Alternate Best Actor 1986: River Phoenix in Stand By Me

River Phoenix did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Chris Chambers in Stand By Me. 

Stand By Me follows four boys as they set on a life-defining "quest" to see a dead body. 

After watching the film again after more than two decades, the film I recalled being good, but this entirely is a far greater film than I had even remembered. Part of this is the central cast, Wil Wheaton is the weak link, partially as being the "main character" Gordie, the most straightforward inspiring writer, and while I don't think Wheaton is bad, it is more of an example of by comparison where he suffers most. As both Corey Feldman, as the mentally ill abused Teddy, and Jerry O'Connell as the most childish of the four Vern, both acquit themselves well. I will note just how broken Teddy is, wasn't something I picked up on so long ago. But the star of the show is unquestionably River Phoenix as the de-facto leader of the group Chris, who is known to come from a "bad family". Phoenix had been in a few tv shows and films before this, including the incomplete and imperfect Explorers, however the level of confidence in his performance here is truly remarkable for a performer at any age. Phoenix is entirely charismatic and serves well in establishing Chris as the leader of the group and just seemingly the clear thinker of the group despite his reputation. Phoenix isn't never even remotely a child actor here, and isn't doing well for a child actor, he's fully just an actor here because his work goes beyond just that confidence. Phoenix has a naturalism here that is just a given at a certain point, where there are many small moments in say in his co-stars where you see shades of the inexperience, Phoenix on the other hand is a born actor. 

Phoenix is so good that in a way he is fascinating giving co-star in the group scenes with the other kids, because as confident and commanding as his performance is, he never feels like a show off among them. Rather the ease in which Phoenix carries scenes is something that he makes build the general chemistry between the boys that much more believable. There isn't a moment where Phoenix is forcing the banter, or the digs between each other, however Phoenix bringing this "as a rock" like quality in the center of scenes just balances everything even in the moments of bigger acting from O'Connell and Feldman, he helps you just to accept it through his reactions to them. Phoenix makes Chris the more mature one, though there is a whole other brilliant factor in that element, which crafts that essential anchor within the group. They are never distant even when at their most childish, you don't just believe the kids, but you come to fully feel as if you are within the group in these scenes of exchange between them. Each plays their part to a degree, and Phoenix plays his part best in making them connect the most honestly. And that is where the true genius of this performance exists in pulling off what seems to be quite the magic trick, even though the performance is always completely natural, which in a way merely makes the "trick" that much greater an achievement. The trick that Phoenix achieves is the way he is able to portray both childishness and maturity, where it is hard not to marvel at his ability as a performer. 

Phoenix in a given scene can fluctuate between someone in at least their twenties to the preteen he is, all in the same scene, all in the same moment. It is truly extraordinary because it isn't as though Phoenix suddenly dramatically shifts in delivery or physical manner, yet what he embodies just changes right before our eyes with such ease. Phoenix articulates each and every moment differently because Chris is a kid, who is a kid, but a kid who has been through a lot even in his young life. When fooling around with the other kids he's just a juvenile in his random insults about dick sizes or mothers, where there is that petulance in his voice that isn't out of place of course, because he is a preteen. At the same time the moments where he talks about his dad being meaner than usual, the history of that is just suddenly in his eyes so directly, his voice just blunt as a person who has lived so many tough years just laying out the reality of the situation as a simple truth. One particularly amazing scene of this juxtaposition is early on as he starts out the journey still in town, showing Gordie the gun he swiped from his dad for their journey together. When Chris is showing off the gun, there is the gravity in every single one of Phoenix's words laying out the severity of the deadly weapon that sits in the hand of each boy, right down to noting that he made sure it wasn't loaded. When Gordie plays with it then accidentally shoots it off, Phoenix immediately is a scared kid who has been fooling around as he screams right with Gordie to make a hasty retreat as soon as possible. It is astonishing work because this switch isn't forced, nor is it unnatural, it rather is this completely believable manner of someone who needs adult grit in his life, but is still a silly kid at the same time. 

One can find so much in every frame that Phoenix is in, just in watching to see "what age" Chris is in a given moment as the leader, but again it is never an exercise it is a reality that Phoenix uses to only make Chris all the more impactful as a character. Where we see this so potently is in his relationship with the other boys. With Vern is largely comedic, where in a way Chris is most the fellow kid with the least maturity of the group, this is in stark contrast to his moments with Teddy. One remarkable scene as such is as the boys first play along a train while a train is very far away, and Phoenix presents the simple joy of phony danger right along the other boys without hesitation. When Teddy continues to stay on the tracks and begins to ramble about World War II based on things that his mentally ill dad has said, Phoenix's expressions instantly change to reflect the severity of the situation and the sense of understanding that Teddy is going off the deep end in the moment. Phoenix's performance suddenly switches to that maturity of concern as he forces Teddy off the tracks and berates him for his behavior. The most powerful of the relationships is with Gordie, where we see the best friend who absolutely has his back no matter what. Again there are the moments of truly just the friends being friends of their age, but so much more when Gordie bemoans taking college ready classes which will take him away from his friends. In a scene that I can't help but think it directly inspired a certain famous Ben Affleck spoken speech in Good Will Hunting, Chris basically telling Gordie to essentially forget his friends because of his potential as a writer. Phoenix is outstanding in the scene because there is such measured warmth he brings into every word of the speech. He brings a tough directness to it, but also this real sense of concern for his friend. Phoenix makes it so clear the wisdom of Chris in as he advises his friend that will be the best for that friend, even if it will take him away from him. And especially adore Phoenix's way of describing Gordie's writing, Phoenix shows such genuine admiration and appreciation for his friend's talent that is of absolute friend. 

The friendship between Chris and Gordie is paramount to several key moments throughout the journey and we get the return for the favor between the two of them each time. Phoenix's own moment of Chris breaking down his story of stealing school milk money, which is true but he also confessed to a teacher who in turn stole the money for themselves. Phoenix is amazing in the scene because we see the process of revealing both the maturity of the eventual man and the completely understandable vulnerability of the boy in the moment. In his breakdown he switches from showing that strength at times but bringing the fundamental heartbreak of a boy whose sense of any innocence was purged that much more by the teacher betraying him. That moment Gordie comforts Chris but Chris returns the favor when Gordie breaks down when they see the dead body, believing his parents wished he died rather than his older brother who had died in an accident. Phoenix on the other side is just as incredible in the fully loving embrace and as blunt as he was in telling Gordie the truths about their futures, Phoenix is as blunt in giving the speech telling Gordie that his father just doesn't know him. Phoenix brings such emotional sensitivity while having that toughness to him in the same breath and again it is such complex nuanced emotional work from such a young performer that it is absolutely extraordinary work. Which is the truth of the entirety of his performance. Phoenix is a boy and a man as Chris. When he faces off against the bully Ace (Kiefer Sutherland of course), Phoenix has that strength of someone much taller, much stronger in his eyes, however as Ace calls the notion and is about to attack him, Phoenix as believable waivers as the young kid he is as the fear almost overwhelms is his expression. There's never a break in this realization by Phoenix; it is a natural flow between these qualities that define Chris. Phoenix manages to perform beyond his years, by successfully being a wholly natural commanding performer, who is that boy, but finds that seasoned age of a boy who has been through more than a little in his short life. There isn't a facet of Chris that seems forced, he is warm, he is tough, he is childish, he is adult, he is it all, and it is Phoenix who makes every moment of it feel not only completely believable but also so very powerful and poignant.