When Rob Reiner gets it right, he gets it right. He gave us one heck of. an amazing string of films, well written, perfectly cast and expertly helmed. He was funny but showed little promise as Michael Meathead Stivic, stereotypical peacenik Hippie on All in the Family. But when he became Carl Reiners Film director son, he struck gold. After practicing with a couple of TV movies, he hooked up with the creative team of Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer and pure comic bliss hit the big screen. When This is Spinal Tap opened, it was so very fresh and new. We hadnt seen much of its ilk before. Not only was it a mockumentery, it was also a major film that was largely improvised within the strictures of a well crafted screenplay. Reiner was a fine ringmaster, taking Guest, McKean and Shearer on their wonderfully crafted Smell the Glove comeback tour. The conceit worked so well that the trio continued on with improv gems Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration. This is Spinal Tap was loaded with great jokes and killer bits. Spinal Tap being interviewed and explaining that all of their drummers died under strange circumstances, one of them blew up, one choked to death on vomit, not his own, mind you, but police science has yet to be able to type vomit, Derek Smalls (Shearer) being stopped at airport security with a foil wrapped banana in his trousers. Nigel Tufnel (Guest) demonstrating that his amplifiers go to 11. these are just a small sample of good stuff from a flick that is packed top to bottom with one scene funnier than the next. Reiner moved on and found his own personal voice that spoke to us in a number of his subsequent works. Next came Stand By Me, based on Stephen Kings brilliant novella The Body, one of the great tales of boyhood, friendship and coming of age ever penned. Reiner brought the story to life with a great script, wonderful cast, perfect, first person narration by Richard Dreyfuss, beautiful cinematography byThomas Del Ruth and artists eye, helping to make this wonderfully collaborative work, the special film it is. It all feels so real. From Keifer Sutherland and his J.D. cronies smashing mailboxes from a speeding car, to getting stuck on a train trestle, a brush with leeches (eechhh), and the final revelation that death really happens. Colorful and visually stunning, the movie never disappoints. I felt that I lived it. Next came not only my favorite Reiner film, but one of my all time favorites, The Princess Bride. For me, everything worked in this joyous Faerie Tale. Eclectically diverse heroes, a beautiful Princess, great sneering villains, horrible, scary creatures and settings, nifty swordplay, feats of strength and intellect, depths of despair, a Happy Ending, and, oh yeah, Kissing. Its a big movie wrapped in a charming short subject starring Peter Falk as a granddad visiting his under the weather grandson, Fred Savage, reading him a story to raise his spirits. He grudgingly falls under the spell of his Grandpas words and eagerly follows it to its conclusion. Reiner had as his source material a great childrens book and screenplay both by William Goldman. The cast could have been better, Ive always liked Cary Elwes and his boyish good looks, playing John Houseman in Cradle will Rock and the surprise killer in Kiss the Girls (sorry: spoiler) he always brings freshness to a role. Robin Wright could not be more fetching as Princess Buttercup. Andre the Giant was perfectly cast as strongman Fezzik. Rounding out the good guys is Mandy Patinkin delivering one of the most iconic lines of all time My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die! The villains led off with the simpering, Sicilian criminal mastermind as played by the marvelous Wallace Shawn. next we had Chris Sarandon as the nasty Prince Humperdinck, and appearing again for Reiner, the inimitable Christopher Guest as the cowardly Killer, Count Tyrone Rugen who finally meets up with Inigo Montoya and prepares to die. Carol Kane and Billy Crystal as Valerie and the wizardly Miracle Max add a fine comic touch. This movie is one of my top catches of the day. If its on, Ill invariably stick with it. When Harry Met Sally followed, and ever so many people wanted to have what just what Meg Ryan was having. Billy Crystal working for Reiner again and Carrie Fiosher rounded out the rest of the excellent cast. The great script by Nora Ephron became one of Reiners best. Tapping into Stephen King a second time, Rob gave us Misery, and an Oscar winning Kathy Bates you couldnt help hating. Raise your hand if you flinched when she used her sledgehammer for its full effect. The screenplay was from King and William Goldman. A Few Good Men put Jack Nicholsons Col. Jessup up on the wall right were we wanted him. Tom Cruise was OK, and Demi Moore filled out her Navy JAG Officers uniform Better than most. Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollack, Kiefer Sutherland and the late, greatly missed J.T. Walsh topped the rest of a cast top flight cast. Reiner then directed a movie penned by Aaron Sorkin, The American President, which while a very good movie, its most notable for spawning Sorkins masterwork, The West Wing. While not having the impact of Alan Parkers Mississippi Burning, Reiner gave us a more personal Civil Rights story covering the murder of Medger Evers and the belated murder trial of Byron De La Beckwith played by James Woods, as prosecuted by, Alec Baldwin as D.A. Bobby DeLaughter. A smart script well presented. Worth a look is The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson working again for Reiner and Morgan Freeman as two terminally ill old gents taking off on a wish fulfilling road trip., And check out Reiner returnees Freeman and Virginia Madsen( Ghosts of Mississippi) in a cute meet story of two unlikely people falling under the spell of The Magic of Belle Isle .Its a sweet and simple treat. Not bad for a Meathead.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 22:04:44 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015