Analyse,review and comment on "Stand By Me" with particular reference to genre

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Analyse, review and comment on “Stand By Me” with particular reference to genre

Kirsty Day 10y1

“Stand By Me” is a film directed by Rob Reiner, which is based on the novella “The Body” by Stephen King. Stand By Me is the story of four twelve year olds living in a small town in the year 1959, whose lives were changed by a chance adventure that they embarked on at the end of an indolent summer. The four boys were Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton), Chris Chambers (River Phoenix), Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman), and Vern Tessio (Jerry O'Connell). It fits into the film genre coming of age. This genre is outlines as a small group of individuals who have a life changing experience in the natural world. They are usually are the same sex, If not the opposing character would be more masculine/feminine and clearly more suited to hanging round with the group of the opposite sex.

 

The director of the film is keen to show a very strong message, which is apparent though out the film. We are alone in this long journey to adulthood. He expresses this in a variety of ways. One method is cinematography. He frequently uses perspective and panoramic shots, which charts their long, eventful but beautiful journey to the back Harlow Road. The incoming train is another way Reiner shows the boys fear of adulthood. The train is a large, opposing and fast moving object; the threat is objective rather than impersonal. It is one of the imagery factors used he uses to add to his message. Other references to the adult world are seen as enclosed and often hazy, used to portray the boy’s view of maturity. Whereas the world the boys see and particularly the journey uses wide and expansive shots to show the whole world opening up in front of them. Other films shots that are used are close ups which show the particular intense moments of the journey for the boys. The help give a sense of tension and strong emotion. This is particularly shown well at the end of the film when the boys go to split up. The camera only shows you their faces; to give you the affect you are looking right at them. Like you know them. At the end the camera also shows all different angles of Castle Rock, making it seem like a different place than you saw at the beginning. It is seen as empty, barren almost dead. At the start of the film it is shown as a cleanly, shiny, friendly typical 50’s American city. It shows how the boys have changed. Music is also used in the film, the popular White American music of the fifties passes through the film showing the boys fun and innocence. However, the music is also played on the scenes featuring Ace and the gang, to show the way popular music infiltrated all young peoples life.

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Reiner has set this film up to show the boys coming of age, and as mentioned before, the scenery and the composition help that. But there are also other factors that contribute to that. The four main actors performances and direction really brings it along. The boys are at the age in which they share everything and they haven’t quite started with girls so the dialogue is empty of female confusion, as it should be. They break down and lift each other back up. The characters have a real raw connection, which is well shown on film. The camera ...

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