Stand by Me is a timeless classic coming of age movie featuring extraordinary performances from its young cast. The plot line relates to the semi-autobiographical novella by Stephen King, The Body. It follows the adventure of four adolescent boys on their quest in which they strengthen their bond of friendship, and ultimately find themselves. Coming out in 1986 and directed by Rob Reiner it illustrates universally popular themes and ideas that both young and old audiences will identify with. In particular, the four budding actors make this film their own, and it is little wonder that this film became their breakthrough into mainstream acting.
The story is narrated by a man in his 30’s reminiscing on his childhood in 1950’s Oregon. He tells
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the story of 4 children: himself, Gordy Lachance (Wil Wheaten), and his 3 friends, Chris Chambers (River Phoenix), Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman) and Vern Tessio (Jerry O’Connell). With all of them coming from dysfunctional and abusive backgrounds, they find themselves an unlikely group of friends. When Vern, seen as meek and inferior to the other boys, attempts to casually mention that he knows the whereabouts of a dead body, the boys are hooked. With the urging of Teddy, known as the Joker and the crazy one, who suffers from abuse from his alcoholic father, the boys decide to follow the train tracks to the location of this body. The characters and the actors who played them were brilliant and realistic.
They were portrayed as four unique and entertaining individuals. Wil Wheaton (playing Gordy Lachance), presents his character’s troubles and emotions appropriately, helping the audience understand the struggle that Gordy is facing at the death of his brother. This is heightened by the absence of emotional and psychological support from his mother and father, who Gordy believes to have preferred his brother. Chris despite his own dark background is an unlikely companion to Gordy, helping him through his experience. Chris has his own troubles however, he has been labeled from his birth: his father and brother are a bad sort, and so he will turn out to be the same. Though these stereotypes bring him down he demonstrates the characteristics of a resilient and self-assured adolescent, and leads Gordy and their band on their adventure. Teddy Duchamp is most definitely the most goofy and foolish boy of the group. He acts like he has not a care in the world, leaving his friends wondering if he’ll make it to 20 years old. Although he presents this appearance, he is hiding behind a mask. Like Gordy and Chris, he comes from an abusive background. His father, after coming home from service in a war, turned to drink and became violent and uncontrollable. Teddy longs for a loving and caring father and still defends him at every opportunity. Completing the small group is Vern. He is depicted as the childish …show more content…
onlooker, the chubby and simple-minded kid, content to follow and accept criticism and taunting from those around him. Stand By Me presents universal themes such as coming of age, discovery and friendship.
Throughout their journey, the empathetic boys strengthen their bond. Gordy and Chris, who are shown to have a stronger bond, reveal their own insecurities. The close-up shots of these individuals display the emotion of the boys as they are forced to mature through their individual lives at home, as well as fending for themselves out in the unknown. When shown the dolly shot of the train fast-approaching the boys, we can understand that the journey is not about the discovery of the dead body, but a discovery of friendship and the challenge of trial. The strength of their bond is seen by the use of self-sacrifice, and by the final line, of which Gordy types on his computer, ‘I never had any friends like I did when I was 12… Jesus, does anyone?’ This can leave any audience reminiscing, and closes a tale that any audience can relate to: most people have experienced this type of friendship at some point in their lives, a memory this movie helps all viewers
revisit. I would recommend this film to all audiences. Sure to never lose its relevance in modern-day society, Stand By Me is a film of courage, friendship and coming of age. Young people, such as teenagers can relate to this blossoming cast, while older viewers can feel a sense of nostalgia while watching this series of events play out. Four stars from me, as well as a big recommendation to all readers.
Every body from Tom to Jack all had one purpose, inner peace. They didn't know it at first but they led each other to realize it. When Tom stands on the rocks and throws his son’s ashes into the ocean he says “I came here to bring you home. I don't have anything to take back.” Tom, and his friends, found their inner peace and are leaving everything bad behind
The main character or narrator talks about all his dads experience with the gold rush. His father experienced a lot of sights he would definitely remember. But the real on that stood out to him was when he was waiting in a line like he had never seen before even through his memory loss issues he would remember this magnificent site. He would have to pack for forty degree weather which was hard to be in as cold as it was plus you have to wait very long says the narrator. I am assuming the narrator is the main characters' son because the narrator refers to the main character as (my
It is an emotional and heart-rending chronicle about raising in the dirt-poor of the Alabama hills--and all about moving on with the life but never actually being capable to leave (Bragg, 1997, p. 183). The exceptional blessing for evocation and thoughtful insight and the dramatic voice for the account--notifying readers that author has gained a Pulitzer Award for this featured writing. It is a wrenching account of his own upbringing and family. The story moves around a war haunted, alcoholic person (Bragg's father) and a determined and loving mother who made hard efforts to safeguard her children from the harsh effects of poverty and ignorance, which has constricted her own living standard. In this account, author was talented enough to create for himself on the strength of his mother's support and strong conviction. He left house only to follow his dreams and pursue a respectable career in life, however he is strongly linked to his ancestry. In addition, the memoir shows the efforts of Bragg in which he has both compensated and took revenge from the cruelties of his early childhood. Author's approach towards his past seems quite ambivalent and
Throughout the story, Taylor grows as a person and learns what it means to be part of a family. Kingsolver's choices for point of view, setting, conflict, theme, characterization, and style help support the plot and create an uplifting story with a positive message.
