9/11 plot device - Reign Over Me (2007) Discussion

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] zmystico 12 years ago

Actually, I dislike the 9/11 disaster plot device because it insinuates that only losing your family that way is how it would affect you. Wife & kids killed in car crash or plane crash...they are still gone.

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[–] viper36027 12 years ago

I agree. It exploits the 9/11 plot to sell to a higher crowd yet achieve the same effect that a different event would have achieved. And I am not diminishing my appreciation for this film, I love the performances and the pacing of it.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] nrangerseven 10 years ago

Y'all are really sick thinking the storyline is exploiting anything. A different non-identifying event would NOT achieve anything.

This film shows how you can't force others to grieve the same way as you. Do you really think that can be told as effectively with a random car crash affecting only one family? There is no better way to demonstrate the process. The entire city of New York (among thousands of others) was still grieving. People were dealing with the exact same feelings every day - judging friends, family and co-workers for how they dealt with the trauma - and you people want to whine about exploitation. They went to great lengths to not say 9/11. Not everyone has a devastating car crash in their lives to identify with. The majority of people DO have some sort of connection to 9/11. We commemorate it every year. Talking about it helps - or did you not notice that plot point?

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[–] quinnum 12 years ago

Not to denigrate the other posts here, but it's a little shallow to think it's "just" the 9/11 plot device.

Part of Charlie's "guilt" is that he told his daughters "no" on DisneyLand, he was half-assed on taking care of the dog while they were away, he never got around to remodeling the kitchen, and the clincher, his last words to his wife being curt, abrupt and dismissive. As he put it, "That's the last thing I said to her..."

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[–] emil_dalessio 11 years ago

As a lifelong New Yorker the fact that Charlie's family is killed on 9/11 is key to the movie. If his family died in any plane crash or car accident Charlie could escape it inside a " normal life". However in NYC to this day and especially right after 9/11 there are/were constant reminders. Just walk past any firehouse in the city. So Charlie's escape / mental decline is the only way to forget and ease the pain. Just my opinion.

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[–] FaithNoBungle 11 years ago

Well said. A lot of people hate on the 9/11 plot device in films.

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[–] eifler121 11 years ago

I think that it's traumatizing on multiple levels. Everybody knows about the way they died, it would be evident everywhere. It's so public and exposed. Knowing they died in violence and evil. It wasn't an accident, it was mass murder, or an act of war they had no part in.

So no, I think that it would not be the same if it was a car accident. If it were a mall shooting, or the Madrid Bombing, or smoething of an equally violent and public nature, it would be the same.

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[–] FaithNoBungle 11 years ago

It wouldn't change how I feel about the film at all. Love this movie. The end always gets to me. I didn't think it was "praised". I thought most hated the fact it had a 9/11 plot device, like people do for all films with 9/11 plot devices.

I BELIEVE it would have been more praised if it DIDN'T have anything to do with 9/11.

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[–] joeyjmpoff 10 years ago

Well 9/11 is a very historic event that millions of people watched unfold. Its hard not to deny the importance in the plot. The summary of the film probably catches the eye and gets people interest

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[–] DarthBotto 9 years ago

The loss of a family is traumatic in and of itself, but the fact that they were murdered in an incredibly violent and spectacular way makes it even harder.

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