R.I.P. – Corey Haim
Sometimes it’s those far off your radar that hit you the hardest. The tough fact is that Corey Haim’s name has not been in a positive light for quite some time. Along with the other Corey (Feldman), he sky rocketed to fame in the 1980′s with three films I consider amongst the best of the decade: Lucas, The Lost Boys, License to Drive. Sadly, the minute the 90′s started Haim fell back into oblivion. There is no reason to go into the negative and sad portion of his life. It has been well documented and will be over analyzed over the next few days.
I’d rather talk about the touching, innocent, heartbreaking performance Haim gave in the amazing film Lucas. It’s a perfect little film about first love, first heartbreak, and everything in between. It takes place at that brief moment in time before all innocence is lost. Lucas wants to grow up. But at heart he is still just a boy barely past the stage of playing with action figures. He’s short. He’s nerdy. And his heart is bursting in love for Maggie. This film sounds like every other high school movie you may have seen. But there is a tragic sweetness to it that allows it to stand above most. It’s about the good high school kids and the bullies. The nerds and the jocks. It’s a coming of age film that refuses to club you over the head with cliches. There are a few big name actors that star in this 1986 film (Charlie Sheen, Jeremy Piven, Winona Rider), but the performance by Corey Haim allows it to become a classic film and stand above the rest.
Where many actors would have turned Lucas into a simple nerd that has a boyhood crush, Haim managed to truly embrace the depth of the character. Lucas was smart and insightful while maintaining his boyhood innocence. You want to root for him but know that he really has no shot at the girl or on the football field. Corey Haim was simply brilliant in this. Watch the film again (or for the first time) and you’ll agree. Awhile back, I mentioned my unrelenting love for “the slow clap.” One of the greatest slow clap moments in the history of film happens at the end of this classic movie. I get chocked up every time.
R.I.P. Corey Haim. Thanks for helping all of the awkward boys know that they can stand tall with the rest.
