Stand By Me Deluxe Edition
Filed Under: Film, Reviews | Article Tags : DVD review
By: Erik Swift
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‘Coming-of-age’ films are an interesting lot. Tales of life-changing experiences or encounters arrive in various shapes and sizes, but many typically utilize flashbacks for a story told in hindsight by an adult with years of perspective. Present-day settings can work, a benefit for “American Pie,” “Igby Goes Down” or “Roger Dodger,” but they’re against the norm. What’s seen more is placement in a specific era or near a historical event for a backdrop. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy has been beaten to death as a storytelling device, most annoyingly in “Dirty Dancing” where the adult Baby is never seen. Plunking a yarn in a previous decade can be an excuse to amp up the sex amidst puritanical surroundings (“Porky’s,” “Screwballs”), and bad writing can be veiled more easily with a good soundtrack to quickly set the mood ( “1969” anyone?). Countless films could be stronger without the prologues or epilogues that are often lazily tacked on. One that is not is “Stand By Me,” newly released in a deluxe CD/DVD package from Sony Columbia Tri-Star.
On the surface, Rob Reiner’s 1986 film sounds formulaic: writer Richard Dreyfuss reflects on a youthful weekend with his childhood buds in the waning days of summer 1959. The actor bookends the film while his voice rises to narrate occasionally. A younger version of ‘the writer’ is Gordie, played by Wil Wheaton. Gordie is friends with the rebellious Chris (River Phoenix), the overweight Vern (Jerry O’Connell) and the troubled Teddy (Corey Feldman). The Oregon quartet smoke, curse, insult each other’s mothers and have fun. Viewers quickly learn everything isn’t as rosy at home for the boys, especially with their fathers. Chris’ dad has a drinking problem, Teddy’s is the town nutcase and Gordie’s parents have sunk into a deep depression, virtually ignoring him since the recent death of his older brother (a smoking John Cusack, who does crushing work in two scenes). Labor Day weekend turns into an adventure when Vern enters their tree house hangout, claiming excitedly he knows where the corpse of a missing boy is. From there, a race begins to find the body between the foursome and a local gang of older teens, led by badass Ace (a never-better Keifer Sutherland, looking like he just auditioned for Love And Rockets). The boys hike on foot, waxing philosophical along the train tracks that guide them into the wilderness on earth and in their futures. A journey of maturation occurs while tall tales shrink and somewhat become truths. It’s fun, too. Between Chopper, the dog that knows to “sic balls,” and the barforama, there are moments in “Stand By Me” anyone can love instantly.
Phoenix, Feldman, O’Connell and Wheaton have chemistry from their first scene. Whether on a train trestle or toasting marshmallows, their energetic chitchat crackles with the life only a child can deliver. Each of the four actors has key moments where their talents particularly shine, but Chris’ meltdown blows away any notion that Phoenix isn’t still missed today. Next to “Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade” and perhaps “Sneakers,” this is probably the most mainstream film in which he appears, and his wrenching destruction of his character’s ultra-cool veneer is as shocking for the audience as it is for Gordie. During the bonus features and Reiner’s commentary, the nice words about River and his early passing are kind, but Jesus, it’s tough not to throw something at the screen in despair or bury heads in hands at the wasted talent Phoenix displays here. The last scene, in which Chris fades away in Gordie’s memory, is more difficult to watch in light of River’s death in 1993.
Reiner’s commentary sheds light on the pain of the casting process, and an error in “Stand By Me” would have cost the production heavily. The work he put into translating Steven King’s novella “The Body” for the screen turned into the director’s most pleasurable and personal work. The 2000 documentary “Walking The Tracks: The Summer Of ‘Stand By Me’” is a 36-minute tour of the film complete with stills taken on the set and interviews that veer from the basics to O’Connell recalling his excitement about telling his mom he has to say the “s-& f-words” in the script. The studio lighting on the actor is so hot it’s distracting but the rest of it looks great, as does the additional booklet that accompanies the package. The original soundtrack had ten songs while the bonus CD here oddly only has eight of them; would it really have been that tough to include the missing tracks? That would be something cool for future deluxe editions of any movie – including a complete CD soundtrack with the film on DVD. Don’t miss the music video for Ben E. King’s title song, featuring half the cast.
“Stand By Me” remains a most assured depiction of the bond of friendship. A thoughtful gem, it was a hit with critics and audiences upon its late summer release. It still packs a pleasurable punch in any season.
Reviewer’s Opinion: BUY IT!!
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