| News Items: |
| Headlines |
| News Briefs |
| Stories |
| Movies |
| Word To Life |
| More News: |
| Vatican |
| Africa |
| Special Sections: |
| 2006 in review |
| Inside the Curia |
| Archives: |
| Vatican II at 40 |
| John Paul II |
| Other Items: |
| Client Area |
| Links |
| Origins |
| Movie Review |
|
Reign Over Me By Harry Forbes Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- "Reign Over Me" (Columbia) is a singularly offbeat, albeit poignantly etched, buddy film about a well-to-do dentist, Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle), who reunites with and then tries to rehabilitate his college roommate, Charlie Fineman (a scruffy Adam Sandler with a Bob Dylan frizz). Charlie was once a dentist himself but is now sadly childlike, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after his wife and children perished Sept. 11, 2001. He's a virtual hermit living in the now-ramshackle apartment he once shared with his family. There, he catatonically plays video games and makes plans to remodel the kitchen, when he's not riding around town on his motorized scooter, his headphones blocking out reality. Alan -- despite a thriving business and beautiful wife, Janeane (Jada Pinkett Smith), and family -- finds himself at a midlife impasse, and sees the reunion with his old chum as a way to reconnect with what has been missing in his life. Still, when they start to hang out together, it seems implausible that Alan would treat the seriously unhinged Charlie with such infuriating normalcy and later be so incredibly forgiving, after Charlie's violent outbursts, which include striking Alan and even doing serious damage to Alan's office. Still, Alan's good turn does eventually help him come to terms with his complacency with his arrogant colleagues at work and his detachment from his long-suffering wife. There's an odd subplot involving Alan's attractive but unhinged patient, Donna (Saffron Burrows), who comes to him for cosmetic work, and then makes a crude sexual play for him. He rightly throws her out, but after she (rather predictably) charges him with sexual harassment, not only does he invite her back to talk it out, but eventually allows her access to Charlie, for whom she develops a romantic yen. Both she and Charlie eventually agree to treatment by Alan's empathetic psychiatrist friend, Angela (Liv Tyler). Writer/director Mike Binder -- whose film "The Upside of Anger" was one of 2005's best and who appears in a small role here -- orchestrates too languid a pace, and the result is not as persuasive, despite obvious good intentions. But Sandler pulls off a difficult part with distinction, Cheadle is likable and the above-average supporting cast -- including Robert Klein and Melinda Dillon as Charlie's in-laws and Donald Sutherland as an understanding judge -- are all good in their brief roles. The script is paradoxically original in concept yet often formulaic, and, as noted, character motivation often strains credulity, though the post-Sept. 11 ambience and Sandler's heart-wrenching character undeniably tug at the emotions. The film contains pervasive rough language and occasional profanity, some forthright sexual discussion and some emotional outbursts. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. - - - Forbes is director of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
| FIND A MOVIE |
|
Looking for a movie review? |