Harold Ramis is dead and I'm sad
Entry posted by Goldie
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-harold-ramis-dead-20140224,0,2259309.story
They don't make movies like they did during his heyday, but he is one of the pioneers of the 80's Reagan-era fight-the-power style movies. His humor was as intelligent as anyone writing and directing movies has ever been, and that intelligence is what lets his movies hold up today while many others from the era simply can't hold on. The movies all had a heart to them. There were the occasional gross-out scenes, and vulgarity, but overall the movies were tone-based, in that it was the overall themes that made you laugh, not necessarily the one-liners, even though there were plenty of those. I think the earliest writers of the Simpsons owe Harold Ramis a great debt, because his comedy paved the way for precisely what the Simpsons became so successful in the early 90's.
Here are my five favorites, probably in order but who knows. I'm sad and need to binge-watch.
Groundhog Day (1993): This movie came out when I was eight, and I saw it in the theaters. I hated it. I just didn't get it. Years later, something beckoned me to give it another shot. It is absolutely the classic of its time, and I think it is one of the most perfect movies ever made, something that wouldn't translate to television, books, or to any other era of moviemaking. Just the premise itself is incredibly fun and original, and its execution is flawless, primarily because of Bill Murray, but also because he has such richness on the page to work with, and superb direction throughout the movie. This is one of my all-time favorite movies, because with Harold Ramis gone, there is no chance anyone could ever think up a plot so intricate but have it flow like music.
Multiplicity (1996): This movie gets no love from people that aren't probably within 2-3 years of me. I love this movie for the same reasons I love Groundhog Day, because its so intricate, but flows so well, and is the absolute perfect representation of what is so wonderful about Michael Keaton. Seeing the four sides of Michael Keaton is amazing (especially #4. "She touched my happy Steve"), but its the fact that everything in a premise so unlikely stays together and again, flows well, is a testament to the direction and writing of Ramis.
Caddyshack (1980): His directorial debut, and no one needs me to rehash how amazing this movie is. Chevy, Billy, and Rodney in their primes could make any movie pop, but again, it was Ramis (and Doug Kenney and BDM) that wrote them and the characters who say them.
Ghostbusters (1984): Another movie I don't need to sell anyone on. Makes me sad knowing all the holdups led to GB3 not being filmed before Ramis passed.
Back to School (1986): This is a Rodney movie through and through. But until the day I die, anytime I double back to check out a girl when with a group of friends, either myself or someone else will say "Honey, you're perfect".
He also wrote and/or directed Animal House, Meatballs, Stripes, and Analyze This. A true legend of comedy has died today, and even though the intelligent but heartwarming comedies Harold Ramis would make fell out of style 20 years ago, it makes me sad knowing that there is one less person alive still trying to make them.
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