Reign Over Me

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Comedy

I got this film thinking it was a Christian movie. In a way, it is. Adam Sandler plays a character who has lost his entire family in the 911 terror attack - which actually is never mentioned specifically. As a result he seems to have developed a form of amnesia. Things change when his college roommate, played by Don Cheadale (Hotel Rwanda, Oceans 11/12), bumps into him. And then resolves to try and help him out of this "crisis" - i.e., by hiring therapists etc.. His kindness leads to an unfortunate series of events.

Although its a "comedy of sorts" - it does offer insights into the lives and minds of people who are grieving, badly. It suggests that understanding and compassion and even forbearance... you know patience and tolerance etc.. might work better than just plain brutal honesty. But the movie does make Sandler's character situation a lot more ... ah... pleasant. At no time is he homeless, in need of any cash, on drugs, or dangerously violent. In short, a feel good movie with a few dark twists...

This show starts off with that great opening of Sandler riding down NY city in his little scooter. Great shots of that great city. The characters' apartments are all beautifully decorated. The acting is pretty good - even Sandler did a decent job. And the script is well written. Go watch it. Mind you, the film is subtle and subdued - and may be relatively slow to some people, much of the show is about the slow process of seeing and dealing with grief struck people. Perhaps you might have to be in the right frame of mind to watch this sort of thing. Anyhow I liked it and its 2am.

I thought this was one of the best lines of the show:

"I even see the dog, that's how fucked up I still am. I see a man walking his German shepherd and I see our god damn poodle. ... I have no one. At least you two have each other."

Also starring in this show are Liv Tyler, Jada Pinkett Smith, Donald Sutherland, Saffron Burrows, and Paula Newman (who put the B in itchy).