"School Ties": River Phoenix Always Gets Me

Okay, rewatched "School Ties" last night, and man, it still hits. I know it's a bit melodramatic at times (it is a 90s movie about the 50s, after all), but the performances are just so good. River Phoenix as David Greene? Heartbreaking. The way he carries that weight of having to hide such a core part of himself, always looking like he's holding his breath...it's captivating. And the scene where he finally confronts Chris O'Donnell's character, Charlie, about the antisemitic graffiti? Chills. Seriously, the raw emotion in that moment. I actually gasped. I love how he manages to portray both a strong persona while also being vulnerable. Speaking of Charlie, I always have really mixed feelings about him. O'Donnell does a solid job portraying a character who's not necessarily evil but definitely complicit and weak, giving in to peer pressure. Like, you see glimpses of decency in him, especially in those early scenes with David, but then he folds so easily under the influence of guys like Dillon's character, McGivern (who is just...ugh, truly awful). It's a really interesting depiction of how prejudice can be perpetuated, not just by active hate but by passive acceptance. It's definitely not a perfect movie - some of the plot points feel a little contrived, and the pacing is a bit uneven at times. That scene when he saves him during the football game just felt off! But as a character study, and as a time capsule of a particular kind of 1950s American privilege and bigotry, it's still powerful. I think its impact is how it doesn't paint the villains as cartoonishly evil while displaying how people's actions can enable injustice to grow. I am curious what others think about how the 90s handled messaging on prejudice versus contemporary film. I always find something new to appreciate (or be frustrated by) each time I watch it. What are y'all's thoughts? Any particular scenes or performances that stand out to you?