My Five Favorite Rob Reiner Movies

I woke up this morning to the tragic news about director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele. It's a horrible tragedy and my prayers go out to their family.

I'm not the type of person who normally picks a movie based on who directed it but there are some exceptions. Rob Reiner is right up there with Mel Brooks, Alfred Hitchcock and Steven Spielberg in this regard, especially as someone who grew up in the 80s and early 90s, when he had some of his biggest hits.

Here is my list of personal favorites:

The Princess Bride (1987)

What can I say, The Princess Bride is as perfect a movie as you're going to come across with something for just about everybody. There's action, adventure, romance, comedy, suspense, a bond between grandfather and grandson and arguably the best sword fighting scene in cinema history. Even my kids love it.

Misery (1990)

Not all Stephen King book adaptations are the same. Some are average films; others are horrible films. This movie is a great one. I still cringe when I think about Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) breaking author Paul Sheldon's (James Caan) feet to keep him from leaving her home. Not many movies make me cringe.

Stand by Me (1986)

This is another Stephen King adaptation turned into a solid film by Reiner. Misery edges it out because of the horror element but Stand by Me takes full advantage of a young but talented cast with a great mix of comedy and drama.

The American President (1995)

Romantic movies don't usually make the top of any of my lists, mostly because the majority aren't very memorable. In comparison, I haven't seen this movie in years but could still tell you the full plot if asked. The romance between President Andrew Shepard (Michael Douglas) and Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening) is a good one. The way the movie also gives a realistic take on the difficulties of being POTUS and the sacrifices/decisions that need to be made only make it better.

A Few Good Men (1992)

For a while, I wasn't sure if I liked the movie or just the great performances from Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. After some reflection, it was a combination of both, and I am going to give Reiner credit for that. It's a great military courtroom drama that my wife and I still find ourselves quoting on occasion, whether or not we can handle the truth.

In short, these movies are five reasons among many Reiner will be missed.