Film Review Reign Over Me Bio
Film Review: Reign Over Me

Sunday, March 25, 007 - Seeing the movie Reign Over Me, it struck me that we're just now beginning to see the depth of how the 9/11 tragedy will be affecting our lives for years to come. It seems to have changed everything about all our lives, with some just dealing with it when it touches their lives, and others not being able to get away from it because it is their life.

Adam Sandler stars in Reign Over Me as Charlie Fineman, a man who lost his wife, three daughters, and dog in a plane crash on 9/11. Don Cheadle co-stars as Alan Johnson who was Charlie's roommate in college for two years, with both of them going into the field of dentistry after finishing school. Alan is dealing with multiple issues at the same time, growing apart from his wife, played by Jada Pinkett Smith, and a patient coming onto him in the dental chair, and suing him after he refuses her advances.

With everything Alan is dealing with, he then runs into Charlie on the streets of New York, and can hardly believe it's his old friend. Charlie, riding on a motorized scooter and constantly wearing headphones, doesn't remember his old friend at first and seems very disoriented. He's reluctant to talk about anything from his past, including practicing dentistry, and especially his family. He lives in an apartment completely making over his kitchen every few months, with a collection of vintage vinyl record albums numbering over 5500, playing the same video game over and over on a widescreen TV, and playing drums at night in a band.

The only people that seem to care whether Charlie comes or goes are his landlady and accountant. His parents passed away when he was in high school, and he wants nothing to do with his in-laws. Alan is fascinated with Charlie's life, mostly trying to help him, but also occasionally not being able to escape "Charlie World," going to all night Mel Brooks movie marathons, and listening to the music they listened to in college, The Who's “Quadrophenia” and Bruce Springsteen's “The River.” Charlie's fascination with Alan is simple; he's the only person from his past that didn't know his family. Yet Alan can't resist seeking help for Charlie from psychiatrist Liv Tyler.

I never would have thought a year ago that Adam Sandler could have held his own in a movie with Don Cheadle, but they are both superb in this. I'm used to the Adam Sandler with the humor that my 13 year old son enjoys, and I can't believe he's been hiding this type of acting depth behind all the humor. Jada Pinkett Smith is as you would expect her, and Liv Tyler is a bit unbelievable as a psychiatrist. I just can't see her in a role other than the sweet innocents she played in That Thing You Do and Armageddon.

Regardless, I think it's a shame Reign Over Me is out early in the year, as I doubt if anyone will remember Cheadle and Sandler come Oscar time, but they should. This movie takes you along through a range of emotions, and if I can find it in me to actually feel pity and sorrow for Adam Sandler, then he deserves something for his efforts.

Yuddy Score: A Yud

-Laura Tucker


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