Post 9/11 Film

Reign over me

Mike Binder wrote and directed this melodrama about two men who meet after a long break in their friendship and struggle to help each other rebuild their lives. Don Cheadle is Alan Johnson, a dentist who feels smothered and unfulfilled by his comfortable life or beautiful wife (Jada Pinkett Smith), when chance brings him across his former college roommate, Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler). Fineman lost his entire family on 9/11 and in the years that have ensued, he has completely isolated himself in a child-like existence. Refusing to acknowledge his past or the tragedy that is too horrible to even think about, Charlie is constantly listening to music, playing video games, watching movies, and banging on his drums. Alan finds himself beginning to enjoy life again in Charlie's child-like presence, but as he realises the extent of the pain that ravages Charlie he starts to attempt to help Charlie face his past and return to the real world. Also woven into the story are the sensitive psychologist Angela Oakhurst (Liv Tyler) and a beautiful but confused woman named Donna Remar (Saffron Burows), who is struggling with her divorce. Binder himself stars in an excellent performance as Bryan Sugarman, a lawyer who was Charlie's friend before 9/11, and who Charlie now refuses to acknowledge or speak with. However, he has devoted himself to protecting Charlie's finances, living situation, and general peace-of mind.

After working with Dr. Oakhurst, Charlie is able to begin to acknowledge the deaths of his wife and three daughters. However, the trauma of this memory nearly drives him to suicide, and after a brief stay at a mental hospital, his parents-in-law attempt to commit him permanently. Donald Sutherland and B.J. Novak appear for a courtroom scene, after which Charlie is allowed to be free and to attempt to continue slowly building a new life, with the aid of his friends and loved ones. Alan finds new strength and meaning for his life after helping Charlie, and is able to renew his relationship with his own wife and daughters. Charlie Fineman himself, is an element that makes this film post 9/11. The aftermath of this traumatic event is shown within his depression and everyday life. ''Rather than focusing on the terrorism or the political fallout from those events, Reign Over Me instead is an affecting exercise in dealing with loss, grief and that search for closure''