The Princess Bride review

 Number 176 on the top 1000 films of all time is Rob Reiner's fantasy drama 'The Princess Bride. Although this film is on the aforementioned list, that's not why I'm reviewing it. It recently appeared on my top ten movie list so I will give my thoughts here.

A young boy (Fred Savage) is sick and tucked up in bed. To cheer him up, his grandfather (Peter Falk) reads him the book ' The Princess Bride.' The book tells the story of the true love between Westley (Cary Elwes) and Buttercup (Robin Wright) who have been separated by fate. When Westley seemingly dies, Buttercup becomes engaged to Prince Humperdink (Chris Sarandon) but she is then kidnapped before the wedding can take place. Mandy Patinkin, Andre the Giant, Wallace Shawn and Billy Crystal all co-star.

This film has always been one of my favourites so I wondered whether it was blind nostalgia that influenced me to add it to my top ten list. However, upon a recent rewatch, it most definitely holds up. Firstly, it is hilarious. I must have seen it a hundred times, but it still had me in fits of giggles. Sure at times it was cheesy and unbelievable but by the same admission it's supposed to be. It's a fantasy fairy-tale after all. Further, the meta-narrative helps to combat some of the cheesiness whenever things get too lovey-dovey between Westley and Buttercup, we always cut back tot he grandson pleading that he doesn't have to hear the kissing scene.

We see the metaness continue with the subversion of traditional fairy tale tropes. Our supposed Prince Charming seemingly dies soon into the film, the ginormous Fezzik turns out to be a gentle giant rather than a mindless killing machine and even the albino who tortures Westley just has a frog in his throat. We might also expect Westley and Prince Humperdink to fight to the death but instead Westley outbluffs the prince and spareshis life. In fact, the big climatic scene takes place between Inigo Matoya and Count Rugen which I'll come to in a moment. 

And these subversions is what made this film so fun to watch. Although Buttercup did fall a little too neatly inoto the damsel in distress trope. other than screaming and getting into trouble, she was pretty useless. She wasn't exactly and Ellen Ripley or sarah O'Connor.

But the Princess Bride also had real heart. And I don't mean the cheesy true love story between Westley and Buttercup. Rather I am speaking about the Inigo Montoya subplot where the Spaniard is on a quest to avenge his father's killer - the villainous Count Rugen who was played brilliant by Christopher Guest. Guest was just the perfect amount of stone-cold severity.

The film climaxes with Inigo duelling Rugen where the former finally gains his revenge. Reportedly Mandy Painkin's father died of cancer shortly before filming. Patinkin took the role of Inigo as he connected with the character. When he kills Rugen, he imagined, he was killing the cancer that killed his father. This led to one of the film's most badass lines: "I want my father back, you son of a bitch."

    The music was also great Every composition matched up perfectly with its corresponding scene. in Westley and Inigo's duel, the music punctuates fight choreography brilliantly. The same goes for Inigo and Rugen's duel.

   Finally I have to acknowledge the amazing supporting cast who stole every scene they were in. We've already talked about Andre the Giant who stopped Fezzik from being sheer comic relief. Wallace Shawn was also great as the villainous Vizzini. He was delightfully over the top without being pantomimy. And of course we have Billy Crystal and Carol Kane who provided some of the film's funniest scenes as Miracle Max and his wife Valerie. reportedly, director Rob Reiner had to leave the set when filming as his laughter kept ruining the takes.

This film is a timeless classic that has stood up for over three decades. It's hilarious with real heart and iconic dialogue. I shall end on one of the film's most recognisable lines: "hello. My name is Inigo Montoya.You killed my father. Prepare to die."

This is Spinal Tap review

 Number 298 on the top 1000 films of all time is Rob Reiner's 1984 mockumentary musical comedy 'This is Spinal Tap.'

David St Hubbins (Michael Mckean), Nigel Tufnell (Christopher Guest) and Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) comprise Spinal Tap - the UK's hottest hair-metal band. However, upon their latest tour to the US, they quickly realise that their popularity is quickly fading. Meanwhile, Marty Di Bergi (Rob Reiner) is filming a documentary about their successes and failures.

This was Rob Reiner's directorial debut. He went onto direct hilarious comedies like The Princess Bride also starring Christopher Guest, as well as heart-breaking coming of age dramas like Stand By Me. While I loved those two films, I found This is Spinal Tap to be a little disappointing. It didn't make me laugh like the Princess Bride or cry like Stand By Me. In fact, I didn't feel much of anything.

