Perfection

Rating: 10/10 (25 September 2017)

The Princess Bride I can honestly say that I've never met anyone who watched The Princess Bride who hasn't loved it. It is by the most quotable non Python, non Bogart film of all time. There are so many quotable moments, so many moments that make you smile even on your worst day, that can still make you laugh out loud after the fiftieth viewing. (Yes, I have easily seen it at least that many times.). I love this movie. I am madly in love with this movie. If you haven't seen it yet, stop reading this and go on Netflix or wherever, and watch it! If you haven't read William Goldman's book yet, read that too! It is so different than the movie and yet equally wonderful that you need to experience both. If you haven't read his script collection, where he tells stories about the making of the book and the film, or Cary Elwes book about the making of the film "As You Wish", read that too! It still amazes me that I meet people who weren't even alive when this movie was made, who love this film. Okay, I'm sure that there are people who don't love this movie. There may even be people who hate this movie. They're called sociopaths. Not loving The Princess Bride is like not loving a new born Puppy or a Charlie Chaplin silent film. There is something wrong with you if you don't. (Okay, that's probably not true, but I would suggest you see a professional if this movie doesn't make you laugh and tingle all over...). Today is the 30th anniversary of this classic masterpiece and it deserves to be watched at least one more time. Surprisingly, The Princess Bride did not do well when it was released, largely because the studios had no idea how to label it. It is a Fairy Tale Comedy Romcom Action Kids and yet Adult film that took close to 20 years to make precisely because no one could figure out how to make it or what the hell this script was supposed to be. Before it was made it was already a Hollywood legend for that very reason. Goldman, who was known for very serious films like All the President's Men, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Marathon Man, did know how to label his novel either. The story goes that he started making up a Fairy Tale for his grandchildren, which is precisely how the film leads us into the story. It begins with a young Fred Savage, in bed with a minor illness, who is forced to endure a visit from his absent minded grandfather, played by the wonderful Peter Falk. In the beginning the boy doesn't want to hear the story, especially not if there's going to kissing, and the movie uses this wonderful device of the story being read, and occasionally interrupted, by a grandfather to his grandson. Even fans of this film may not realize just how perfect the casting was until they hear who was originally considered for some of the roles: Arnold Schwarzenegger instead of Andre the Giant for Fezzik, Danny DeVito instead of Wallace Shawn for Vizzini, Christopher Reeve instead of Cary Elwes for Wesley, or Uma Thurman instead of Robin Wright as Buttercup. And that's just mention a few. The dialogue sparkles with sweetness and laugh out loud wit. The casting is dead on perfect, including Billy Crystal as Miracle Max, Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya and Christopher Guest as the Six Fingered Count Rugen. And when you consider that Francois Truffault and John Boorman of Deliverance fame wanted to make the film, you realize how perfect Rob Reiner is as the director, and how underestimated he is as a film director, how superb his instinct for casting for chemistry is, particularly in this film. One of the stories that I love to tell over and over again is that Buttercup is described in her first scene by Goldman(Where most screenwriters insert age and basic description, such as mid 20s, Blonde etc.) as "Not as pretty as she might be, but still the most beautiful girl in the world.". And when you see Robin Wright in this film, even when you look at her today in House of Cards, you see how perfectly she fits that description. This is one of those rare films where no superlative can do it justice. It is one of those rare films where people can quote each scene almost line for line. It is a communal experience and you either get it, or you just don't. And, as one of those people who hate to join anything, as someone who is addicted to his own scepticism, as someone who detests Romcoms, I can admit that I've bought whole heartedly and unashamedly into The Princess Bride. I fall in love with this film every single time that I watch it. And, on this 30th Anniversary of the film's release I plan on falling in love with it all over again tonight. And as I hit play I will whisper under my breath, perhaps even out loud, and I will get tears in my eyes as Peter Falk turns and says it that final time, "As you wish.".