River Phoenix

When I was a teenager, long before I realized I was really into girls, I had a huge crush on River Phoenix. I thought he was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. Looking back on it now, I guess he was an incredibly beautiful boy.

Not only that, but he was also a very talented actor. Who knows what he could have accomplished if he had not died way too soon.

I must have seen all of his movies, and even though not all of those were all that great, his performance always was. Maybe I am biased, because I had such a crush on him. But c’mon, he played a little scientist when he was only 10 years-old in Explorers (alongside an equally young Ethan Hawke).

I guess most people know River from his roles in Sneakers or My own private Idaho (playing gay alongside Keanu Reeves). I always remember him like he was in Running on Empty, because that film came out when I was still crushing on him. If I recall correctly, he also had a really cute girlfriend in that movie.

I also sat through crap movies like Dogfight (in which a bunch of army guys on a break hold a competition to see who can bring the ugliest date), I love you to death (it is really weird and involves an Italian restaurant), and Little Nikita (all I recall is something about Russian spies).

What made me think of River Phoenix is the movie Stand by Me that was on television the other day. Now that is a fun movie. It is about this group of 12-year old boys who go on a little road trip to look for the body of some kid who was on the news.
Over the course of the movie, they find out some more about themselves and each other, and they bond as only adolescent boys can do. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed watching this movie. I guess, this is one of those movies that does stand the test of time, probably because it is already set in the fifties.