I was very excited to see Reign Over Me when it was out in theaters, mostly because I am (embarassingly) a sucker for anything with Adam Sandler, and I like Don Cheadle too, and I like the Who song. And Liv Tyler was cute if kind of unbelievable as a psychiatrist. It ended up taking me over two weeks to watch--I fell asleep during the first half, and was meh about finishing the rest of it. It was a pretty decent movie that was suitably funny in the funny parts and dramatic in the dramatic parts, but for me, it raised some interesting questions about whether it is too soon to dramatize 9/11. Is it just me, or is it weird to have a movie about a man who is grieving over his fake family who died in a real tragedy? I might not have even been thinking about that if my fiance hadn't pointed out that no children were on any of the planes. (Not only were Sandler's wife and three daughters killed, but their poodle too). I know there are tons of war movies with stories of fictional soldiers but, I don't know. It seemed emotionally manipulative.
The other problematic thing, for me anyway, is that Adam Sandler's whole career is based on the fact that when he yells loud, apropos of nothing, it's funny. So when he freaks out in the movie, it's almost funny instead of having the intended tragic effect.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
27 comments:
I will agree that maybe it is to early for such movies for some. That it was emotionally manipulative, but isn’t that what movies do? The whole family dies even the dog in the plain crash. That took a good amount of suspension of belief. (sort of like watching a Ray Harryhausen movie but less fun)I would give Adam Sandler props he tried to branch out and he did something different. It was a decent movie with a good cast.
my god a film that is emotionaly manipulative.. my god stop the presses call the president, yes wake him up from his nap, damn it this is important, run out into the street and scream it tell everyone you know the people must be warned films don't allways tell the they manipulate your emotions and santa claus he isn't real and neither is the easter bunny. aaaaaaahhhhh sweet jesus.
the truth
SI QUIERES VER UN BUEN BLOG ENTRA EN
charlieeldelosmallos.blogspot.com
I didn't see the film - but remember thinking...ummm too early or just not good. I love both Adam and Don but this didn't interest me.
I love movies though and right now I'm finishing my degree and haven't seen a good movie in ages. So now I can come here and "watch" movies though you! Check out my blog I'd be happy to switch links if you are interestd.
one I won't be seeing then.
the adam sandler yelling part is hilarious. I can see how it would be hard to take him seriously. and also Liv Tyler as a psychiatrist? I mean...come on!
Hmmm, Adam Sandler is Typecast now. I guess it's because he has the kind of personality, or at least, on-screen personality that they know will have people laughing. Poor guy doesn't necessarily give off any other strong personality traits although he's also quite cute looking. :o)
Great song !
And it seams like only yesterday I was sitting at the theater watching Quadrophenia on the big screen.
With Adam Sander and Liv Tyler it's going in my Netflix que right now.
I enjoyed this movie. I didn't think it spent any time trying to paint itself as a 9/11 movie, although you know the aftermath is the setting. What was notable about the story, to me, was that they had this guy who suffered such a great loss, and yet, in the end, he's more worried about his long time college friend... who still has his wife and kids-- basically everything that Sandler's character lost, this guy still has-- and yet he takes them for granted. Sandler's character is, in a sense, better off. I thought it might be a film completely about the recovery of Sandler's character, so I'm happy it was more clever than that.
i cant comment, weither or not its too early for making a movie like this. but watching adam sandler crying and sobbing was real fun, but i must say, the movie made me cry too.
i liked the judge part too, he has the power and is dominating.moreover the movie is funny at times, but a bit slow too.
I had the same thoughts about World Trade Center movie and whatever the one was about the plane. I actually refused to see them and still do. I have large problems with anyone making money off a tragedy not even a decade ago.
Of course then the question pops into my head as to how long one must wait until it's acceptable. I mean, I love Saving Private Ryan and other war movies about WWII and Vietnam. They seem more acceptable to me, but my only reason is longevity I guess.
This movie I didn't feel was really ABOUT 911. You could have replaced 911 in the movie with any other fictional tragedy as the movie was more about the character and his reactions to what happened.
