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March 29, 2007

Movie Review

Reign On

Sandler drama tactfully examines one man’s struggle after Sept. 11

Story by: Lee Escobedo

Contributor to The Shorthorn

— Courtesy Photo

Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler) rides along the sidewalks of Manhattan in the new movie Reign Over Me. Fineman lost his entire family in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Recently there have been a string of films released dealing with the events of Sept. 11.

Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center and Paul Greengrass’ United 93 were both minute-by-minute depictions of what happened that tragic morning.

The film Reign Over Me takes a different approach, centering on one of the many family members left behind. Charlie Fineman, played painstakingly by Adam Sandler, lost his family in the attacks. Sandler shows he’s perfected his serious-acting capabilities by filling the shoes of a man who has completely suppressed his memories.

When Charlie is first introduced, he’s seen drifting like a ghost through empty New York City streets on his motorized scooter, looking eerily similar to Bob Dylan. Charlie refuses to remember what happened to his family, and when they’re mentioned, he either puts on his headphones or becomes drunk with rage.

Sandler is known for his angry antics. However, every outburst in this film is fueled by the sudden realization of what he’s trying to hide. It’s not coming from an overgrown adolescent but an emotionally stricken widower.

If not for a chance encounter with his old college roommate Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle), Charlie would have continued to live a life of isolation and denial. Cheadle plays a man with a loving family similar to the one Charlie lost but who envies Charlie’s personal freedom.

The two actors have great chemistry though they have never worked together before. Jada Pinkett-Smith plays Alan’s wife and gives a decent performance. It just seems to be the same one-trick-pony performance she’s done in other films. Donald Sutherland lends his gray beard of wisdom in a small part as a judge and performs with the same charm he had in Pride and Prejudice.

The moments when Alan and Charlie are reconnecting make for hilarious dialogue, and Sandler manages to interject his classic humor for a nice balance to the movie’s dramatic feel.

There seems to be a mystical list of all-time great films. Movies such as Casablanca, Gone With the Wind and The Color Purple usually have their place. I would place this in my own list of films that move me to a point that when I leave the theater, I’m changed. I know eventually I’ll see another great movie and I’ll get warm fuzzies again, but watching Charlie describe the last things he said to his family tore me up. For that, Reign Over Me will be on my list.

This is one of the best directions I’ve seen a movie take regarding Sept. 11. The film stays objective and does a good job of not preaching or attempting to vilify a person or group for the death of Charlie’s family. Nor does it try to subliminally deliver a political message by taking jabs at the Bush Administration or al-Qaida. Instead, it shows in stark reality how the aftershock of those events still resonates in many Americans.

Movies that come out around this time usually get lost in the Oscar shuffle — however, I hope Sandler and Cheadle get nods for best actor and supporting actor, respectively.