The Stone Boy Review
Inspired by the financial struggles of the small family farm, a vital social and political issue in the United States at the time, Hollywood produced a spate of dramas in the mid-1980s concerned with the tribulations of heartland families. Somewhat atypical in its psychological emphasis, The Stone Boy (1984) was still firmly rooted in this category. The story of a Midwestern farm family nearly destroyed by grief, and a young boy's odd reaction to his culpability in his brother's accidental death, was based on a short story by Gina_Berriault. The Stone Boy was praised for its spare dialogue, its frank, non-manipulative tone, and its remarkably beautiful location photography, all qualities that were hallmarks of the other films of its kind, which included Tender_Mercies (1983), Country (1984), Places in the Heart (1984) and The_River (1984). It was directed by Christopher_Cain, who earned kudos in only his second outing behind the camera for his assured hand with the film's top-notch cast, which included Robert_Duvall and Wilford_Brimley. Both actors gave noteworthy performances as gruff, stoic country patriarchs, character types they often inhabited. The Stone Boy also starred Glenn_Close, Frederic_Forrest, and the impressive young Jason_Presson as the film's mute hero. Smaller roles were filled by actress Gail_Youngs, who was then Duvall's real-life wife, Linda_Hamilton, and the director's stepson, actor Dean_Cain, who made his feature film debut as the accident victim. Generous government subsidies eventually proved a short-term solution for the ailments of the family farm and the popularity of the breed waned, with only such occasional forays as Miles_From_Home (1988) and the PBS documentary The_Farmer's_Wife (1998). Karl Williams, Rovi
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