Because of my little holiday sojourn, I haven't written one of these in more than a month. (Incidentally, I hope those of you who do read these had a most excellent holiday season.) And while it may seem like old news at this point, I never got the chance to address something tragic that occurred during my absence that is still kind of stinging.
As I've said in the past, I don't normally get too choked up over celebrity deaths. I usually say something like, "Oh, that's very sad," or words to that effect. Since I didn't really know the person... y'know... personally, it's not the same as losing a close friend or a relative. However, I have noticed--at least since George Harrison passed away in 2001--that if a celebrity's body of work really meant something to me, it's harder for me to brush it aside.
The night after I signed off from these for the holidays, I received a text from my dear cousin Heidi that read "They think Rob Reiner was killed." Obviously, when I see something like this, I conduct a frantic internet search. A couple of sources indicated that two bodies were found in his home, but they were still waiting on specifics. TMZ was saying outright that it was, in fact, Reiner and his wife Michelle who were found dead in their home. Within an hour or so, more outlets were confirming the sad news. Heidi and I both described ourselves as "heartbroken."
Reiner directed some of my favourite movies and gave us some iconic film moments, from Nigel Tufnel's guitar room in This Is Spinal Tap to the diner scene in When Harry Met Sally... The sword fights in The Princess Bride (Heidi's favourite) were among the best in cinema history. And no one my age can participate in a pie eating contest without recalling Stand By Me.
"I'll have what she's having." "You can't handle the truth!" "These go to 11." "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." Reiner not only directed some of the most fondly remembered movies of the last 45 years, but he also directed some of the most quotable. As someone who tends to quote movies more often than I probably should, Reiner's films have always held a special place in my heart primarily for that reason. And I'm willing to bet that many of us find ourselves randomly quoting lines from Reiner's films in our day-to-day lives. I know I'll frequently plan something in a way that appears foolproof and when it doesn't work the way it should, I'll find myself yelling, "Inconceivable!" If I try to do an everyday task that seems more difficult than normal, I just remind myself that, "I am not left-handed." If I have to explain why I'm trepidatious about something, I'll usually begin with, "My nervousness exists on several levels." When I refuse to apologize for my methods of doing something, I might say, "I run my unit how I run my unit." (Yes, I sometimes go for the obscure ones.)
This week's film is the one that made me realize how much I'm drawn to films with great dialogue (which is the main cause of quoting them, I suppose). As a courtroom drama, there's not a lot of action, so the film is heavily dependent on dialogue. Aaron Sorkin wrote the screenplay--his first--based on his own play. In watching it, as well as listening to it, one gets the impression that Sorkin has a clear love of the English language and the actors had a great time saying their lines. As someone who only ever acted in school plays, I can say that I would love to be able to play a role where I got to deliver dialogue like this. I've always said that the world would be a lot more interesting if people spoke the way Aaron Sorkin writes.
The movie centers on two marines (played by Wolfgang Bodison and James Marshall) who are being tried and court-martialed for killing a fellow marine. Tom Cruise plays their reluctant attorney who has apparent daddy issues and a reputation for plea-bargaining. He is, as described later in the film, "bullied" into taking it to trial by a superior officer and co-counsel (Demi Moore) as well as the lead prosecutor (Kevin Bacon), not to mention one of his clients who refuses say he was guilty of anything but following a routine order.
Because it's a Rob Reiner-directed movie, Jack Nicholson, in an Oscar-nominated performance, gives one of the greatest film speeches of all time, which opens with one of the most quoted lines of all time. The film would go on to be nominated for three other Oscars including Best Picture. How Reiner was not nominated for Best Director, I'll never know. His longtime friend and frequent co-star Billy Crystal even asked this question musically when he hosted the ceremony the following spring, which you can view here, if you're so inclined. (Because Reiner co-produced the film with David Brown and Andrew Scheinman, they did all receive nominations in the Best Picture category, marking the only time Reiner was nominated for an Academy Award.)
Released in December of 1992, the film co-stars Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Pollak, J.T. Walsh, and Christopher Guest in a rare, non-comedic performance. Also look for brief appearances by then relatively unknown actors Cuba Gooding Jr., Noah Wyle, and Joshua Malina. In honour of Rob Reiner, please enjoy the film that taught us what it truly means to have honour, A Few Good Men.
Until next week, stay safe, be good to your neighbours, and please remember that if at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Yours in peace, love, and rock 'n' roll!
The Reverend Will the Thrill
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