MovieChat Forums > Reign Over Me (2007) Discussion > Sandler character's source of income?

Sandler character's source of income?

posted 16 years ago by Violent Cop
8 replies | jump to latest

Maybe I missed it, but how can a jobless guy with mental issues afford to stay in a nice NYC apartment?

"I farted and it relieved my lower stomach pain momentarily."

[–] tracietrim 16 years ago

He got a settlement (from the airline? not sure) for his family's death as well as insurance money.

[–] pondhawkdragonfly 16 years ago

For the surviving immediate family members of 9/11, there was a sizeable settlement from the airline companies (American and United). Also, it is mentioned in the film that he was basically living off the government settlement (that was also awarded to surviving immediate family members of 9/11) as well as the life insurance money.

"Hysteria is only possible with an audience."

[–] adamg931 16 years ago

Aside from other posters, Sandler (pre-9/11) was a successful dentist living in a dream apt in Manhattan. He must have a large savings stashed somewhere, on top of what he got from the U.S. Gov't / 9/11 Settlement. Financially, he is set for life, ironically, his soul & personal life were falling apart.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DeltaHomicide 12 years ago

i mean what about the bandmates? how did he get in that band if he had no friends and couldnt deal with people?

What I got from that scene is that he was a backup drummer for the club, for when a band's regular drummer doesn't make a gig. Hence the bouncer being familiar with him enough to call him a retard, telling him to "Hurry up and get in there" or whatever he said.

Also, the song the band played didn't match his character's taste in music.

Is there such a thing as backup musicians who freelance for club gigs? I've heard that drummers in particular are unreliable and are most likely to cancel on shows.

Dear Ndugu, how are you? I am fine.

[–] Prelude_in_C_maj 12 years ago

There is such as thing as musicians who will step in freelance for gigs, but it's not usually the club that gets involved, it will be the band members themselves who will call friends to come and fill in.

I haven't heard that drummers are unreliable any worse than other members -- all musicians in bands can be flaky one day, reliable the next!

Actually, drummers have a dual reputation. They can either be wild men (Keith Moon) or solid as a rock.

The nature of the part drums themselves play in a rock band is that a drummer holds down the entire music of the other players, he provides the very backbeat to which everyone keeps time, so very often you find that their personal nature is one of being solid and reliable too.

These are just generalisations, of course.

But yeah, if a member can't make it, usually the other members call on someone else they know, who knows their music.

I would imagine that perhaps Sandler's character volunteered himself one night while drinking there, proved useful, and that they can call on him occasionally even though maybe he's not really friends with them on a hanging out basis.

And if they play regularly at this particular club, that's how the club staff know him well enough too.

[–] DeltaHomicide 12 years ago

Once I thought about my question a little more, the more illogical it became. A backup drummer couldn't realistically learn a band's songs if a member dropped out at the last minute. Not as an "on call drummer" anyway, as I surmised Charlie to be.

I would imagine that perhaps Sandler's character volunteered himself one night while drinking there, proved useful, and that they can call on him occasionally even though maybe he's not really friends with them on a hanging out basis.

And if they play regularly at this particular club, that's how the club staff know him well enough too.

I agree. Now that is a well-thought out and articulate guess.

Dear Ndugu, how are you? I am fine.

[–] Prelude_in_C_maj 12 years ago

I used to be a musician and all my friends were musicians who played club gigs. At one time a boyfriend of mine was a drummer who actually did more deputizing (or "depping" -- filling in for missing drummers) than playing for one band alone. He could fill in for anyone and frequently did so exactly in the scenario this film portrays.

It's not that hard to learn people's songs in order to stand in for a missing member, particularly for a drummer where there are no chords to learn, just the beat to play.