Director and writer Mike Binder’s tale of a 9/11 widow is simply a stunning piece of dramatic cinema. Adam Sandler produces what amounts to his finest work, which should silence any and all of his critics. Aided by Don Cheadle, Reign Over Me is an intensely powerful drama that never lets up in the second half.
Cheadle and Sandler play former college roommates. After a chance meeting on the streets of New York, it’s discovered that Sandler is suffering from a wealth of emotional problems following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in which his wife and three children died. Character development is initially off-putting, maybe even annoying. Sandler’s constant fighting with his emotions make him a difficult character to latch onto. As the details pour in, it becomes clear.
The first hour of Reign Over Me is somewhat lopsided. Unnecessary comedy breaks the dramatic mold, and the film expects the audience to shift from tears to laughs in a matter of seconds. It’s as if Binder is playing with the audience’s head, or trying to make them experience what exactly is going on inside Sandler’s head. It’s as frustrating for the audience as it is for the characters, but it’s the one thing keeping this film from perfection.
Dialogue is well written and natural. Sandler’s eventual emotional breakdown is compelling and shockingly went without any credit from any notable film organization. The performances here are nothing short of remarkable. Reign Over Me hits its audience hard, and the disaster that becomes the life of a 9/11 widower is heart-churning drama at its finest.
Once past some of the initial irritation with the excessive attempts at comedy, Reign Over Me does everything right. This is an emotional roller coaster that sticks with you, and it’s a movie you may never want to see again for all for all of the right reasons. 
Article comments
1 - Gavin
I haven't seen Reign Over Me yet, but is it a better performance than in Punch Drunk Love? I forgave Adam Sandler all his past sins for that film.
2 - Lisa Solod Warren
Just saw Reign Over Me (from Netflix) and it was wonderful; Sandler, who I confess to usually adoring no matter what, was brilliant, as was Cheadle. Great script, terrific acting by all concerned. A lovely movie I somehow missed at the theaters and was anxious to see. And, I agree, Punch Drunk Love was amazing.
3 - Lisa Solod Warren
But, one thing, Matt: Sandler is a widower, not a widow (a widow is a woman:))