The movies that defined Rob Reiner’s career
One of the most prominent American filmmakers, Rob Reiner, produced several classics that have become an integral part of the national consciousness. His legacy will live long in the cinematic memory, as is contributions rank among the finest.
Starting with his fantastic debut, This Is Spinal Tap, Reiner continued to make highly successful projects such as Stand By Me and A Few Good Men, which reinforced his status as a top director. Reiner established a voice which felt both unique and authentic, managing to capture the cadence of America with every release.
Born in New York, Reiner was interested in the cinematic arts as a student and attended classes at the prestigious UCLA Film School. Starting out with minor acting roles in TV shows, Reiner gained national recognition when he landed the opportunity to star in the popular sitcom All in the Family, which brought him unprecedented fame.
Reiner decided to try his hand at directing projects in the ’80s and went on an incredible run of hits. He even founded his own production company, Castle Rock Entertainment, which was revived last year when it got around $175million in funding, starting a new chapter in the life of Reiner, who continued to serve as the CEO of the company until his death.
Rob Reiner’s six best films:
‘This Is Spinal Tap’ (1984)
One of Reiner’s most iconic directorial efforts, This Is Spinal Tap is definitely among the most enjoyable mockumentaries ever made. This was Reiner’s debut feature, and it provided undeniable evidence of his talent as a filmmaker, paving the way for greater accomplishments in the future.
A thoroughly entertaining experience, This Is Spinal Tap is a fantastic satirical treatment of the formulaic documentaries about rock music as well as the innumerable idiosyncrasies of the bands themselves. Reiner’s debut is still one of the best films he ever directed and perhaps one of the most pivotal movies in comedy history, setting up a whole new genre and pioneering a brand new way of making movies that shake people to their core.
‘Stand By Me’ – 1986
Another bona fide classic that is universally beloved because of its subject matter, Stand By Me is one of the most definitive cinematic commentaries on the innocence of childhood friendships. An adaptation of a story penned by the great Stephen King, Stand By Me is one of the most celebrated works of Reiner’s filmography.
It chronicles the journey of four young boys who set out on an adventure but end up in a tough spot when they discover the corpse of a missing child. An essential coming-of-age film, Stand By Me takes a sensitive approach to nostalgia, suspense and the tragedy of growing up.
It’s about as pure a movie as one can hope to watch. It might be a little sentimental, but what’s bad about that?
‘The Princess Bride’ – 1987
It is evident from this list itself that Reiner had one hell of a run in the ’80s because he produced one gem after another. The Princess Bride is a bona fide cult classic which had a moderate reception at the time of its release, but its reputation has only grown over the years.
Based on the eponymous novel by William Goldman, the film utilises metafictional elements to reimagine the highly codified narrative structures of a princess story. Since then, it has been regularly cited as one of the greatest American films ever made, and while it is doused in enough gooey cheese to put off the lactose intolerant, it has such a powerful look and feel it is hard to ignore.
‘When Harry Met Sally…’ – 1989
Probably the most famous out of all of Reiner’s works, When Harry Met Sally… remains an important part of American popular culture even after all these years. One of the definitive romantic comedies, many films followed in its footsteps for years to come after its release.
It asks many questions by setting up the simple premise of a man and a woman who run into each other on multiple occasions, engaging in intense but fleeting connections. A central part of their relationship is the maintenance of the tension between the two friends who are afraid to enter uncharted territory.
It is, without doubt, the greatest rom-com ever made, and it not only deserves that spot but should elevate the legacy of Rob Reiner forevermore.
‘Misery’ – 1990
Another adaptation of a Stephen King work, Misery was Reiner’s attempt to enter a new genre after having directed several features in the adventure and comedy domains. A tense psychological thriller, Misery proved that Reiner had the capacity to handle different subject matters.
It conducts a highly intelligent exploration of the very concept of authorship through the story of an obsessive fan who loves the works of an author so much that she paralyses him and tries to talk to him about his creations. King was also a huge fan of Reiner’s adaptation and considered it to be among his favourites.
Considering King was notoriously tough on some of his adaptations, this is a mark of commendation that likely stood as a proud achievement for Reiner.
‘A Few Good Men’ – 1992
Another popular project by Reiner, A Few Good Men was another step in Reiner’s career as he tried to enter different subsections of the vast world of cinema. A competent legal drama, the film revolves around two Marines who are accused of killing their colleague.
A huge commercial success, A Few Good Men managed to attract a lot of attention and even entered the coveted race for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. This incredible run of successes also enabled Reiner to produce more features in the future, even though they did not compare to the body of work he had produced in this period.
There’s no doubt that Reiner’s greatest moment came with these movies, but few films have the power of A Few Good Men.
