Reign Over Me
[DVD]

Description

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION Mike Binder writes and directs this bittersweet comedy drama set in post-9/11 New York, with Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle heading up an all-star cast that also includes Jada Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler, Saffron Burrows and Donald Sutherland. Charlie Fineman (Sandler) lost his family in the September 11 attack, and has become a shadow of his former self in the five years that have passed since the tragedy. When he runs into his former college roommate Alan Johnson (Cheadle) by chance, their rekindled friendship proves to be a lifeline for both men. AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW One of the first films to examine the aftermath of post- 9/11 New York City, Reign Over Me shows how much even indirect contact with those who lost loved ones in the tragedy can greatly affect. Like rings of debris spiraling out from an explosion, Charlie Fineman's (Adam Sandler) loss also devastates his in-laws, who he refuses to speak to, and ex-college roommate, Alan Johnson. Reign Over Me stars Johnson, a successful dentist with a gorgeous wife, Janeane (Jada Pinkett Smith) and two kids, who finds Charlie reverted back into a teenage wasteland, unable to face his unbearable sadness. Sandler as Charlie looks like Bob Dylan and acts like Dustin Hoffman in his great dramatic performance. Listening to The Who and The Boss through headphones, playing video games, and continually remodeling his kitchen, Fineman's escapism disturbs Johnson, who, in turn, feels squelched by his stiflingly normal lifestyle. As the two reacquaint, Johnson is the only person who can help save Fineman from self-obliteration. The story analyzes Post Traumatic Stress with some accuracy, though excess sentimentality undermines emotional scenes. Survivor's guilt, assessing mental illness, and absolute incapacitation due to grief are all topics covered within the bounds of the enduring friendship forged between these two men. Ultimately, Reign Over Me's message is one of compassion, as a reminder to treat victims of loss with patience and care. But interestingly, it also pays heed to smaller human tribulations, which are obstacles to healing when left untreated. --Trinie Dalton

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