MOVIE COMPANY: SONY PICTURES
CAST: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler, Donald Sutherland
DIRECTED & WRITTEN BY: Mike Binder
RATING: Rated R
INTERNET MOVIE DATABASE URL: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0490204/
TYPE OF MOVIE: Drama
DURATION: 124 minutes
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.
DVD EXTRAS:
- Behind the reign: the making of reign over me
- Extended jam session with Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle
- A still reign: photographic montage.
DVD REVIEW:
An emotional and power film about a physician named Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) who runs into his college roommate, Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler), who has changed for the worse since Sept. 11.
Alan feels the need to help his friend who seems to be emotionally unstable and all he does is play video games, redoes the kitchen over and over and plays music. Literally unemployed and has isolated himself from everyone.
As for Alan, he owns his own medical practice but his fellow physicians tend to keep him out of the circle and because of work and obligations to family, hasn’t really enjoyed his life.
That is until he meets Charlie and wants to connect with him and to see why he has become the way he is and possibly rekindle the friendship.
I have to admit that I was not sure about the film. Don Cheadle is a fine actor but to have Adam Sandler play a serious role, after watching all his comedy films, wasn’t sure where this one would be going. But amazingly, Sandler does a good job playing Charlie Fineman, who is reminscent of Dustin Hoffmany’s character of Raymond Babbitt of “Rain Man” but with much more paranoia, depression and anger. But more strongly, his guilt over the loss of his wife and daughter that constantly replays in his mind over and over again.
Charlie is literally paranoid that Alan is spying on him and it comes to the point where Charlie almost becomes an annoyance to Alan and his family because he keeps showing up and wanting to do things that Alan is not used to doing. Even in one scene where Charlie just loses it and destroys Alan’s waiting room.
But what I found most touching about the film is that there are many documentaries but not many films that deal with the families or love ones left behind after their significant other or family was killed on Sept. 11th.
Once Charlie finally opens up to Alan about the feelings he has kept suppressed within himself, you can’t just help but cry and know that probably in reality, there are many more people like him who are unable to let go or not ready to talk about their emotions.
Jada Pinkett Smith who plays Janeane Johnson plays a concerned wife of Alan. Especially when he is spending all nighters playing videogames or doing something and not coming home. And it definitely leads to a breaking point between Alan and Janeane where Alan, who also has emotions bottled up inside, has to let his emotions out.
Liv Tyler plays the character of Angela Oakhurst, a psychiatrist and friend of Alan who tries to help Charlie with his emotions.
The DVD comes with a few special features that include the two having to learn to play instruments and a behind-the-scenes featurette on the making of the film. Also, included is a photo montage.
I think Binder & staff did a good job in covering the New York landscape in their scouting locations. Not showing too many things that are happy but keeping within the confines of the overall atmosphere of the movie.
As for the overall film, it’s touching, very emotional but it’s far from perfect. We understand Charlie and why he is so emotional but for Alan’s character, he’s a doctor with a beautiful wife and good family, obviously making good money… but is his dilemma overwork? Not satisfied about his life or his working partners?
Also, the things that Charlie does to Alan and how Alan just remains patient with him and forgives for everything, no matter how bad the situation maybe, definitely Alan has a good heart but how many people would be friends with a man who destroys your place of work or tries to pick a fight with you?
But nevertheless, despite its minimal problems, the movie comes together quite fine and in the end, I felt entertained, quite touched by the overall message in the film of how life so fragile. All in all, a DVD worth checking out!
THE MOVIE:Â A
THE DVD EXTRAS:Â B-
THE DVD OVERALL: B+