Stand by Me Review

SPOILER ALERT

Here I am taking break from chronologically following the top 1000 films of all time to watch number 209 on the list: Rob Reiner's 1986 Stand By Me.   I have just recently finished reading the Stephen King novella of which the film is based on, so I decided to rewatch it and see how the two compared.

Set in 1959, Stand by Me follows the story of four best friends: the quiet and reserved Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton,) the group's leader Chris Chambers (River Phoenix) the flamboyant and mentally unhinged Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman) and the timid Vern Tessio (Jerry O'Connell) When Vern Tessio hears about the recently deceased local boy Ray Brower, the four friends resolve to find the body and bring him home.

This is arguably the ultimate film of childhood innocence, discovery and exploration, as well as destruction of that innocence.  It is a great film in how it can make audiences long for childhoods where you had no responsibility and had the freedom to whatever you wanted.  It made me think back to when I was twelve years old and I was off exploring with my friends.  Even if I didn't realise it those were the best days of my life.

Stand by Me also perfectly captured what a group of young boys are really like.  Throughout the film, the four boys are constantly mocking each other, whether that be calling each other retards or making yo mamma jokes. We express affection for friends by teasing each other.

It is also a powerful film in how the boy's mission to find Ray Brower is merely a subplot to how each boy is forced to confront their own personal demons.  All four boys come from dysfunctional families with neglectful drunken or abusive fathers.  The boys help each other through these conflicts. All four of them are the best of friends. Geordie confides with Chris about how he has always had to live in the shadow of his older brother.  

In turn, Chris tells Gordie that due to his family's bad reputation, he is never going to amount to anything.  In a great performance by River Phoenix, Chris Chambers explains that after he stole the milk money at school, he felt guilty and tried to return it.  However, the teacher he returned it to, embezzled it and ratted him out.  River Phoenix's expression says volumes of about the pain that his character is feeling.  

He tried to do the right thing, yet a teacher- an upstanding, law-abiding citizen still betrayed him. Will Wheton and River Phoenix were terrific. Phoenix died far too young. What potential he had. Corey Feldman also had a sad life falling victim to the Hollywood machine. He was great in this too as was Jerry O'Connell.

Yet it isn't just me saying this. Upon seeing it for the first time, Stephen King left the theatre in shock, saying it is the best adaptation of his work that he has ever seen.  Considering how he hasn't been the biggest fan of other adaptations of his work *cough cough* the Shining, this is a big compliment.

The film is was also quite faithful to the book.  The plot and its major events are largely the same, as is its characterisation of its protagonists.  One major difference is how the film's antagonists are portrayed.  Ace Merrill (Kiefer Sutherland) leads a group of older boys who are also trying to find Ray Brower.  Whilst in the novel, they are little more than a vague presence showing up at the beginning and the end, they are much more threatening in the film.

Their menace is felt by their hobbies of playing mailbox baseball and scarring themselves.  The other major difference comes at the film's end.  Whilst in both versions, Gordie's group find Ray Brower first and successfully face off Ace's group, in the novella Ace's group later beats up Gordie's group in retribution.  This doesn't happen in the film.  Secondly, whilst only Chris dies in the film, Chris, Teddy and Vern all die in the book.  Of the two endings, I much prefer the ending of the film.  I feel that it correlates better with the nostalgic tone of the movie.

Stand By Me was also directed by Rob Reiner who is best known for his comedy films This is Spinal Tap, The Bucket List and The Princess Bride yet he proved that he is also great at dramas. Yes, Stand by Me had its funny parts, but it was emotionally devastating too.

This was a great film that engages brilliantly with the themes of nostalgia and sentimentality whilst touching upon deeper themes such as abusive fathers.  The adult Gordie Lachance finishes the film with this fantastic line: "I never had friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve.  Jesus, does anyone?"