Reign Over Me (2007)

Director:

Mike Binder

Writer (WGA):

Mike Binder (written by)

Release Date:

23 March 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Let in the unexpected.

Plot:

A man who lost his family in the September 11 attack on New York City runs into his old college roommate. Rekindling the friendship is the one thing that appears able to help the man recover from his grief.

Plot Keywords:

Roommate | Friendship | Grief | New York City | College Roommate

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Adam Sandler	...	Charlie Fineman
Don Cheadle	...	Alan Johnson
Jada Pinkett Smith	...	Janeane Johnson
Liv Tyler	...	Angela Oakhurst
Saffron Burrows	...	Donna Remar
Donald Sutherland	...	Judge Raines
Robert Klein	...	Jonathan Timpleman
Melinda Dillon	...	Ginger Timpleman
Mike Binder	...	Bryan Sugarman
Jonathan Banks	...	Stelter
Rae Allen	...	Adell Modell
Paula Newsome	...	Melanie
John de Lancie	...	Nigel Pennington
Paul Butler	...	George Johnson
Camille LaChe Smith	...	Cherie Johnson (as Camille LaChe-Smith)

Also Known As:

Empty City (USA) (working title)
Reign O'er Me (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual references.

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Finland:K-11 | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | USA:R (certificate #42006) | Germany:6 | Sweden:7 | South Korea:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Relativity Media

Trivia:

Every song that's played in the background is either played on Charlie's iPod or has its album mentioned by Charlie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Charlie is walking towards the water after the court hearing, Alan's car door is still open. Once they change camera angles, the door is closed.

Quotes:

Donna Remar: [whispering to Angela about Charlie] I don't know how they can't see that he's just got a broken heart. It's so broken, his poor heart.

Movie Connections:

Features Young Frankenstein (1974)

Soundtrack:

You're a Shadow

Stop Your Sobbin'

Greetings again from the darkness. How rare it is for a film to examine the lost soul of men in pain. Adam Sandler stars as Charlie, a man who lost his family in the 9/11 tragedy, and has since lost his career, his reason to live and arguably, his sanity. Don Cheadle co-stars as Sandler's former Dental School roommate who appears to have the perfect life (that Sandler apparently had prior to 9/11).

Of course the parallels in these men's lives are obvious, but it is actually refreshing to see men's feelings on display in a movie ... feelings other than lust and revenge, that is. Watching how they actually help each other by just being there is painful and heartfelt. Writer/Director Mike Binder ("The Upside of Anger", and Sandler's accountant in this film) really brings a different look and feel to the film. Some of the scenes don't work as well as others, but overall it is well written and solidly directed.

Sandler and Cheadle are both excellent. Sandler's character reminds a bit of his fine performance in "Punch Drunk Love", but here he brings much more depth. Cheadle is always fine and does a nice job of expressing the burden he carries ... just by watching him work a jigsaw puzzle.

Support work is excellent by Jada Pinkett Smith (as Cheadle's wife), Liv Tyler (as a very patient psychiatrist), Saffron Burrows (in an oddly appealing role), Donald Sutherland as an irritated judge and Melinda Dillon and Robert Klein as Sandler's in-laws.

The film really touches on how the tragic events of that day affected one man so deeply that he is basically ruined. In addition to the interesting story and some great shots of NYC, you have to love any film that features vocals from Chrissy Hynde, Bruce Springsteen and Roger Daltrey ... as well as Eddie Vedder impersonating Daltrey. Not exactly a chipper upbeat film, but it is a quality film with an unusual story.