I do feel part of that was down to the nature and structure of the film. Naturally, we start off seeing Spinal Tap at the dizzying heights of their success, but when you're that high up, the only way is down. As such, we quickly saw them self-destruct. Fame is a fickle beast and this inevitably happens to many different bands, but it's not fun to see it happen on-screen.

It didn't help that all three characters encapsulated the annoying, spoiled, diva self-destructive artist archetype that so many rock stars fall into. Yes, it was realistic, but it wasn't entertaining. Their constant squabbling and tantrums became tiresome after a while. Back in the day, one of my favourite bands was Oasis, but this was because of their music and not because of the in-fighting of the Gallagher brothers.

Speaking of music, I didn't find Spinal Tap's songs particularly memorable. Mckean, Guest and Shearer are all accomplished musicians and singers - they wrong, performed and song the songs themselves, but I didn't leave the cinema, so to speak, singing one of their songs.

When I think of mockumentaries, I think of the cringe humour you get in the Office or Parks and Recreation. Granted, that isn't a pre-requisite of mockumentaries, but there was still little humour in this is Spinal Tap. Even though, I was supposed to be laughing at the characters, I didn't care enough to do so. For that same reason, none of the film's emotional beats landed for me.

I do think that this was one of those cases where the film just wasn't for me. I'm just glad that Rob Reiner has continued directing. Sure, I didn't like this is Spinal Tap, but the Princess Bride remains as one of the best films ever.

My top ten films of all time

 In 2015, I embarked on the challenge of watching the top 1000 films of all time. Six years later, I am sadly only 307 films into my quest, but I've watched enough to films to form my top ten list.

Most of these films I've only watched because of this list, but one or two of my all-time favourites have also slipped in. Apart from my number one film, which I'll save until last, this list is in no particular order.

The top ten list

City of God (2002)

One thing that I've loved about this challenge is that I've been able to witness the best that World Cinema has to offer. And City of God is undoubtedly the best. It tells the unflinching story of two boys growing up in the drug-fuelled favelas of Rio De Janerio. It is a brutal and painfully realistic look of how drugs can destroy somebody's life. Expect a roller-coaster that doesn't slow up for a minute.

Old Boy (2003)

Another classic of World Cinema. This Korean film is a revenge thriller focussing on Dae-su Oh who seeks vengeance on the man who locked him up for fifteen years. Brimming with gorgeous Korean proverbs, this film will keep you guessing all the way to the shock ending which is one of the biggest twists in movie history.

Rang De Basanti (2006)

We've come to the realm of Indian cinema. 3 Idiots was a close second but Rang De Basanti edges it for the sheer power of its narrative. Following the story of a British film maker who is producing a documentary about early leaders of Indian independence, this film will have you laughing, crying and everything in between. Sure there are a lot of musical numbers, but what else can you expect from Indian cinema?

The Hunt (2002)

Onto an absolutely fantastic Danish film. Lukas (Mads Mikkleson) is a school teacher falsely accused of sexually abusing one of his students. A witch-hunt ensues and the whole town turns against him. In a film where truth and lies merge into one, you'll be on the edge of your seat. This outstanding film blew me away.

Full Metal Jacket (1987) 

Forget The Deer Hunter or Apocalypse Now, Stanley Kubrick blew every other war film out the water with his brutal portrayal of the Vietnam War. Full Metal Jacket left me in absolute awe. From Vincent D'Onofrio to Lee R Ermey to Adam Baldwin, this film is littered with acting talent. Some might say that the film is unbalanced and mismatched, but I think the two halves compliment each other beautifully. A must-see.

Her (2013)

Finally we're onto a film with slightly more happy subject matter. I say slightly as Her will still be tugging at your heart strings. Rom-coms aren't my thing which is why Her surprised me so much. Subverting the genre with a science-fiction twist, Her tells the story of lonely divorcee Theodore Thwombly (Joaquin Phoenix) who falls in love with an operating system voiced by Scarlett Johanson. With much to say about the importance of human connection, Her  is a very underrated film.

Three and Out (2008)

Speaking of underrated, we come to the Indie British black comedy Three and Out. Panned by audiences and critics alike, I must be the only person in the world who would put Three and Out, on a top ten list, but I am. Paul Callow is a train driver/writer who wants nothing more than to leave the hustle-bustle of London and write on an island. When he runs two people over with his train, his colleagues tell him that if he runs over a third person, TFL will pay him off with ten years wages. Ensue hilarity and heartbreak as Paul tries to find his third victim. Mackenzie Crook, Colm Meaney, Imelda Staunton and Gemma Arteton all turn in winning performances. But perhaps this film is an acquired taste.

