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Stand By Me (Slip)
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by Sony Pictures
Sales Rank: 19090
Price: $9.95
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A sleeper hit when released in 1986, <i>Stand by Me</i> is based on Stephen King's novella "The Body" (from the book <i>Different Seasons</i>); but it's more about the joys and pains of boyhood friendship than a morbid fascination with corpses. It's about four boys ages 12 and 13 (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell) who take an overnight hike through the woods near their Oregon town to find the body of a boy who's been missing for days. Their journey includes a variety of scary adventures (including a ferocious junkyard dog, a swamp full of leeches, and a treacherous leap from a train trestle), but it's also a time for personal revelations, quiet interludes, and the raucous comradeship of best friends. Set in the 1950s, the movie indulges an overabundance of anachronistic profanity and a kind of idealistic, golden-toned nostalgia (it's told in flashback as a story written by Wheaton's character as an adult, played by Richard Dreyfuss). But it's delightfully entertaining from start to finish, thanks to the rapport among its young cast members and the timeless, universal themes of friendship, family, and the building of character and self-esteem. Kiefer Sutherland makes a memorable teenage villain, and look closely for John Cusack in a flashback scene as Wheaton's now-deceased and dearly missed brother. A genuine crowd-pleaser, this heartfelt movie led director Rob Reiner to even greater success with his next film, <i>The Princess Bride</i>. <i>--Jeff Shannon</i>
Viewer Reviews
Talk about recipe for success. A story based on a Stephen King novella. Directed by Rob Reiner, who turned out to be about as fine a filmmaker there is. Narrated by Richard Dreyfuss (which is, in my humble opine, the best way to tolerate him in a movie). And solid up and coming young talents like Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix (RIP), Kiefer Sutherland, and Corey Feldman. All key ingredients to make watching STAND BY ME an unforgettable viewing experience.
A coming of age story set in 1950s rural Oregon, this film is the superbly crafted tale of four adolescents in search of a body allegedly decomposing in the woods. Yet this quest is not what the movie is about--not even close; the movie is about the four boys, their camaraderie, their insecurities and inner fears. Accordingly the story weaves, and weaves effortlessly, from lighthearted to poignant to disturbing--and back again. And it's totally believable: The viewer is on the railroad tracks in the boonies, walking with the four teens, laughing and humming to the golden oldie, 'Lollipop'.
STAND BY ME is fun, moving, sad. . .timeless. I've seen this film countless times, and will no doubt watch it countless times more. And isn't that how we honor great movies?
--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning
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Stand By Me (Slip)
Available from Amazon
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Last Modified : 1-7-2009
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