Reign Over Me (Widescreen Edition)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jonathan Banks, Melinda Dillon, Robert KleinBrand: SONY PICTURES HOME ENT
Cinematographer: Russ T. Alsobrook
Composer: Rolfe Kent
Editor: Steve Edwards
Editor: Jeremy Roush
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Korean (Subtitled); Thai (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 2.40:1
Running Time: 124 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-10-09
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Reign Over Me (Widescreen Edition)
Movie Review: Sad, funny tale of loss and - mainly- friendship. Sure to be one of the year's best.
Summary: 5 Stars
Adam Sandler is Charlie, a man who rides the streets of New York on his moped, detached from life in his own little i-pod assisted universe. Suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after his family became victims in the 9/11 attacks, he has withdrawn from all family and friends, and is on the verge from withdrawing from reality itself. Alan (Don Cheadle) is his college roommate from dental school who has not spoken with Charlie since that trajic day - until he runs into him one day.
No more plot description is really necessary for "Reign Over Me," because after the film's initial set-up, the movie asks that you just watch these two men exist. It is an invitation you should not miss. Those who accept it are in, I think, for something special: a small but powerful film that is, by turns, funny and disquieting, but never lapses into a place where it condescends to its audience with easy answers and trite clichés.
And there are two terrific performances at the center.
Outside of his first two or three classic comedies, "Reign Over Me" may be the movie I start referring to as Adam Sandler's best film. I know he gets the most props in the drama realm for "Punch Drunk Love" - and I agree his performance there is terrific - but this film is far more accessible and heartfelt, even if only because you'd be hard pressed to find a person who could not relate to this character's pain; whereas I'd wager half the people who saw "Drunk," not only could not relate to what the character was going through, but had no idea what was going on in that film at all.
Again, I liked "Drunk," but "Reign" feels, while maybe not as unique, much more passionate, intimate and realistic. It is also a fascinating character study - though fictitious - of the unfortunate inability to deal with loss many 9/11 widows, widowers, and survivors (or anyone who has lost loved ones and seen their life fall apart in the wake of any tragedy for that matter) must be struggling with. The idea that people like this, suffering from this level of post traumatic stress disorder, are out there is heartbreaking.
But "Reign" is not simply a downer or a movie that throws 9/11 in the audiences face just to come off as profound, important or find an easy way to pull on the audiences heartstrings and manipulate their emotions. It is surprisingly restrained and un-exploitive given the potentially volatile subject matter (and I am torn - as much as I admire the idea that there is no need to speechify about 9/11 at this point, but for a character like Sandler's in this film - who has never dealt with it - you almost want to see more raw emotion and anger from him about the event that ruined his life). There are some heavy scenes to be sure, but they all feel genuine. And the film has a rough-around-the-edges quality (like Sandler the actor and his character here) and a sense of random, explosive humor and desperation (also qualities Sandler possesses as an actor), that allows the characters, their actions and situations to come of as authentic and valid.
Director Mike Binder peppers the film with all kinds of terrific little touches to give his characters actual personalities. Sandler's constant listening to his i-pod, his reversion back to his college self - before he even met the wife he lost, his apartment, and his belief in the soul-saving power of Bruce Springsteen's "The River" (listen to his emotional breakdown/confession while "Drive All Night" plays almost subliminally underneath the dialog and you'd be hard pressed not to agree with him). Confession: though the movie is filled with high points, the scene that pretty much broke me was a short, simple one between Sandler's character his former in-laws: written and played to perfection.
And, of course, Don Cheadle. One of this generation's very best, most natural and personable actors. You know how directors and producers say that the key to acting is not acting? This must be what they mean. Watching Cheadle on screen almost always feels like we are watching someone act just as they would in real life; facial expressions, body language - all that. He is terrific here and his chemistry with Sandler is pitch-perfect. And since it is the backbone of the film, it better be or all would be lost.
Some critics have griped about the supporting performances by Liv Tyler as shrink and Saffron Burrows as, well, you can just find out; but the complaint seems to be they exist as tacked on subplots. I can see that, but they both work within the world this film has created. Donald Sutherland, though he utters the phrase `shut-up' one too many times, is brilliant in a small amount of screen time. If I have a complaint about the film it is that its pace slackens a bit here and there and feels like we see every single move the characters make, which makes it difficult for the movie to provide a satisfying end place.
But God bless any movie that presents such a traumatic problem and doesn't wrap it up with easy answers or happy endings. This film knows there may be no cure for what the Sandler character has suffered and become, but it says it is the small moments, seemingly insignificant little passions (video games, Chinese Food, kitchen remodeling, Mel Brooks movies, and The Boss and The Who), and the shoulder of a close, nonjudgmental friend that can help us along. There is hope, even if there is not an outright solution.
"Reign Over Me" is funny and moving, but doesn't pile-on either one. That is its greatest asset: nothing feels forced or fake, but rather just lingers as truth and basic human emotional response - and that includes humor, anger and desperation. If two people can pull all that off together better, more relaxed, assured and realistically than Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle do here, I'd love to see it.
Summary of Reign Over Me (Widescreen Edition)
Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett Smith and Liv Tyler star in this heart-rending story about Charlie Fineman (Sandler), who has slipped away from reality after the sudden loss of his wife and children. But Charlie?s life takes a turn for the better when he runs into his old college roommate Alan Johnson (Cheadle), whose life is torn between the demands of career and family. Their renewed friendship rekindles their long-forgotten bond, and both men emerge enriched and enlightened.Similar DVD Movies
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