There is a generation of directors, like James L. Brooks, Sydney Pollack and the now deceased Rob Reiner, who knew how to navigate genres and formats, standing in front of and behind the cameras, producing and directing films and series for the general public without losing a peak of quality, including a certain authorship, in a Hollywood that costs them to navigate. Reiner, signed with his wife Ayer Sunday to their home in Brentwood, is one of those big names that it’s hard to choose from 10 titles. Because Reiner has different passions as a narrator: in recent years he has focused on romantic comedies (a lover of life, who likes to compose and sing) and historical political cinema (echoing his deep democratic convictions). And he returned to his origins with the films made by the fake rock group Spinal Tap, a film with which, unfortunately and abruptly, ended his career.
It’s a lumbar puncture (1984). His first film was a mockumentary It’s a lumbar puncture. The film, which opened a new genre in Hollywood, follows the misadventures of the fictional British metal rock band Spinal Tap (the one which brilliantly played Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer) in an unfortunate tour of the United States to promote their new album, Feel the glove. Reiner, above, plays director Marty Di Bergi, who interviews the group as things come to a close. Last September, because the film became a cult title and its creators never made money from it, the second part was released, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which reunited the group decades later.
Tell me (1986). First of all on Reiner in the world of Stephen King, through the story of four boys from Maine who decided in 1959 to search for the body of a missing child. It tells of one of them, decades later, having become a successful writer, who remembers his childhood in this way. Reiner’s nomination for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, another of his films that instantly became a classic.
The Promised Princess (1987). The legend. The film where nostalgia and history converge in a state of grace. The origin was the book by screenwriter William Goldman, which was adapted for the screen itself. Everything is perfect, from the tone of the story that Abuelo tells his son, to the beauty of Princess Buttercup, Westley’s ñoñerío del amor and his “How you wish”, the Sicilian genius, the brujo who plays Billy Crystal, Manty Patinkin with his “Soy Íñigo Montoya, you killed my priest, prepare to die”… There, it is the dawn of an adventure comedy.
When Harry Met Sally (1989). Reiner’s footsteps crossed with another force of creative nature, screenwriter Nora Ephron, who created on screen a perfect libretto for his friend Billy Crystal. The story of friendship between a man and a woman, who shared their intimacy for years while falling in love. Meg Ryan has never looked better than with her fake orgasm on a table at Katz’s.
Misery (1990). Reiner returns to Stephen King, here in a hard horror version. A fatal fan Secuestra, first without getting lost, his favorite writer. Kathy Bates won the Academy Award for Greatest Actress, and King liked her work so much that he wrote more characters for her.
Some good men (1992). This theatrical work by Aaron Sorkin represents a major turning point in Reiner’s career, which then becomes a reflection on politics. Sorkin based this on an incident at the Guantanamo base that he told his sister about. In the cinema, Tom Cruise played this abogado soldier accused of an impossible judgment, and Jack Nicholson, the colonel responsible for a code red against a soldier. A curiosity: a studio executive pointed out that if Cruise and Demi Moore’s characters weren’t used to it, why did they hire the actress, to which Sorkin responded that the women had more vital goals than getting close to Cruise. Reiner thanked Nicholson and he always remembered him with gratitude (repeated in Now or never).
Many people called Norte (1994). Then, child actor Elijah Wood plays a boy who, suffering from his parents’ neglect, goes looking for new ones all over the world. Reiner strikes a tone between parodic and melancholy.
The President and Miss Wade (1995). Sorkin and Reiner reunite in this romantic comedy about a widowed American president. Written and broadcast during the Clinton presidency, which supported the film, Sorkin wrote the gusanillo: years after the series began. The west wing of Casa Blanca, rotating in the same decorations and recovering Martin Sheen, who here plays the chief of staff of Michael Douglas, and who would give life to President Bartlett.
Say it for there (2005). The premise might be better than the result, although as always with Reiner, the romantic comedy is firing on all cylinders. The premise: ¿Y if The graduate — novel and film — what if it was based on true events and a girl (Jennifer Aniston) discovered that her family was behind this scandal? Her mother has died, but Señora Robinson is still alive (she plays Shirley MacLaine) and her young lover is grown up and he plays Kevin Costner. There is chemistry between this mature guy and the woman who could be his daughter. There was a point where the original actors (Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft) wanted to reprise their roles, but Bancroft died and Hoffman said that without that it made no sense. Reiner took the wheel 12 days before starting: he did everything he could.
Being Charlie (2015). It’s not his best film, but Being Charlie Tell the story of your little boy, Nick, who has been a drug addict for many years. Otherwise, Nick, eager to be approached and killed by his priests, participated in the scenario. And as a desperate priest, in this case aspiring governor, he cast Cary Elwes as an actor, obviously as a character. The Promised Princess.
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