MOVIE REVIEW [Guest] . Reign Over Me

by Chris and Kris   ⋅   August 28, 2007   ⋅   Comment now   ⋅    RSS

Craig’s back with another review, this time for the Adam Sandler Bob Dylan movie! Wait…you say he’s not playing Bob Dylan? Hmm. I might have to check this out. Read on for Craig’s review.

With Reign Over Me, Mike Binder took on both directing and scriptwriting duties. Sometimes this can lead to successful projects. Unfortunately, this effort may not be wholly appreciated by most people who watch this film. The film deals with a condition that exerts extraordinary emotions associated with the consequences that are suffered by the main character. The plot transitions enjoyably as the viewer can sense the progress the character makes in coming to terms with the event.

The film focuses on Dentist Charlie Fineman, played by Adam Sandler, who suffers from PTSD as the result of the loss of his family. Don Cheadle handles the character of Alan Johnson, a fellow dentist who is practicing in the movie. Johnson runs into Fineman by chance and tries to yap up some memories. Fineman seems to have forgotten his two year college roommate and anything else from his past. He drives around with a motorized scooter visiting the hardware store to finish remodeling the kitchen. Most of the time, he is reclusive and doesn’t want to talk about anything in the recent past. His emotional outbursts are filled with a sincere, raw bitterness. The early diagnosis made by Liv Tyler’s character is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. I have to appreciate this connection because of our current times. Someone close to me was diagnosed with PTSD and some of the symptoms that were displayed by Fineman were frighteningly similar. He was sent to Iraq for the invasion in ’03 and came back six months later a changed man. I believe people should be aware of this condition and be sensitive in that this is real and does affect people’s lives profoundly. Please, don’t assume that VA treatment will be all the patient needs. Thanks to the director for describing the condition through implicit terms in the movie.

Alan Johnson encounters some very tense and real situations. A new patient tries to seduce him. The partners of the dentistry are questioning Johnson’s ethics. His wife isn’t happy with the inclusion of Fineman into Johnson’s life. The plot is nicely done to describe these subplots and explore the relationship of this character the main characters problem. Even though we see Johnson’s life as one to envy in contrast to Fineman’s, we see that the friendship help balance out the imperfections in each others lives. This is the golden nugget in the movie and is the high point for Binder.

If the film started right where Fineman goes to court because of his attempted suicide-by-cop, it would’ve tanked. The overall theme here is that no matter how messed up people seem, they were once rational people, until some crazy, unfortunate, unintentional event occurred that changed the person. This lesson reverberates strongly in real life, as we should be open to the changes in people’s lives. Shunning people because we think they are irrational doesn’t always mean we should lock them up. Even more worrisome, I wonder how the script would’ve been written if Fineman and Johnson weren’t so well off.

It was rumored that Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt were considered for the character of Charlie Fineman, but they turned it down. Sandler does a fine job with his role and shows his skills beyond the humor he is known for. Don Cheadle turns in another fine performance, as usual. I would’ve left the cast alone with this film. Cruise and Pitt are known more for action/adventure genre films. A lot of people would roll their eyes at another Adam Sandler film. Surprisingly, Sandler shows multiple dimensions and stays within character. This movie would change that opinion greatly into a more positive light. The humor doesn’t distract from the plot. It doesn’t deviate far from what the emotions the characters are trying to express. To put it simply; it’s pleasurable.

So long as you don’t factor in Adam Sandler’s previous performances into your expectations, this film should be a pleasant surprise to watch. The humor isn’t for 12 year-olds. If you’re looking for a movie that isn’t about big explosions, one-liners and sex, pick this up at your video store. The only complaint I have is that the film drags on towards the end of the film. This may be designed to give the viewer more time to contemplate the story. Strong kudos go to Sandler, Cheadle and Binder for their skills.

About the Author

Craig Merry is a student at UC Davis and rabid film fan. His patented stone cold “sexy-face” (see left) knocks chicks cold, and is near directly responsible for his 2+ year relationship with his girlfriend. For more of Craig’s reviews check out The Scoffing Critic.

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