DVD shorts
Sandler surprises in tragio-comic twister
At first glance, Reign Over Me may not look like your kind of movie. Most of us associate Adam Sandler with teeny-bopper mayhem. But Reign is anything but what you’d expect from Sandler.
While it starts slowly, it soon takes the shape of a brilliant, cynical and quirky look at how personal tragedy wreaks havoc on the human psyche.
Charlie Fineman (he’s anything but fine) has been driven mad by the events of 9/11. His old dental college buddy, Alan Johnson, played by Don Cheadle, seemingly has it all: a loving family and thriving dental practice in Manhattan.
One day, he sees Charlie careening down a busy street on an electric stationary scooter. He follows him and attempts to renew their relationship. He ’s heard of Charlie’s loss and now begins living out his own desire for freedom vicariously through Charlie. After all, who wants to spend their evenings doing puzzles with the wife, even if she is pretty and intelligent?
Eventually, Dr. Johnson finds help for his kooky friend in the person of a young female psychiatrist (Liv Tyler) who works in his building.
Donald Sutherland puts in a cameo appearance as Judge Raines, who presides over Charlie ’s competency hearing, where his fate will be decided. This movie gem will make you laugh — and cry.
Filled with surprises and deep emotional twists, it’s not to be missed.
— Barbara Moser
Young Indy explores the past
Trying to get the grandkids into history? The DVD release of George Lucas’ 1990s TV series The Adventures of the Young Indiana Jones might do the trick.
The movie-length episodes follow Indy as he travels the world with his parents, meeting famous historical figures like Picasso and Churchill. Set in exotic countries and shot mostly on location, the photography is outstanding, and the accuracy of historical detail raises the bar for other shows set in the past. The fare is family friendly but, with episodes dealing with issues like slavery and war, there ’s enough substance there for adults too.
The DVD set also includes bonus documentaries that elaborate on the historical figures and settings encountered by Indy while globetrotting, balancing the whimsical fiction of the episodes with some hard facts.
Young Indy is a good bet for would-be archeologists, historians and explorers, young or old.
— Emily Wilkinson
