Displaying items by tag: Rob Reiner

SPINAL TAP: THE END CONTINUES

US, 2025, 83 minutes, Colour.
Rob Reiner, Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Kerry Godliman, Valerie Franco, CJ Vanstone, Jean Cromie Schmit, Garth Brooks, Tricia Yearwood, June Chadwick, Fran Drescher, Griffin Matthews, Elton John, Paul McCartney, David Furnish, Chad Smith.

Directed by Rob Reiner.

From the 1984 review of the original – the same for this sequel which indicates that the sequel is very much in the spirit of 40 years ago, a great deal of repetition but enjoyably so, especially for the fans over the decades and, hopefully, a happy surprise for newcomers.

“This is Spinal Tap is described as a rockumentary. It is an entertaining satire on the world of rock and roll, the false glamour, the gigs, the personalities, management, promotion. It has some comments on the stars, their way of life, the groupies, the effect of popularity on temporary celebrities.

The film was devised by Rob Reiner (son of Carl Reiner, from All in the Family etc.) and the costars, friends Christopher Guest and Michael McKean. There is a lot of improvisory comedy - which generally works. Particularly effective is American stars portraying English pop stars as they were in the '60s and '70s as well as in the '80s. Reiner acts the part of the trendy director of a trendy film. Parodying such movies as Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz with its portrait of The Band, the film uses all kinds of television methods, interviews, live action, the backstage drama etc. The methods of making the film are clever and an effective part of the parody.

The film has become something of a cult film.

We are told that the group had been touring to 2015. Then there had been some falling out. But, through a contract with their now deceased manager, his daughter has the rights for a final concert. Director Rob Reiner reappears as the fictitious director, enjoyably tracking down his friends, now in England, discovering their past story and their relationships, and persuading them to regroup. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer are now in their mid to late 70s! But, donning the wigs and the clothes, the accents, playing their music with skill, they are back again.

So, enjoyable back stories, the gathering in New Orleans, the preparation for the concert, bickering at the rehearsals yet playing quite a number of their songs, quite extensive as we see during the final credits, a collage of trying to find a drummer and getting a very exhausting and exhaustive Valerie Franco entering into the spirit of the things.

And a bonus is a visit from Paul McCartney and his singing with them, and a visit from Elton John with David Furnish photographing, and Elton John singing in the final concert and experiencing the huge disaster when a reproduction of Stonehenge collapses on everyone!

Fans will appreciate the re-acquaintance and be delighted that they have not changed. And there is the enthusiastic fan atmosphere, especially at the final concert. And, again, the music, skilful instrumental performances, the lyrics.

But, for this reviewer, there was a continued delight in the verbal humour, quips, wisecracks, puns, plenty throughout the film, not dwelt upon, just throwing them out for our enjoyment. Some examples – a concert for The Night of the Assisted-Living Dead, not hearing the truth because of the sound of the mind shutting down… And even the title suggesting that the end continues!

1. The popularity of the original film, music, bands, the 1980s in the previous decades? Spoof and satire? The characters, performances, parody?
2. More of the same, 40 years later, the situation, the separation of the group after the performances? Marty, the director, his narration, the plans, to reunite the group, his going in search of each? Nigel and he is presence in England, his partner, cheese and guitars, the rate of exchange!? David, resenting Nigel, composing music, prime pod casts, holding music for phones? Derek, glue?
3. The manager, dying, his daughter in heritage, her plans for a final concert, collaborating with Marty? The reuniting of the group, their distinctive personalities, interactions, the music together, lyrics, songs, arguments, arrangements?
4. The music sequences, enjoyable, the creativity, the performances, yet the squabbles? The background of musicians, the videos, using the music, characters from the past, managers, interviews?
5. All McCartney and his visit, the critique, singing? Elton John and David furnish, their presence, singing together, Elton John on stage – and the finale, the crash, hospital?
6. The search for the drummer, the auditions, Dede Crockett and her energetic performance, Caucasian Jerry and his playing?
7. The presence of Simon, collaborating with the daughter, the discussions, his lack of music sense and appreciation, his comments, interference, group irritated by him, the audience irritated by him – and the play of his name and the similarity to celebrity, Simon Cowell?
8. New Orleans, the rehearsals, preparing the venue? The Stonehenge stage?
9. Rehearsals, resolutions, the range of the songs, Hell to Pay – Hello Toupee, the night, going on stage, the performance, Dede and the movement of the Stonehenge Arce, Elton John, the plane, the fans and enthusiasm, the collapse, the injuries? The aftermath, hospital?
10. And the verbal humour throughout, the wisecracks, the ironic commentary, the puns…?

ALBERT BROOKS: DEFENDING MY LIFE

US, 2022, 88 minutes, Colour.

Albert Brooks, Rob Reiner, Judd Apatow, James L. Brooks, Larry David, Jonah Hill, Conan O'Brien, Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, Steven Spielberg, Ben Stiller, Sharon Stone, Wanda Sykes.

Directed by Rob Reiner.

Albert Brooks has had a long career as a comic, stand-up comic, performer, film star, director. His life started with some irony because his family name was Einstein and his parents, his mother singer and dancer in the movies and on stage, and his father, Harry, a very popular comedian in film, radio and television, Parkyakarkus, decided to call their youngest child Albert, Albert Einstein. (To avoid any mixup, young Albert became Albert Brooks!).

For a great deal of the film and its complete framework, Albert Brooks sits in a restaurant with his boyhood friend and school companion, writer-director-actor, Rob Reiner, who directs this film and many clips of each man’s parents. They enjoy their conversation and their reminiscences, and so do we. (Except for an angry blogger who felt that this was all too chummy and not critical enough!)

In just under 90 minutes, through the conversation and through clips, we have Albert Brooks’s personal life, the stages of his career, his achievement, his marriage and family – with some testimonies from his wife and his two children. And, there are a great number of admirers as indicated in the list of contributors above. Not only are they in admiration of Brooks but they will remember and describe their first memories of his comedy and many of them indicating that it spurred them in their own careers – and this ranging from Larry David and Conan O’Brien to Jonah Hill, Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, Ben Stiller too great admiration from Steven Spielberg.

And, for movie buffs, all of his films are given the context, their initial impact, especially Real Life and Modern Romance, to his entertainments like Lost in America, his starring with Meryl Streep in Defending Your Life, inviting Sharon Stone to star with him in The Muse. Rob Reiner asks Brooks about his relationship with his mother and there are many scenes of Brooks’s film, Mother, Debbie Reynolds embodying on screen his actual mother.

And, it is surprising to find how many films Albert Brooks appeared in as an actor, starting with the role in Scorsese’s Taxi Driver in 1976, an Oscar nomination for Broadcast News, and clips from a very interesting career range of performances. And his children reflecting on his voicing the father in Finding Nemo.

So, in a way, this is an entertaining way to spend 90 minutes. For those who know very little about Albert Brooks, anti-opener. For those familiar with him, very entertaining and interesting.