He’s “Still Just a Geek” — Wil Wheaton
But He’s So Much More — A Book Review
“ He hates me! My dad hates me!” — Gordie Lachance, “Stand By Me”, 1986
It probably seems odd to you that I would start a book review with a clip from a 1986 movie, but bear with me.
I saw this movie in 1987, when it ran on HBO. It had been years since I’d gotten out to a movie theater — I had four small children, and even sitting down in front of the television for long enough to watch a whole movie was quite an accomplishment.
I took the time for this one, which was made easier by the fact that every one of my children — even the three-year-old — was completely caught up in the tale from the first scene.
I looked at young Wil Wheaton, a boy about the same age as my youngest brother, and I thought, “Either his acting is beyond brilliant, or that is a very sad child.”
Not disregarding his undeniable talent, the sadness in Wil’s eyes seemed well beyond any actor’s ability to “act”.
