Reign Over Me

You know how I know we're Gay?.... we're two grown men walking side by side on an empty street and looking at each other funny...

How do we deal with loss? Some go through the whole multi-step process: anger, resentment, bargaining, self-pity, acceptance... or whatever the heck ELSE that goes along with it (there are so many steps being added that I'm not sure HOW high the ladder is these days). Now there are SOME people that just don't handle loss all too well. There are those, when faced with loss, teeter on the edge of sanity and can't help but gaze out into the madness beyond. For these individuals who face a loss so great, redemption may be a little hard... and complicated to obtain.

why am I smiling?!? methinks my goofy hair has something to do with it...

Take Charlie Fineman in the movie Reign Over Me... Charlie Fineman (portrayed by a very "Bob Dylan-esque" Adam Sandler) lost his wife and children during the 911 terror attack. Charlie's tragic loss sends him spiralling into a state of grief and despair... which in turn causes him to live in a pale reflection of the almost perfect life he once had with his family. The story gets rolling as a former college roommate, Alan Johnson (played by the always entertaining Don Cheadle) spots Charlie on the street and having heard about Charlie's loss, sets out to re-kindle the friendship between them. This chance encounter did not turn out well for Alan when he discovers that Charlie has been reduced into a gibbering (yep... "Gibbering" IS a word... in MY dictionary at least... HA!), scooter-riding, anti-social, ipod-freak... he makes it his mission to help lift his friend out of the pit of gloom that Charlie has gotten comfortable residing in.

maaan.... I wonder why I cant seem to pick up chicks with my ride?

The cast also includes Jada Pinkett-Smith who plays Cheadle's wife Janeane; Liv Tyler as hottie-shrink Angela Oakhurst and Saffron Burrows as Donna Remar: a gal with issues of the "oral" persuasion who, at different points in the film, develops a fascination with Sandler's character Charlie and Cheadle's Johnson... (Cheadle's Johnson?!?!?! watch the flick... you'll see what I mean... I hope...)

I swear to God Charlie... If you don't take a bath soon, I'm gonna throw you in the Goddamn river!

Reign Over Me is indeed a bold move in attempting to depict what is possibly a very real aftershock of 9-11. Sandler, although not the usual bone-head goof that we are accustomed to seeing on the screen, pulls off a memorable performance. Director Mike Binder manages to paint a deeper image of Adam Sandler as a grieving family man lost in the aftermath of tragedy.