy Duchamp - a young boy with a troubled home life - and a troubled life - that is trying to control, and understand, the rage inside of him.But it is the work of the late River Phoenix as Chris Chambers, the "leader" of this group that really shines. He is the glue that keeps this foursome together, strong but showing a vulnerability and a "realistic" view of what it is to be a misunderstood youth - the hurt that comes with that and the walls that one puts up to combat that. Phoenix commands the screen in every scene that he is in and when the scene is just Phoenix and Wheaton, you are drawn into a real friendship. I was surprised, at this viewing, at how serious this film is - and the topics that this film addresses - but those moments are wisely balanced by scenes of action/adventure (like the train tressel scene), comedy (like the the "lard-ass" pie eating scene) and "other" moments (the leaches!).This is one of those films that is getting better with time - it is aging well - and, rightfully, fits in the category of "Modern Classic".Letter Grade: A

Movie Review: "Stand By Me" (1986)A fine little screen gem delivered as Academy-Award nominated adaptation from a Stephen King novella as director Rob Reiner navigates calmly and precise with his youngster Hollywood cast, led by late acting talent River Phoenix (1970-1993) and his faithfull fellows Will Wheaton, Corey Feldman coming along on a trip "Into the wild" of summer 1959 within the woodlands of Castlerock, Oregon when nemesis character portrayed by Kiefer Sutherland and his street thugs friends are in pursuit of finding a dead friend's corpse, which then eventually happens at well-location-scouted riverside as teenage confrontations down to the knife thickens, putting my mind into reminiscene of last year's "It: Part I", where director Andres Muschietti had been able to create the some kind of morbid, nostalgic; summer heat atmosphere within scenes of encircling as struggling teenagers in search of life's answers, making it as "Stand by Me" a major success to audience attendance in terms of revenue margins as here Columbia Pictures can rebound up to seven times the production budget in releasing U.S. movie summer of 1986. Copyright 2018 Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC

Stand by Me is one of the most iconic movies of all time and it has earned that title because it really is one great movie with a lot to offer to movies about growing up and i would say that this movie is more than the growing up story it's drama movies at it's finest. the amazing cast is Wil Wheaton,River Phoenix, Corey Feldman,Jerry O'Connell,Kiefer Sutherland,Casey Siemaszko,Gary Riley,Bradley Gregg,Jason Oliver. The kids of this movie are amazing they give such a amazing performance for both the kids and the teenagers and they are so real and give a wonderful view into the life of 12 year old boys. stand by me has a story of a group of boys who are looking for a young boys body and they go on a epic quest of adventure and we follow there journey from their small town to locate the body. i have to say that this movie is so iconic that it doesn't need introducing and the story is so iconic and the original is based on a story by Steven King and honestly I haven't read the book but i would think that it would stay close to the source material and for me this is such a good movie and i would watch it again and would suggest it to any one who likes a adventure movie.