I liked Rob Reiner’s movies quite a bit because they were always engaging and endearing. He was brilliant, prolific and versatile. Right out of the gate after directing the wacky mockumentary “This is Spinal Tap” in 1984, Reiner shifted gears to romantic comedy with “The Sure Thing” in 1985 and tapped into human emotions with “Stand by Me” in 1986. Before his movie career, Reiner won two Primetime Emmys as Meathead on the TV sitcom “All in the Family” (1971-1979).
Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on Dec. 14, according to NBC News. Their younger son, Nick Reiner, was taken into custody in connection with the deaths later that evening.
Even great directors have a misfire from time-to-time. For me the adventure “North” falls into that category for Reiner, despite a great cast including Elijah Wood, Bruce Willis, Jason Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Mostly, I remember Rob’s almost magical string of hits. “When Harry Met Sally…” in 1989 was the quintessential romantic comedy. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, both in their prime, portrayed friends who eventually became lovers. While they were falling in love on screen, Rob and Michele, a photographer on the film crew, were falling in love behind the camera, according to published reports. In interviews later, Rob said he changed the ending of the film, which was originally intended to show Harry and Sally walking away from each other, into a happy ending where they stayed together. It was a storybook ending, which reflected Rob and Michele’s own story.
A year later, Rob took on a psychological horror-thriller with “Misery” starring James Caan and Kathy Bates. Bates’ Annie Wilkes was cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs as a deranged nurse and superfan of writer Paul Sheldon (Caan). Based on Stephen King’s 1987 novel of the same title, “Misery” takes a dark turn after an incident brings the two together. Bates took home a Best Actress Oscar for her unhinged performance.
Rob followed up “Misery” with the taut courtroom drama “A Few Good Men” 1992. He directed Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore and others in a well-crafted story set around a military trial. If you’ve ever heard the classic movie phrase, “You can’t handle the truth!” it came from Nicholson’s character during a heated moment in the trial.
Almost everyone loved the popular fantasy tale “The Princess Bride” in 1987. It starred Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, the late André René Roussimoff (Andre the Giant) and Wallace Shawn.
Ironically, Reiner’s directing career went full circle. His final film in theaters so far was “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” this year, a long-awaited sequel to his first feature, “This Is Spinal Tap” in 1984.
If filmmakers were rated on a scale of 1-10, I would give Rob Reiner an 11. He will be in my memory as someone I’ll always relish and cherish.
