“R” Movies That “Roar!”
Yes, that is Actress Tippi Hedren giving a real African Lion a drink of water – in a very unique way…wait until you see why!
It’s all part of my list of “Movies A – Z”, this time with those that begin with an “R” – and of course we have to get started with Rock ‘n’ Roll!
10 – “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School”
In 1979, students fight back against the establishment – in this case their uptight school administrators – with the help of The Ramones!
Here is the trailer:
Here is some great trivia thanks to IMDB:
“The Ramones were paid a total of $25,000 for appearing in the film, and had to play shows in southern California to help pay their hotel bills. During the 21-day shoot, Dee Dee Ramone got arrested for fighting with a roadie, overdosed in jail, and wound up in Cedars Sinai Hospital with a $3,000 medical bill!”
This is a really fun film – click here to see more examples of great rock’n’roll rebellion in the halls of education!
https://johnrieber.com/2013/02/09/schools-out-rock-n-roll-high-nuke-em-high-and-alice-cooper/
Now I want to share one of the most amazing stories about the making of a film I have ever heard – I showed you Tippi Hedren and the Lion already, but look at this:
9 – “Roar”
Look at that poster. That’s Melanie Griffith with real blood pouring down her face – because her parents decided to make a film using real wild animals – who lived with them!
Watch the trailer of this amazingly misguided film:
I mean, can you believe this? “Roar” is a real film, and it has been re-released so you can experience the madness behind the movie – click here for my whole story:
Time to get back to reality – or at least reality by way of the Coen Brothers, who showed us just how funny – and wildly out-of-control Nicolas Cage can be onscreen!
8 – “Raising Arizona”
Twenty years ago, Joel and Ethan Coen told the hilarious story of a young woman who wants a baby – any baby – and the goodwill husband she sends out to get here one….
Here is the trailer for “Raising Arizona”:
The film is shot like a Roadrunner cartoon, with outlandish action sequences and an over-the-top performance by the legendary wild man Nicolas Cage:
I love this movie – a non-stop live action cartoon….the Coens went on to make classic dramas like “Fargo” and the Best Picture winner “No Country For Old Men”…and speaking of Oscar…
7 – “Rocky”
It beat out classic films like “Network”, “Taxi Driver” and “All The President’s Men” for Best Picture of 1976, but that’s OK, because “Rocky” is a classic as well!
Remember the trailer:
John G. Avildsen won the Best Director Oscar as well – and both are deserved, as this movie has grit, honesty and emotion in equal measure – bravo to Sylvester Stallone as well!
My next “R” movie may not be an Oscar winner, but it’s one of my favorite comedies with two terrifically funny performances!
6 – “Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion”
Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow are hilarious as Roma & Michelle, who decide to make up success stories for themselves as they head to their high school reunion.
Here is the trailer:
This film is funny and sweet in equal measure, one of the best “reunion” films – speaking of that, try this great “high school reunion” double bill:
I’m not a huge fan of animated films, but when one is a classic, it deserves recognition!
5 – “Ratatouille”
Give Pixar a lot of credit telling the story of a Parisian Rat who wants to be a Chef…and bravo to them for hiring legendary Chef Thomas Keller to oversee all of the recipes in the film – they are all accurate!
Chef Keller’s Ratatouille recipe is amazing – I’ve made it several times and love it – you can see it for yourself here:
https://johnrieber.com/2013/06/29/ratatouille-chef-thomas-kellers-recipe-for-animated-food-magic/
If you want some great music to listen to while cooking, my next film has you covered – with The Clash!
4 – “Rude Boy”
I love this film. It’s a fictional story of a “roadie” for The Clash as they tour the UK at the end of the 70’s – and they use real live shows to film at – so you see the band really in action! Here is the trailer:
The movie captures the moment when punk rock was on the verge of exploding – click here to see more about this terrific film:
Next up is another film that uses music to good effect – by making one of the main characters a huge KISS fan!
3 – “Role Models”
This is a really funny 2008 film starring Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott as two guys who avoid jail by becoming “Role Models” for young boys…here is the trailer:
For those who have seen it, know that all of the most offensive lines spoken to the kids were said while the actual child Actors were out of the room!
Here is some more great movie trivia: what film caused Frank Sinatra to serve divorce papers to his wife Mia Farrow?
2 – “Rosemary’s Baby”
That’s right, this classic horror film went over schedule – so Sinatra demanded that wife Mia Farrow quit the film – and when Frank tells someone to walk off a set, he expects them to walk off a set! But Mia Farrow didn’t, so he divorced her!
The film was worth it – check out the trailer:
This is a brilliant psychological horror film, with a mesmerizing performance by Mia Farrow as the young married woman who may be giving birth to Satan’s baby!
Read more behind-the-scenes trivia about this masterpiece here:
I want to end with one of my all-time favorite movies – a huge flop when it was released in 1975, but now considered a modern classic – and one of the greatest “audience participation” films of all time!
1 – “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
What needs to be said? A notorious flop upon release, the film gained traction as a “midnight movie”, and soon, fans were mobbing theaters dressed as their favorite characters!
Here is the trailer:
There have been a number of great blu-ray releases of the movie, with lots of extra audience material – terrific music, great campy storyline – just one of my all-time favorites…oh, and what about that ad:
Those red lips! One of the most iconic images ever put on a movie poster – here are some more:
That wraps up the letter “R” – you can go to my home page to look up all of the other letters of the alphabet – so much great cinema to share!
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johnrieber 
Nice list John. Would’ve been great if Sly had won for Creed. Nice way of coming full circle.
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Agree…they teased him with it and then didn’t give it…a shame
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Your usual eclectic selection, John. Some I have not seen, many I have.
I will of course have to add ‘Rashomon’, one of the greatest ‘R’ films ever made.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, I had to leave out so many, like “Reservoir Dogs”, “Raging Bull”, “The Ruling Class” and so many others – I try to find a blend of new, old, cult and crazy! Good to have you back!
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