The Full Monty (1997)

I have never officially reviewed this film as I watched it long before I started this challenge. However, it remains one of my favourite films ever. Having won the Bafta for the best film in 1997, this movie was adored by many. We follow a bunch of former steel workers and layabouts becoming strippers in the hopes of improving their lives. While the premise might sound spurious, the execution is anything but. The Full Monty tackles themes like masculinity, father-son relationships and suicide in powerful ways. Tom Wilkinson and Mark Addy are great in supporting roles, but can we all agree that Robert Carlyle is one of the best actors that Scotland has ever produced?

Snatch (2000)

Out of all these films, Snatch is the one film I could watch over and over again. A fantastic crime-caper, Snatch will have you laughing in the aisles. We see two interlinking narratives: one follows boxing promoter Turkish (Jason Statham) as he navigates the criminal underworld, but we also see every gangster in London trying to get their hands on a rare diamond. Snatch is one of the most quotable films ever with brad Pitt offering his most unlike-Brad Pitt performance ever, as the Gypsy bareknuckle boxer Mickey O'Neil. Bloody hell, does he do that Irish accent well?

The Godfather (1970)

Finally, we have reached my number one film of all time. What can I say about this film which hasn't been said already? Everybody knows Nino Rota's magnificent score, they know Marlon Brando as mafia don Vito Corleone, his son Michael as his reluctant protege, played by Al Pacino. This film reignited Hollywood's fascination with the mafia. At three hours long it is paced brilliantly with every shot pushing forward the narrative. It is not just the best gangster movie of all time, but the best film of all time. After all, it was the subject of my ten-thousand word dissertation. Let's just not talk about the Godfather part three.

Honourable Mentions

I've watched too many great films to not include at least a few honourable mentions. These are all great films in their own right, but not quite good enough to scratch the top ten.

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Originally RFAD was in my top ten but I demoted it because it's too upsetting to watch again. Amazing for sure, but too heartbreaking for repeat viewings. Charting the self-destruction of four drug addicts in New York, RFAD is the best anti-drug PSA you'll ever see with a killer theme tune and fast-paced editing. Watching this film gave me the best high but with an absolutely awful come down.

The Princess Bride (1987)

This subversion of the traditional fairy-tale still stands up even after thirty years. with so many quotable scenes and iconic characters, the Princess Bride will have you rolling in the aisles and reaching for the tissues. Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright, Andre the Giant...the amazing cast goes on and on. And who can forget one of the most quoted film lines ever: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

Mary and Max (2009) 

This Australian stop-motion, claymation dramatic comedy absolutely blew me away. I've never heard of it before, but it was simply fantastic. I've never seen anything like it before or since. Following the unlikely relationship of the two titular characters, this film is pure arthouse. If you're looking for something completely different, a movie with offbeat humour, a unique visual style and the most haunting rendition of Que Sera Sera, Mary and Max is the film for you.

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

I watched this film once many years ago and it was too upsetting to watch again, hence why there is no review. I've grown up on Studio Ghibli, so one of their films had to make an appearance on this list.  Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro were also in the mix, but Grave of the Fireflies is undoubtedly the best. Set in the twilight days of WW2 Japan, we watch a teenage boy and his little sister desperately try to survive the war. When you watch this, make sure you have the tissue box handy.

Untouchable (2011)

This French feel-good comedy drama rounds off my list nicely. I rewatched it the other day and it was still as magical as ever. Following the story of quadraplegic billionare Philippe and his unconventional carer Driss, this film holds a special place in my heart because of my own work as a carer. The anti-climactic ending is the only thing that stops it from going on my top ten.

So there we have it. My top ten films with a few HMs. But with 693 films left to watch, this list is far from being set in stone. Watch this space.

Flipped review

 Number 577 on the top 1000 films of all time is Rob Reiner's 2010 coming of age romantic drama Flipped.

Flipped tells the story of Bryce Loski (Callan Mcauliffe) and Juli Baker (Madeline Carroll) Upon meeting as kids, she falls in love with him. We see their love to and froe as they grow until adulthood where Juli is just about to give up when...

Rob Reiner's murder at the hands of his son is a tragedy. He will be best remembered for directing great films like The Princess Bride and Misery. Will he be remembered for directing Flipped? Nope. It was a very meh film and not particularly memorable. In terms of coming of age dramas, it was definitely no Stand By Me.

Much of this was down to the two lead characters and their rather insipid romance. Bryce is a major bonehead so much so that you do wonder why Juli was attracted to him in the first place. I guess love is both blind and deaf and dumb.