Buddy demonstrates acts of sacrifice for his family. Buddy is down to earth and he has always been that way. He has always been happy with his life and made the best of what he had. He never blamed anyone for anything. He is always willing to do anything for his family. Throughout the book Buddy shows sympathy and compassion towards his family. He is representing the family by getting an education. He shows the courage to break the chain of poverty and create not only himself, but his whole family into a “somebody”. “Charley told that several months back he had picked up a kid from Buddy’s school, and Charley asked that kid whether he know Buddy or not. He told Charley that Buddy was the best
Readers develop a compassionate emotion toward the characters, although the characters are detached and impersonal, due to the tone of The Road. The characters are unidentified, generalizing the experience and making it relatable – meaning similar instances can happen to anyone, not just the characters in the novel. McCarthy combined the brutality of the post-apocalyptic world with tender love between father and son through tone.
discusses his life as a kid, and how he was accidentally placed in a vocational program in his
The main role of Gordie LaChance is played by Wil Wheaton. He is having trouble in his life at this time because he just lost his brother and his parents are having a very difficult time dealing with it. Chris Chambers was played by River Phoenix. Chris is considered a loser because of his family and everybody thinks he will do nothing in life. Through it all, the group of kids looks up to Chris and he is admired by them. The role of Teddy Duchamp is played by Corey Feldman. Teddy has a difficult time in life largely because his father was very mean to him before getting thrown in an insane asylum. The lack of discipline shows in that Teddy has a serious problem staying in control. He is always going crazy and his behavior presents a problem more than once to the group. Vern Tessio is played by Jerry O’Connel. He is the short little fat kid that remains a constant pest throughout the movie. Together the for kids embark on a trip through the woods that will be a challenging adventure for them all. Over the course of the movie the group has problems with individual group members, they have to work as a team, and leadership roles emerge.
When the man and boy meet people on the road, the boy has sympathy for them, but his father is more concerned with keeping them both alive. The boy is able to get his father to show kindness to the strangers (McCarthy), however reluctantly the kindness is given. The boy’s main concern is to be a good guy. Being the good guy is one of the major reasons the boy has for continuing down the road with his father. He does not see there is much of a point to life if he is not helping other people. The boy wants to be sure he and his father help people and continue to carry the fire. The boy is the man’s strength and therefore courage, but the man does not know how the boy worries about him how the boy’s will to live depends so much on his
The people in this story go through a great transformation from hating each other to being as close as brothers but I do not feel that the end result is the most important part. These boys had very difficult decisions to make. I think that all these young men were raised to be racists to varying degrees. This graveyard moment was a very clear message that could not be misunderstood. They learned tolerance for those of their loved ones that couldn?t or wouldn?t learn as quickly as they did. If we are to ever overcome the misguided beliefs we gain from our parents we need a very good explanation of why we should believe another way. Without this I do not think that the team would have ever come together because they had been raised to hate each other their whole life. The learned the importance of friendship and what i...
With the son’s fear amongst the possibility of death being near McCarthy focuses deeply in the father’s frustration as well. “If only my heart were stone” are words McCarthy uses this as a way illustrate the emotional worries the characters had. ( McCarthy pg.11). Overall, the journey of isolation affected the boy just as the man both outward and innerly. The boys’ journey through the road made him weak and without a chance of any hope. McCarthy states, “Ever is a long time. But the boy knew what he knew. That ever is no time at all” (McCarthy pg. 28). The years of journey had got the best of both, where they no longer had much expectation for
Early in the film , a psychologist is called in to treat the troubled child :and she calmed the mother with a statement to the effect that, “ These things come and go but they are unexplainable”. This juncture of the film is a starting point for one of the central themes of the film which is : how a fragile family unit is besieged by unusual forces both natural and supernatural which breaks and possesses and unites with the morally challenged father while the mother and the child through their innocence, love, and honesty triumph over these forces.
“The story employs a dramatic point of view that emphasizes the fragility of human relationships. It shows understanding and agreemen...
Stand and Deliver, a 1988 film directed by Ramon Menendez follows the true story of how teacher Jaime Escalante, played by Edward Olmos in his Oscar nominated role, takes a group of poverty stricken students in a run down school and defies the odds by not only getting them to learn but want to learn. Throughout the whole movie is the proof that being underprivileged does not mean less intelligent, Stand and Deliver shows that with hard work, the proper push, and desire, anything can be accomplished.
At first the relationship between a father and his son can be perceived as a simple companionship. However, this bond can potentially evolve into more of a dynamic fitting relationship. In The Road The Man and his son have to depend on one another because they each hold a piece of each other. The Man holds his sons sense of adulthood while the son posses his father’s innocence. This reliance between the father and son create a relationship where they need each other in order to stay alive. “The boy was all that stood between him and death.” (McCarthy 29) It is evident that without a reason to live, in this case his son, The Man has no motivation to continue living his life. It essentially proves how the boy needs his father to love and protect him, while the father needs the boy to fuel ...