There were children killed on those planes on 9/11. I quote from wiki:
The dead included 8 children: 5 on American 77 ranging in age from 3 to 11, 3 on United 175 ages 2, 3, and 4.[42] The youngest victim was a 2 year-old child on Flight 175
the movie begins well, but got a bit too cheesy in the 2nd half I think... it's a shame, it's a good idea but it just fails to hold up in the end...
Thank you Brian oblivion.Yes, emotionally manipulative. I was trying to determine what it was that was bothering me about the film. It rang as true but also somehow exaggerated. There are a lot of families with lost fathers in Iraq who have suffered their own version of PTSD; however, they don't all become basked cases. But I do have an old college friend, who I haven't seen in almost twenty years, who after losing his fiance, he turned into a raging almost homeless alcoholic. Sometimes I think the problem becomes bigger than the reason for the problem. My friend's alcolholism was worse than his grief and it held his grief hostage.
I agree andrea....it is a sign of how superficial we can get about these tragedies(9/11). Lets make millions on other peoples misery and justify it by saying it is in memory of, or to dedicate it to. I enjoyed sandler in something about mary and generally he is okay but prone to over act. Like Jim Clarey. I enjoy your blog tho' so keep chugging away, best wishes, steve
I don't know, I just finished this movie and loved it. There were funny and dramatic parts but I think Adam Sandler did a great job portraying someone overcome and unable to cope with grief. The whole 9/11 angle did make it more believable, could you imagine their pain? The song was by Pearl Jam, a remake of The Who song.
aw... i love adam sandler. I've watch all of his movies and i'm waiting for this movie to be shown here in the philippines. I've read reviews about the movie and it gives me more reason to watch it.
I recently had this movie on my Netflix list too and I enjoyed it. Yes Adam is typecast now and should stick to comedy. I like what they tried to say with the daughters and the poodle, that this man lost EVERYTHING, I think the researchers knew that no kids were killed in New York on 9/11 but the directors probably wanted to add that for the emotional aspect.
Cool blog I'll check in again soon
i thought this movie was fantastic, a much better "serious" movie for adam sandler than punch drunk love.. as for whether or not it was too soon... six years is plenty long enough to start addressing the subject matter, its getting to the point of ridiculousness where you cant mention september 11 (i dont call it 9-11 cos i always thing of the 9th of november..)in anything!
I agree with you about Adam, I think he is the bees knees.
You can't beat Opera Man with a stick!
Thanks for your astuteness Netflix girl.
Goddess Findings
http://goddessfindingsjewelsforthespirit.blogspot.com
Yeah, I can't say I was too excited to see this movie. Oddly enough I prefer when he's yelling.
I also watched this movie from Netflix. I thought the thing was 4 hours long! I think it was 2 hours, but felt like longer. I think they just drug it out too much. I think if they would have edited it more, it may...MAY have been better. I had to force myself to finish this one. Definitely a thumbs down, and I am a adam sandler fan. Stick to bein' funny dude! You can't help it's what you're good at!
I completely forgot about this movie until I read your post. Never got to see it. Added it to my Netflixs queue immediately. Can't wait!
Like you, I've started the movie and not finised it yet... You've just reminded me that I need to get back to it. When I started it I wasn't in the mood for the emotional drama but it seemed interesting. I'll comment again after I finish it. Thanks for the reminder.
Its ridiculous to be saying that they were trying to make money of a tragedy. The movie told an incredibly story of a life changed after a horrible tragedy. I personally thought Sandler did an amazing job and Liv Tyler was astounding. A+
Um, just a point - even if there weren't any kids on the planes (which there were), its not like only people on the planes died in 9/11. Hello, the fucking towers came down, buildings (which sometimes have apartments in them) were destroyed and over 3000 ppl were killed.
Plus, watching any movie forced suspension of belief as long as it is fiction.
Duh.
Seriously Adam Sandler's Acting was at his best in this movie. It really moved me.
Post a Comment