A well-observed and executed little film.
Stand by Me (1986)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:33
Fresh:31
Rotten:2
Average Rating:7.8/10
Synopsis: Based on Stephen King's novella THE BODY, director Rob Reiner's STAND BY ME is the disarmingly tender and subtly sublime story of four kids on the precipice of early adulthood who embark upon a... Based on Stephen King's novella THE BODY, director Rob Reiner's STAND BY ME is the disarmingly tender and subtly sublime story of four kids on the precipice of early adulthood who embark upon a quest. There's Gordie (Wil Wheaton), the intelligent, creative one with the obviously bright future. His best buddy, Chris (River Phoenix), hardens his image in order to hide the pain from the physical abuse he endures at home, all the while harboring the hope of escaping that image. Rounding out the foursome are Vern (Jerry O'Connell), the pudgy tagalong, and Teddy (Corey Feldman), a loyal and funny but troubled kid with a death wish. When the four boys hear about a dead body 20 miles down the railroad tracks from their small Oregon town, they clandestinely set upon the unwieldy journey to lay eyes on this rare find. Amid numerous misadventures, Gordie, Chris, Vern, and Teddy savor what may be their last chance to revel in the simple life of children; around the corner is a future that could tear them apart, not to mention a tough teen gang who desires local fame by finding the body first. Enhanced by excellent performances and an engaging plot, STAND BY ME ranks among the best of the myriad coming-of-age films to dot the 1980s cinematic landscape. [More]
Starring: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell
Starring: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Richard Dreyfuss, Kiefer Sutherland, Casey Siemaszko, Gary Riley, Bradley Gregg, Jason Oliver, John Cusack, Marshall Bell
Director: Rob Reiner
Director: Rob Reiner
Screenwriter: Raynold Gideon, Bruce A. Evans
Producer: Andrew Scheinman, Raynold Gideon, Bruce A. Evans
Composer: Jack Nitzsche
Reviews for Stand by Me
Scripters have written inspired dialog for this quartet of plucky boys at that hard-to-capture age when they're still young enough to get scared and yet old enough to want to sneak smokes and cuss.
Though nostalgic, Reiner's film, based on Stephen King's autobiographical novella, is suffused with the magic of childhood; the narrative is framed by a long flashback that brings distance to the remembered reality.
Haunting coming-of-age drama; young River Phoenix's presence adds considerable poignancy
It transports you back, not to the 1950s, but to a time when, like Vern, you knew the important things in life.
A lot of folks go in for this movie in a big way, but I have a hard time seeing past the cloying comedy and clichéd white-guy sentimentality.
Latest News for Stand by Me
October 09, 2008:
Meet Corey Feldman Courtesy of RT
The Raindance Film Festival is ongoing in London and, as part of our media partnership, we're proud to remind all RT readers that we'll be presenting a very special Dinner and... More...
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March 16, 2006:
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