A GREAT MAN AMONG A FEW GOOD MEN
Many of us grew up with Rob Reiner. We were raised with so many of his memorable characters–both in front and behind the human mirror known as the camera. We evolved with his nearly unmatched direction of so many wonderful films, and for people like me who will always be politically- and socially-minded — by his ceaseless devotion to causes much bigger than himself. One scene at a time, we matured along with Rob Reiner’s indelible movie and television portrayals, his unique insights shone through words and emotions, and his astounding cavalcade of side-splitting comedy dating back more than half a century. Individually and collectively, he helped to make us who we are.
Tears in my eyes, my voice crackling with emotion — THANK YOU Rob Reiner.
Like many of us of a certain age, I first remember the actor Rob Reiner as the long-haired hippie and college student Michael Stivic, who mind-wrestled every week with lovable working-class father-in-law bigot Archie Bunker, who was the American everyman. Each and every Saturday night promptly at 7 pm was “All in the Family” time. The name of the show, just like its four central characters said it all — they felt like part of our family. Everyone in my own family watched that show like a religious devotion, which dominated the 1970s. We often talked about it afterward. Families were split. They took sides, and argued. Could the character Michael Stivic possibly have been better cast or played by anyone other than Rob Reiner? I don’t think so. Later, we would see what happens when a fictional character that could have very well locked him into a certain stereotype instead moved him, actually catapulted him, into much bigger and broader portraits of who were are. Rob Reiner went his own way, and he brought us along for the ride.
Here, I’ll borrow a terrific tribute written by my friend Paul Harris, who was a popular radio personality for many years and basicaly interviewed everyone who’s anyone. He had Carl Reiner (Rob’s also-famous father) on his show and interviewed him several times. Harris made an observation that I hadn’t thought about–not until I read his comments this morning (some emphasis added):
“Very few people begin their directing career with SEVEN great movies in a row. Reiner did, with “This Is Spinal Tap,” “The Sure Thing,” “Stand By Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “Misery,” and “A Few Good Men.
He then stumbled with an adaptation of Alan Zweibel’s novel, “North,” but bounced right back with two more classics, “The American President” and “Ghosts of Mississippi.” To have NINE of your initial TEN titles so well regarded by the public and the industry was rare, indeed.”
It didn’t hit me until I read that how amazing Rob Reiner’s run of films as a director was, I mean, can you thank of *any* film director ever with such an extraordinary run of memorable films, especially with so many different styles and storylines? When we say “a Rob Reiner” film, we’re not sure what it might be about. A budding romance? A military court martial? A deranged psycho killer? A struggling has-been rock band? A medieval circus of crazies? Who knows? We just knew it was going to be good, and usually very funny. And while I wouldn’t rank any of these films among the greatest of all-time, in a sense every one of them was *perfect* in its own way. Perfect for the time. Perfect for the intended audience of realism and comedy. Perfect in being comfortable for viewers, but also insightful and even edgy. A perfect balance. (Note: I next have to see “North,” which is unknown to me–how bad can any Rob Reiner movie really be?).
When we talk about “making a difference,” Rob Reiner might be among the best examples of humanity. I mean, can you imagine a world without ALL those films? Imagine if NONE of them had been made. If Rob Reiner wasn’t Rob Reiner, we wouldn’t have smiled and laughed and enjoyed life as much. And many who knew him best of all are saying that all pales by comparison to his constant activism and contributions to so many worthy causes that made innumerable lives better. Just——-wow.
There’s an old saying that so very true, which is my closing thought for now. We don’t miss them until they’re gone. I honestly hadn’t thought much about Rob Reiner, not recently, and not ever. I mean, I respected him and admired his progressivism. I loved his movies. I enjoyed hearing his perspectives, most of which I shared. But I never really thought of Rob Reiner as a great man. It just didn’t seem to be the right thought, or thing to say. But now, he’s gone. And we don’t miss them, until that void — not until they’re gone.
Let me hereby make amends: Rob Reiner was a great man. He was a great man among fewer good men.
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Note: I’m not the only guilty one here. How is it possible Rob Reiner was NEVER even nominated once for “Best Director?” I was shocked to learn Rob Reiner never even received an Oscar nomination for Best Director. How is this even possible, when you look at that resume? Note: I didn’t say WIN. I said NOMINATION. I’m just appalled–yet, I never really grasped this oversight until now.