Review of Reign Over Me (2007) by ~ Supergirl ~ — 24 Dec 2009

Mike Binder's 2007 film, Reign Over Me, is a harrowing and depressing venture into the minds of both a family man struggling with the marriage that seems to be sucking him into a rift of nothing but disappointment and the feeling of being trapped, and a man who's lost all contact with the world, and doesn't expect to get it back anytime soon. All set in the background of a post 9/11 world.

Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) sees his old college roomate Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler) a hardware store on the way home from work. Relaying the event to his wife (Jada Pinkett Smith), it is revealed that Charlie Fineman has lost his family in the 9/11 attacks. He attempts to find Charlie again. After running into him outside, he convinces Charlie to accompany him to the coffee shop. As they talk, Johnson tries to talk to Charlie about the past. Charlie seems to ignore and instead goes to simple trivia to make up the conversation. Fineman invites Johnson to his house. Charlie is remodeling his kitchen, and is playing video games to pass the time. He has a great music room alongside his great looking aparment. In the back, a room with nothing but boxes exists. Although his is curious, Johnson goes home. Through these numerous visits, Johnson and Fineman become friends, but everytime Alan prods Charlie about his family, Charlie goes into a defensive lockdown, often escalating to aggresive behavior. Alan realizes the hurt Charlie is going through; he hasn't been able to cope with the loss of his family, and he doesn't want to. He simply wants to be left alone. Alan still attempts to get Charlie to see therapists. Finally, Alan gets Charlie to see the therapist that Alan has been pestering about his broken marriage (Liv Tyler). Johnson accompanies Fineman on a vivid mental odyssey, as Fineman accompanies Johnson on his own. Each man finds kinship with each other as they deal with their problems. No problem with the acting area, as Binder effectively cast the supporting actors. Saffron Burrows as Donna Remar, a heartbroken affair victim who attempts to seduce Johnson in an attempt to forget her troubles gives a great performance. The Timpleman's, Charlies in-laws, played by Melinda Dillon and Robert Klein, are effective as the parents who just want to see their son-in-law again. Even the Director/Writer, Mike Binder, gives a good performance as past-family friend turned stiff accountant Sugarman. But really, the performances to look out for, are that of the main characters. Don Cheadle is magical as the family man trapped in a monotonous marriage, but Adam Sandler is phoenomenal as a man who finds the world almost as broken as his heart. The scene where Fineman tells his story to Johnson is the single most heartbreaking moment of film I have ever witnessed. Sandler gives the BEST performance of his career, and of 2007.

Mike Binder has written and directed an impossibly sad, yet enormously uplifting film about the power of friendship and how friends can help each other defeat their personal demons.

Alot of criticism has been directed at the 9/11 plot device. To that I say, quiet down and watch the movie. 9/11 is referenced, but isn't shoved down the viewers throat. It is one of the main reasons Charlie is now an unresponsive human being, but the main reason, is that he has no ability to cope, or more importantly, no one to cope with.

Reign Over Me is one of the (If not THE) best film's of 2007.