This country, and by the influence it has, this world, is at a crossroads. And it has been for a while now. Is it simply "the old" versus "the new?" or "the rich" versus "the poor" or "good" versus "evil?" I don't think it's that simple. It isn't that clear cut. It's more varied and nuanced and as with many human things, there are multiple layers of maturity, stability and morality involved.
But one thing is very clear. The United States is under the leadership of a man who, at his fundamental core, is so flawed as to be undeniably unfit, not only for his office, but to even have access to the public forum as greatly as he does. How many times do we have to ask ourselves as people of this nation if we can tolerate this man? And to those that had once supported him, all I ask is: Which direction does your heart take you?
I was flipping through selections offered in the (maybe) entirely random "Primetime Movies Available For You" category in the free movie catalog on YouTube. I came across a selection that whenever I find it, and I want a good movie to watch, even though I've seen it many times before, I usually go ahead and select it. I started it up as I'd done at least a half dozen times before and immediately, even before the credits started rolling, I was reminded of the coincidence. "Oh, this is a Rob Reiner film!"
What movie is this? Does it even matter? He's done so many great films, it's hard to list here. From "Spinal Tap" to "Stand By Me" to "A Few Good Men" and the underrated "North," the list goes on and on. But, as it was, this, other than "Stand By Me," was probably my favorite movie by him, "Misery." And, again, seemingly out of coincidence, it was chillingly eerie, since its subject is that revolving around mental illness and murder.
And when I heard the news last night, soon after it broke, it broke my heart.
I personally loved Rob Reiner and respected him as a comedic actor and a proficient and talented director. Like many TV viewers in the 70s, even as a kid, I appreciated the comic chops of Rob in character as Mike Stivic, aka "Meathead" the butt of many of Archie's mean-spirited ribbings on the CBS classic "All in the Family."
"Stand By Me" blew me away. It visually, and with the music and acting, viscerally FELT like the Stephen King short story "The Body" which it had been based on, had come to life. In fact, last night I read in an tribute article for Mr. Reiner in Variety, that back during the post-production of that film, Stephen King was there and saw a scene or two, Stephen looked visibly shaken. Rob thought something was wrong and asked him about it and Stephen King told him that in all the times his works had been portrayed on film (and think how many Stephen King books have been put on film) he'd never seen anything as true to his vision as that. But for me, the whammy moment was "Misery."
When I saw Kathy Bates appear in character as Annie Wilkes on the big screen in the theater for the first time, I must have made a few heads turn in the seats around me as I'm sure I audibly gasped. THAT'S ANNIE WILKES! I don't remember ever seeing Kathy Bates before that movie so I don't think I had envisioned her when I pictured my "mind's eye" composite based on the description of her in the book when I read the novel back in 1987, but it was like I was seeing a dream, or should I say a nightmare being played out in reality before me in that theater. That's how talented Rob Reiner was to capture the writer's concept and apply it to film. Well, let's throw Kathy a bone too, I mean, she did win her Oscar for this.
Was Rob Reiner an outspoken critic of the president? Sure. But he spoke his mind about a lot of subjects. He was a life-long liberal Democrat. He didn't beat around the bush about it. He spoke up for the supposed "lost causes." He was passionate about his beliefs. But he was a gentleman. When right-wing agitator Charlie Kirk was killed, he didn't use that as an opportunity to knock him or his supporters down. He didn't grandstand. He was gracious and expressed his condolences to his grieving wife and family even though he couldn't have been any more polar opposite on the political fence.
But what about Trump? What does he have to say about this terrible stabbing murder of two elderly, assumably-unarmed people in their own home? I can't even transcribe it here. I don't want to. Enough are reporting on it. Here, see for yourself.