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Peter Moore's avatar

I’m sitting in the pre-dawn dark, while reading this. At least, I hope it’s dawn, rather than a really dark night that’s just beginning.

Sari Botton's avatar

I like your thinking.

Delia Lloyd's avatar

This was a brutal week. Thanks for the Reiner stuff..

Rachel Kramer Bussel's avatar

I forgot about Rob Reiner in The Bear. That news is so awful but the details emerging about his life are so impressive.

Sari Botton's avatar

He was a beacon, as an artist and a human being. <3

Martina R. Williams's avatar

What a lovely tribute to Rob Reiner. I had no idea he reimagined the ending to When Harry Met Sally. You’ve given me a reason to love that film even more.

Sari Botton's avatar

Glad to hear. <3

Nancy Fisher's avatar

We watch When Harry Met Sally every new years. It’s my favourite. We try to time the countdown to new years at the end of the movie with the countdown in real life. I didn’t know that about the ending. ♥️💔♥️

Sari Botton's avatar

What a sweet tradition. Happy new year. 🎉

Neural Foundry's avatar

The detail about The Princess Bride being fundamentally about a sick boy connecting with his grandfather through storytelling really reframed that movie for me. It's easy to focus on the swashbuckling and romance, but the core being intergenerational connection makes it way more meaningful.

What got me was the parallel with Reiner and his own son. That kind of tragic irony is almost unbearable to think about. I've been rewatching some of his work this week and it's striking how much warmth came through even in his more cynical characters. The When Harry Met Sally ending change is perfect evidence of that, how falling in lovecould shift his entire worldview mid-production.

Delia Lloyd's avatar

Also ps very sad to miss the March event-I won't be in NYC area until May

Sari Botton's avatar

There will be more!

Jolene Handy's avatar

Beautiful tribute

Deborah Sosin's avatar

Beautiful tribute with great clips, Sari. Thanks. I've been watching and reading a lot of the tributes too. It's hard to process. So heartbreaking. I especially loved the clip with the Carl and Rob Reiner's reenactment of the Fred Savage/Peter Falk ending. And Anderson Cooper's reminiscences and video clip that aired last Monday. Did you see this one? This is a link from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17B1EbhsY8/

Sari Botton's avatar

Thank you, and for the link. Will check it out. 💕

Michael A. Gonzales's avatar

I loved Rob Reiner as a director. I saw Spinal Tap when I was in college and, being kind of slow, thought it was a real band...at least until the middle of the movie. However, being a sappy sentimentalist my favorite of his films was Stand By Me. No matter what race or era they came of age, most men could relate to that crew of boys and their summertime adventures; I was the fat kid.

Liz Callaway's avatar

I put March 4 in my calendar! If you need another singer, let me know. And thank you for sharing the Esquire piece about Rob Reiner. I’ve never seen The Princess Bride, but I will now.

Sari Botton's avatar

Thank you! Oh, it’s a classic. You’ll love it.

Doreen Frances's avatar

I saw that video clip of Rob and his father Carl when it first came out. I was so touched by it, how much he adored his dad. Seeing it again now makes me weep.

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

Just reading this. It's been so hard! There was a very moving special on the Reiners on CBS - yes, CBS - this past Sunday.

Sari Botton's avatar

Heartbreaking. Yes, I link to it in the link roundup coming out on Friday. 💕

Wendi Gordon's avatar

I especially appreciate the bit about the changed ending to “When Harry Met Sally” and the reason for that change! Many women my age (late 50s) have been in bad relationships and decided “never again.” But some of them have found loving partners in their 60s or later despite their determination not to.

Sari Botton's avatar

Yes,I love that.

Lisa Marsh's avatar

Thank you, Sari, for all of this. I am one of the few humans who has not seen the Princess Bride. Slating it in for this weekend. And the Annie Lamott directives are so spot on. I'm going to be kind to myself these next two weeks and hope you will be too. Happy holidays and love to you. Looking forward to March 4 at 7p. Maybe I can help... Speak soon and take care of you and yours. xoxo

Sari Botton's avatar

Lisa, you are the best. And I'm so excited for you that you get to see The Princess Bride for the first time! I think I will do like my 25th rewatch this weekend. Happy holidays and love to you and yours, too! Let's see each other soon. xox

Jennifer Covell's avatar

What a mensch. I am dying to rewatch The Sure Thing with my kids and they are not having it. No idea how it holds up. I may have to wait until the next time I have the apartment to myself. And take in that and a few more.

Sari Botton's avatar

I forgot about that one! Total mensch. And incredibly funny.