Reign Over Me

Director: Mike Binder
Year: 2007
Cast: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler
Rating: * (out of ****)

Post 9/11 was a difficult time for the U.S. Everyone was affected in one way or the other. The story of Reign Over Me revolves around one such victim of the attacks. Charlie (Sandler) lost his whole family to one of the air crashes. He doesn't want to remember any of that ever again and so lives a secluded life till one of college mate Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) meets him. Alan understands the situation and comes to a conclusion that Charlie needs help.

The story seems fine but the problem lies in the direction. Neither the characters nor the story generate any interest. In the second half, it becomes unbearable. Being a character based drama the story demands much from it's actors. Charlie played by Adam Sandler is not only hollow and plain but also irritating. If he wants to try serious acting, he will have to dig much deeper. Don Cheadle is fine. Jada Pincket Smith is wasted. We almost never sympathize with Charlie which was essentially a major requirement here. If you want to experience movie depicting the trauma of losing someone, better go for 21 Grams or even a Reservation Road will be much better. So finally what do I think of this movie? A boring dud.