Stand by Me
Composite Score: 82.37
Starring: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, Casey Siemaszko, Gary Riley, Bradley Gregg, and Richard Dreyfuss
Director: Rob Reiner
Writers: Raynold Gideon and Bruce A. Evans
Genres: Adventure, Drama, Coming of Age
MPAA Rating: R
Box Office: $52.29 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Stand by Me is the 1986 adaptation of Stephen King’s novella, The Body, about four boys who go together to see a dead body that has been reported outside of their hometown. It is an adventure story about friendship, growing up, and the struggles of adolescence. The film features some strong performances from its young ensemble, including Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, and Kiefer Sutherland. The screenplay was nominated for an Oscar for its adaptation of King’s work, and it stands the test of time as one of the more iconic adaptations from the author’s writings.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
Because of its content and context, this film’s target audience is going to be fairly limited in terms of people who consider it to be great – namely, guys who grew up with a close-knit group of friends that went everywhere and did everything together. This is not to say that the film isn’t good if you lack that background, just that it probably will not be as resonant or impactful. The lack of emotional resonance with a decent portion of its viewing audience will inevitably make this a film that not everyone agrees is great; however, the performances and writing certainly help make that argument despite its niche audience.
So wait why should you Watch This Film?
Stand by Me benefits from some impressive young actors’ performances. Wil Wheaton gives what is arguably the best performance of his career as the young Gordie Lachance, the film’s protagonist who grows up to become an author. His emotional development from the film’s start to its close provides the core of the story, and without him, the film wouldn’t be what it is. River Phoenix’s performance as the troubled youth Chris Chambers provides the support necessary to help Gordie grow into himself throughout the film, delivering an equally poignant showing in the process. Lastly, Kiefer Sutherland serves as the perfect villain for this coming-of-age film, starting out as a simple high school bully before morphing into something more dangerous as the boys come into their own, threatening not just social status, but lives. His performance as Ace simply oozes villainy and detestability while still remaining human and grounded.
Stand by Me’s familiar coming-of-age narrative is bolstered by its leading performers and a deep level of emotional poignancy, making this particular Stephen King adaptation worthy of its place among the Greatest Films of All Time. Though its content might not be as universally relatable as some other films within the genre, certain scenes and lines keep it iconic and memorable even for audiences who don’t share the experience of its protagonists. This film is available to stream via Fubo or Sling or to rent on most streaming platforms, check it out if you haven’t seen it.
