Adam Sandler, Mike Binder and Don Chealde
Adam Sandler, Mike Binder and Don Cheadle on the set of Reign Over Me (2007). Photo: Sony Pictures

In recognition of the five-year anniversary of the events of September 11th, Hollywood unleashed a string of 9/11-themed films in 2006, many of which came and went in what seemed like a flash. From Paul Greengrass’ United 93 to Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center, audiences seemed unwilling—or perhaps not ready—to see this tragic event played out on the silver screen.

This month, comedian-turned-auteur Mike Binder is releasing his own take on the events of that fateful day—or, more appropriately, the after effects. Reign Over Me stars Adam Sandler in a dramatic turn as a man who lost his family—and his life—on September 11th. As he has previously in films from Indian Summer to The Upside of Anger, Binder has built a deeply layered (and moving) character-driven film and coaxed an honest and memorable performance from his leading man.

MM chatted up the busy writer-director to talk about the challenges of tackling such a sensitive topic and what it’s like to make a dramatic movie with one of the world’s best-known comedians.

Jennifer Wood (MM): Last year saw an onslaught of 9/11-themed movies, most of which failed to gain much traction at the box office—namely because they were “reenactments” or retellings of the events of September 11th, i.e. United 93 and World Trade Center. But there’s been a lot of anticipation for Reign Over Me as one of the first sort of “subtle” takes on this national tragedy. When did you begin to conceive of the idea for the film?

Mike Binder (MB): About three years after 9/11. The piece was always going to be one about someone dealing with it from several years later; it was never going to focus on the day or week or even events close to it.

MM: Why was important for you to address this subject in the way you did?

MB: Because the major disasters of our time—like 9/11, Katrina and the tsunami—are under this intense spotlight. With the press, the 24-hour news cycle and the Internet, we all watch so closely. And then days, weeks, months later, the spotlight invariably moves on and I always think it’s important to consider the people—the lives that are still there, after time, in the dark.

MM: As one of Hollywood’s most successful comedic actors, there’s always a lot of interest in any Adam Sandler project that is not a straight comedy. At what point did Adam Sandler get involved with the project?

MB: Early on. Before we went to a studio or financing or anything.

MM: In what ways did having him attached help the production?

MB: Adam has a giant, bright green light attached to his ass. He said yes and I was making plane reservations.

MM: Did it hinder anything?

MB: Only in the sense that he has a lot of buddies like Jon Lovitz, and he would come to the set and eat the craft services.

MM: You have often cited your start as a stand-up comedian for giving you a point of view as a writer. How does having a point of view help you as a director? As an actor?

MB: It’s not really the same thing but it does keep you looking for where the humor is, the little moments, but the skill set is a lot different. I think improv acting and sketch comedy is a much better training ground.

MM: One of the things that always stands out about your work is how layered it is—all of your characters are given an unusual amount of depth, from the smallest character to the biggest. Do you create a lot of this depth yourself, while you’re developing a script, or is this something you work on with your actors?

MB: I let the actors bring it a lot of the time. The script needs to speak to them, but I’ve definitely learned that if you get great actors you’re going to be much, much happier with the final outcome.

MM: You seem to have a keen interest (and insight) in to how people behave and, perhaps more importantly, how people react to each other, situations, etc. It’s a slight distinction in approach, but the results are visible in the perfectly nuanced performances you are able to get from your actors. I’m thinking not only of Adam Sandler in Reign Over Me, but Joan Allen and Kevin Costner in The Upside of Anger, too. Is this something you are conscious of?

MB: Again I think that if over time I’ve gotten good at anything it’s learning to let good actors have a lot of say in the script and then to just set up a way for them to practice their craft without me getting in the way. Don Cheadle doesn’t need direction as much as he needs support to do his thing. You get someone smart like that and there’s no upside in proving to them how smart you are.

MM: Though Reign Over Me is a very specific story, it has a lot of universal themes—which we discover in the parallels between Charlie and Alan’s storylines. What makes this a universal story? What do you hope people will take away from the film?

MB:It’s a story about the healing powers of communication—the restorative value of having someone to talk to.

Reign Over Me opens on Friday, March 23rd, 2007.

>> Things I’ve Learned as a Moviemaker

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