Callan Mcauliffe played Bryce At 15. He hasn't gone onto the most illustrious of careers other than a supporting role in the latter seasons of the Walking dead. He wasn't anything special as the bland protagonist. And wasn't particulary endearing either. The same can be said for Juli who was equally bland as Juli. I wasn't particularly interested in learning if the two get together or not.

Sure you could argue their messy love story is reflective of love stories everywhere but that didn't make it anymore interesting. It didn't help there wasn't much conflict keeping them apart except for their own pride and hubris. It was very much a case of stupid characters making stupid choices for no reason but to push the plot forward. Sure Bryce's father thinks Juli's family is beneath them but this felt more like an after thought.

Rob Reiner was a fine director who will be remembered for a great many films. However, Flipped is a film best forgotten.

Glory review

 Number 353 on the top 1000 films of all time is Edward Zwick's 1989 US civil-war drama 'Glory.'

Glory tells the true story of 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment - one of the earliest African-American regiments within the Union army. It is commanded by the white officers Colonel Robert Shaw (Matthew Broderick) and Major Cabot Forbes (Cary Elwes.) Some of its troops include the hot-headed Silas Trip (Denzel Washington,) the older and wiser John Rawlins (Morgan Freeman) and the well-educated Thomas Sears (Andre Braugher.)

I certainly cannot attest to the historical aspect of Glory, but it was a thrilling warm film that gave a well-rounded review that the 54th infantry faced. Its black soldiers suffered racism from their white counterparts and weren't paid as much as them either, while their white officers were constantly left lacking vital supplies needed by their men. It also highlights the interpersonal differences between the black soldiers - notably between Sears and Trip. The two initially clash on their radically different upbringings and perspectives. Trip resents how Sears acts and talks like a white man, while Sears rails against Trip's accusations of him not being truly black.

Both actors were great, but Washington especially so. He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar and I think his win was more deserving than his one in Training Day. Silas Trip was a far more nuanced character than Alonzo Harris. And Washington played him with a lot of vulnerability. Morgan Freeman was also good as the wise and calming John Rawlins. And I particularly liked Andre Braugher. He and Washington were great together.

The black actors were superior to their white counterparts. I do think Matthew Broderick was miscast. He was just too young for such a role. This was only three years after he starred in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and it was difficult seeing him as anything other than the high-school slacker. He just looked scared all the time; whenever he spoke it was like he was trying to convince both himself and the audience that he was mature enough for such a role. I understand this is partly the character. Shaw is supposed to be young, inexperienced and unsure of himself, but Broderick did little to persuade me that he was the right man for the job.

Honestly, I think his co-star Cary Elwes would have made a better lead. Elwes had already proved himself a capable leading man in the Princess Bride. Although he wasn't great here either. He had a strange accent that varied between American and his native English accent.

Glory strayed into melodrama at times. I could have done without the grandiose, instrumental score and characters dying in slow motion. Where it shone was its quieter moments; particularly when the black soldiers are singing a gospel song on the eve of their first big fight. This was a brilliant scene that highlighted the camaraderie and close relationship between these men.

Glory is certainly a good film. Yes, it is cheesy at times and Matthew Broderick was dreadfully miscast, but it was still a noble attempt to bring the efforts of the 54th infantry to the big screen.

A Few Good men review

 Number 682 on the top 1000 films of all time is Rob Reiner's 1992 legal drama 'A Few Good Men.'

At the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, Private William Santiago, a US marine, dies in mysterious circumstances. Soon afterwards, Lance Corporal Harold Dawson (Wolfgang Bodison) and Private Louden Downey (James Marshall) are charged with his murder. Upstart lawyer Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) and Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway (Demi Moore) are assigned as their defence. But Galloway soon suspects a cover-up that goes all the way up to Colonel Nathan Jessop (Jack Nicholson.)

Before Tom Cruise became a larger-than-life character better known for his action-hero roles and dodgy connections to scientology, he wasn't a bad actor. It's something you wouldn't think of now, but it's true.

Daniel Kaffee is a great example of this. Cruise took him from an arrogant, obnoxious jerk into a likeable lawyer with a lot to prove. It was a good story-arc and Cruise played the different elements of Kaffee's character well. He was such an arsehole before that I didn't think I would ever come to like him, but I did.

But the true arsehole was Colonel Jessop played brilliantly by Jack Nicholson. Jessop is a man who takes his job seriously. So seriously that he is willing to bend or even break the rules to get the job done. His final speech where he argues that men like him are needed to do everybody else's dirty work struck home, thanks to Nicholson's excellent performance. 

