Writer Mike Binder crafts a touching drama with beautiful performances, taking a national tragedy and making it personal. "Reign Over Me" succeeds on almost every level.
Don Cheadle ("Crash") plays Alan Johnson, a dentist bored with life, who feels suffocated by his wife (Jada Pinkett Smith) and forced to be a different person than he wishes to be. That all changes, however, when he sees his college roommate, Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler), riding through the streets alone on his scooter.
Charlie is a broken and unstable man. After losing his family in the Sept. 11 tragedy, he becomes reclusive, spending his time playing video games and losing himself in the world of music. His noise-canceling headphones protect him from the harshness of the world and his past, which he "doesn't remember." Any mention of his life before his loss sends him into destructive outbursts.
At first, Alan sees Charlie as something new and exciting; a much-needed break from the monotony of his life, but he soon realizes that Charlie's issues run deeper than he thought. Unfortunately, Charlie has erected a wall that separates him from the rest of the world and denies (sometimes violently) any help Alan tries to provide. In struggling to get Charlie help, Alan becomes acutely aware of his own issues that have been ruling his life.
The strength of the movie comes from Sandler's poignant performance. He is able to seamlessly alternate between child-like innocence and blinding rage, bringing everyone in the audience closer than they prefer to be to his character. His loneliness is palpable and moving and his acting so convincing that the days of comedic Adam Sandler seem a distance past.
Cheadle's amazing acting skills also shine through, though he is somewhat eclipsed by Sandler. Still, he delivers a heartfelt and touching performance and brings stability and normalcy to the movie, playing the perfect antithesis to Charlie.
Charlie's and Alan's relationship never seems forced or unrealistic. Both are using each other to find what they need, and each interaction is unique and unexpected. This multifaceted approach keeps things interesting and engaging.
The movie is not completely free of faults, however. While the relationship between Charlie and Alan takes center stage, the filmmakers seem to neglect the side story of the strained relationship between Alan and his wife.
Prominent as a side plot in the beginning, it is quickly forgotten halfway through the movie. In addition, some other side plots, particularly the sexually disturbed woman, Donna Remar (Saffron Burrows) vying for Alan, wrap up a little too nicely. In such a realistic film, her neat ending feels cheap.
Nitpicking aside, this movie accomplishes what it sets out to do; delve deep into the psyche of one man dealing with loss. It is one of the best dramas of the year, and definitely worth the price of admission.
