Review of Stand by Me (1986) by Willard M — 02 Feb 2012

*** This review may contain spoilers ***.

Director: Rob Reiner Writer: Raynold Gideon, Bruce A. Evans, Stephen King.

"F*** writing, I don't want to be a writer. It's stupid, it's a stupid waste of time.".

F*** writing? Wait, F*CK writing? Wow, such an explicit statement for such a young UN-prodigal son to make. It's a surprise that his tongue isn't full with suds and bubbles, isn't it?

Well, Stephen King's outlook on writing may be a little over the top, but at least he shades in the areas of self-criticism. I couldn't put down "The Stand", when I first opened it at age 15. "The Green Mile" serial was also a mainstay in my young paws. But other brands of King have always eluded my attention span. I never got into his shorts, because I was forever caught in the glare of the unworthy mentions such as "It" and "Thinner," amongst other total page flopper's.

However, the cast and crew of the turning-of-age film "Stand By Me" must have been just caught in the time-period and all of it's everlasting glory. It's hard to believe that this movie was made in the depths of the 1980's, when throw-back moments may have been high, but more high on cocaine than on the plateau of self-awareness as portrayed in this milestone of modern film-making.

You could cry at this movie, and with it, but never figure out why. Thirty laughs practiced for young Corey Feldman, and you wonder why. You'll wonder why, and you'll never figure out who it is that River Phoenix character will remind you of from your own life. But you'll pine out of the miseries that you've experienced, for at least two solid hours, those moments you've left in the distant past, yet so close to your heart.

A strange thing, even the young actors of the piece seem to be left-overs from a better, more innocent, and golden era when rock and roll was skittish, time moved so slow it appeared to whiz by at the bat of an eye. You can almost see the horseflies try to land on the camera lens, and in some of the more poignant parts of the film, you almost wish you could see the director's wastebasket filled with Kleenex.

Sure, it's an oldie but goo-die, but when the oldies are blaring from your television speakers, no DVD does it better for the amount of nostalgia offered here. I've seen this movie about 20 times, and it simply doesn't get old enough, to make it any easier to stand by and watch the children that we wish we knew and had as friends, wander through life whimsically yet in an education of the mind body and soul. Your heart may thump through their escapades along the train tracks of life, but you won't forget for a second that this is when and where life should have stayed.

Guns, cigarettes, booze, dead people, life-threatening situations and suspense, and yet all we are doing is watching a future journalist sling around with his cheerful crew of buddies. Nothing better to do in the summertime, no better lie to make to escape the harsh realities of post-war America and it's constant discrimination and powerful discontent that ran like a leaky water faucet through the seventies.

Rob Reiner, hats off, good man. You've created the masterpiece that should be required watching for all middle-grade schoolers of the world. Turn the thinking off, and enjoy one classic that will never be forgotten.

"Look, you guys can go around if you want to. I'm crossing here. And while you guys are dragging your candy asses across the state and back, I'll be waiting for you on the other side relaxing with my thoughts.".

STAND BY ME (1986) 10/10.

Actors: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Conner, Kiefer Sutherland.

Cinematographer: Thomas Del Ruth Music: Jack Nitzsche Editor: Robert Leighton.