In some ways, it is difficult to believe this is the same Rob Reiner who also directed the Princess Bride or the the Bucket List. While 'a Few Good Men' had a few funny parts, it was mostly a serious affair, but also very entertaining. Considering the film's explosive conclusion occurs in a courtroom, Reiner kept the tension and suspense high. Courtroom dramas can get bogged-down in an overly-dramatised, legalese affair, but that wasn't the case here. Of course, it helped you had Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson giving great performances.

But there's more to this film than its men. I also enjoyed Demi Moore acting as the strait-laced Galloway - very much the complete opposite of Keffler. I was also relieved to see that their relationship was kept platonic. Both Reiner and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin were under pressure from studio executives to have Keffler and Galloway hook up, they refused saying it would have been little else but a cheap thriller. I couldn't have agreed more.

A Few Good Men had the potential to be a boring courtroom drama, but it was a thoroughly entertaining affair. 

Stand by Me Review

SPOILER ALERT

Here I am taking break from chronologically following the top 1000 films of all time to watch number 209 on the list: Rob Reiner's 1986 Stand By Me.   I have just recently finished reading the Stephen King novella of which the film is based on, so I decided to rewatch it and see how the two compared.

Set in 1959, Stand by Me follows the story of four best friends: the quiet and reserved Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton,) the group's leader Chris Chambers (River Phoenix) the flamboyant and mentally unhinged Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman) and the timid Vern Tessio (Jerry O'Connell) When Vern Tessio hears about the recently deceased local boy Ray Brower, the four friends resolve to find the body and bring him home.

This is arguably the ultimate film of childhood innocence, discovery and exploration, as well as destruction of that innocence.  It is a great film in how it can make audiences long for childhoods where you had no responsibility and had the freedom to whatever you wanted.  It made me think back to when I was twelve years old and I was off exploring with my friends.  Even if I didn't realise it those were the best days of my life.

Stand by Me also perfectly captured what a group of young boys are really like.  Throughout the film, the four boys are constantly mocking each other, whether that be calling each other retards or making yo mamma jokes. We express affection for friends by teasing each other.

It is also a powerful film in how the boy's mission to find Ray Brower is merely a subplot to how each boy is forced to confront their own personal demons.  All four boys come from dysfunctional families with neglectful drunken or abusive fathers.  The boys help each other through these conflicts. All four of them are the best of friends. Geordie confides with Chris about how he has always had to live in the shadow of his older brother.  

In turn, Chris tells Gordie that due to his family's bad reputation, he is never going to amount to anything.  In a great performance by River Phoenix, Chris Chambers explains that after he stole the milk money at school, he felt guilty and tried to return it.  However, the teacher he returned it to, embezzled it and ratted him out.  River Phoenix's expression says volumes of about the pain that his character is feeling.  

He tried to do the right thing, yet a teacher- an upstanding, law-abiding citizen still betrayed him. Will Wheton and River Phoenix were terrific. Phoenix died far too young. What potential he had. Corey Feldman also had a sad life falling victim to the Hollywood machine. He was great in this too as was Jerry O'Connell.

Yet it isn't just me saying this. Upon seeing it for the first time, Stephen King left the theatre in shock, saying it is the best adaptation of his work that he has ever seen.  Considering how he hasn't been the biggest fan of other adaptations of his work *cough cough* the Shining, this is a big compliment.

The film is was also quite faithful to the book.  The plot and its major events are largely the same, as is its characterisation of its protagonists.  One major difference is how the film's antagonists are portrayed.  Ace Merrill (Kiefer Sutherland) leads a group of older boys who are also trying to find Ray Brower.  Whilst in the novel, they are little more than a vague presence showing up at the beginning and the end, they are much more threatening in the film.

Their menace is felt by their hobbies of playing mailbox baseball and scarring themselves.  The other major difference comes at the film's end.  Whilst in both versions, Gordie's group find Ray Brower first and successfully face off Ace's group, in the novella Ace's group later beats up Gordie's group in retribution.  This doesn't happen in the film.  Secondly, whilst only Chris dies in the film, Chris, Teddy and Vern all die in the book.  Of the two endings, I much prefer the ending of the film.  I feel that it correlates better with the nostalgic tone of the movie.

Stand By Me was also directed by Rob Reiner who is best known for his comedy films This is Spinal Tap, The Bucket List and The Princess Bride yet he proved that he is also great at dramas. Yes, Stand by Me had its funny parts, but it was emotionally devastating too.

This was a great film that engages brilliantly with the themes of nostalgia and sentimentality whilst touching upon deeper themes such as abusive fathers.  The adult Gordie Lachance finishes the film with this fantastic line: "I never had friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve.  Jesus, does anyone?"