Ticket 2 Ride

Rob Reiner was a skilled storyteller. He became a filmmaker relatively late, he was 37 when This is Spinal Tap was released, having spent his younger years as an actor and writer.

Reiner had a good eye for scripts, and he knew what translated to the screen. He co-founded Castle Rock Entertainment, which produced many of his films. Reiner worked with many for the best writers: Stephen King, Aaron Sorkin, Nora Ephron, William Goldman

In his later career, Reiner focused on more personal films, less concerned about box office and seemingly more interested in telling stories that otherwise wouldn’t have been made. His films were always character-driven. If you look at his cast lists, everybody wanted to work with him, even those with very different politics. Reiner was a filmmaker, but he was a compassionate human being first. He was an artist, who used what he observed and had experienced. Films like When Harry Met Sally and This is Spinal Tap used events and characters from his life.

Mainly I thought of Rob Reiner as a director of comedies, but then I looked at his films and saw how mistaken I was. Stand By Me, Misery, A Few Good Men, Ghosts of Mississippi, The American President – all dramas.

Here are my favorite 10 film directed by Rob Reiner. The list is in no particular order. Take a look at the movie trailers I have included.

Misery (1999) – This film is probably my least favorite on this list, mainly due to the subject matter and Kathy Bates’ freaky performance. It’s scary good. Based on a Stephen King novel, adapted by William Goldman. Produced by Castle Rock, Reiner’s production company he co-founded. Reiner’s direction is mostly confined to Annie’s snowbound house, so he keeps the camera tight on a bedridden Paul Sheldon (James Caan). Misery is a grim story that has to stay focused on Sheldon trying to escape Annie’s capture, so Reiner slowly ratcheted up the suspense even though the undercurrent of dread appears early on. This film is emotionally draining, but keeps the audience on the edge of their seats to the very end. Masterfully done.

This is Spinal Tap (1984) – Reiner’s feature directorial debut. He also co-wrote, co-starred and was an uncredited co-producer. Credited as the first mocumentary, it was not a big hit, but it developed a strong following on video and streaming. The mocumentary format has been liberally used in television and film. Rock musicians are among the admirers, pointing out their own versions of the events in the film.

When Harry Met Sally (1989) – Is this the ultimate rom-com movie? Written by Nora Ephron, directed and co-produced by Reiner, this movie has so many quotable lines and relatable situations. I’ve seen this movie so many times, but I get sucked up into watching whenever I stumble over it on TV. The story behind the making of the film is worth the read. So many talented people contributed to this film: Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby and of course, Estelle Reiner.

The American President (1995) – This is a delightedly Reiner film, allowing him to say a lot of his views on the country, and the character requirements of political leadership. Some people confuse this film as exposing Reiner’s liberal views, when it is really about idealism. An A list of actors are in the cast: Michael Douglas, Annette Benning, Michael J. Fox, Martin Sheen and Richard Dreyfuss. The film has a 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, the film was written by Aaron Sorkin from an idea offered up by Robert Redford, who was attached to the lead role, but withdrew. Reiner produced and directed.

A Few Good Men (1992) Adapted by Aaron Sorkin from his play, Reiner directed and co-produced. A huge box office success and critically acclaimed, with a deep cast of A list and character actors including Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. A riveting court drama that still has plenty of thriller in it. Cruise and Nicholson go head to head and each give one of their strongest film performances. This film was a huge step for Reiner in directing big dramatic films. He proved his metal with Directors Guild and Golden Globe nominations for the film’s direction.

The Bucket List (2007) – A very downbeat film about two men with cancer who are trying to stay ahead of it by fitting in as much life as possible before the illness catches up to them. Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman and Sean Hayes are in the cast. Directed and co-produced by Reiner, the film is more a fantasy of two men, whose friendship is the most compelling part of the film. The film was a financial success but got mixed reviews, and was criticized for many things that didn’t ring true. I wasn’t looking for realism, although it looked like the effects of the cancer treatment was real enough for me. Watching this film makes me sad, cancer and other diseases have taken many people I know. Yet, the courage to fight, and sometimes lose, still projects the spirit of squeezing as much life from life, that one can.

The Princess Bride (1987) – Adapted from William Goldman’s novel, directed and co-produced by Reiner. A most hit at its release, the film is embraced as a classic, holding a 96 percent Rotten Tomatoes score, and accepted by the National Film Registry. With a cast including Billy Crystal, Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Carol Kane, Mandy Potemkin and Andre the Giant, there are wonderful performances across the screen for this romantic-action-comedy.

Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023) – A wonderful look inside the life and career of actor/director Albert Brooks. Brooks and Reiner go back at least as fast as high school and grew up in the shadows of comedic fathers. Reiner knows the right areas to probe Brooks, who is more apt to talk about his observations on life, rather than his own life. The film is a delight.

Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) – A film that explores the murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers to bring the white supremacist to justice, a journey that took over 25 years. Although mixed results and weak box office would indicate this film was unsuccessful, yet it’s a strong character-driven story with superb performances. This film is about grave injustices that continually derailed Evers’ murderer to be held accountable. The prevailing attitudes were not limited to just admitted racists, polite society wanted the case to just go away. The cast includes: Whoopi Goldberg, Alec Baldwin, James Woods, Craig T. Nelson, Diane Ladd and Bill Cobbs. Reiner directed and co-produced.

Stand By Me (1986) – Based on a Stephen King story, what a great first feature fiction film effort. Not a big budget film, but big in ideas and sentiment, but avoiding sentimentality. A cast of talented young cast including: River Phoenix, Will Wheaton, Kiefer Sutherland, Jerry O’Connell and Corey Feldman. A bittersweet film of growing up, and apart. Reiner was offered the film, and even though he didn’t get a writing or producing credit, he shaped, guided and cast the film. His fingerprints more than anyone’s make this the classic that it is.

Rest in peace.