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Manic Reviews
I'm not sure why but I have a soft spot for movies like these. Joseph Gordon-Levitt always knocks it out of the park when he plays characters like this.
Absolutely fantastic movie about multiple young people dealing with multiple problems and trying to become more then what they feel they can only be.
Beautiful movie about the hardships of teenagers who have been abused in some way. Great performances from all characters.
Great ensemble acting but the Dogme 95 style hurts the film's impetus.
Dealing with anger issues growing up, this movie hits the spot in so many ways. I liked it, I thought it was pretty authentic.
Could reasonably be called an adolescent version of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Manic" is a tough film to put up with, but an enlightening one at that.
JGL and Deschanel have always been great together. This is a very convincing exploration of teens dealing with mental issues.
Damn, this is one powerful movie. Watching this film was actually a pretty cathartic experience for me. Don't often come across movies with this amount of gritty realism. Great performances all around.
I thought the acting was great but the camera work and editing was awful. This is especially noticeable in the first basketball scene.
"You can't escape yourself" Not entertaining but blunt & honest!
Filled with breakthrough performances and an edge of emotion that never quits, "Manic" brings Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel into the world of independent cinema in a way never seen before. Gordon-Levitt's anger infused Lyle is undeniable, to the point that one cannot take their eyes off of him. With each scene he grows and becomes more entertaining to watch. With Zooey wandering on the sidelines, her best moments do not hit until the third act, but yet she steals every scene she's in. Also impressive is Don Cheadle, who delivers a realistic look at a group leader on the brink just as much as his patients. Much like this year's "Short Term 12", first time director Jordan Melamed's dark psychiatric ward pushes the boundaries in the best of ways and produces some truly shocking dramatic turns of events. With a unique camera style and distinct choices in the pacing of the film, "Manic" sets the bar for independent dramas and proves that Joseph Gordon-Levitt has always been a fantastic actor, delivering great turn after great turn. Having not produced any dramas since "Manic", Melamed's track record will remain one for one and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Between the script, the cast, and the cinematography this film is amazing. My only wonder is how I didn't hear about it until now!
Very good movie, such a great cast. Definitely emotional, and a extremely tense. The movie is so "real life" showing the struggles of troubled teenagers as they coupe with struggles in life as they live in a psychiatric ward.
Strong 3 and a half. I would normally be opposed to low fi shaky cam, but watching it on the small screen, I felt like it worked. The acting was well done, it was not so authentic as to be unwatchable, but had a trace of reality to leave me feeling like I was watching actual people and not actors in a performance. Properly depressing story, loved the absence of any feel good message, but still was not hopeless.
Once you get past the shaky camera, this movie shows off strong performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Don Cheadle, and Zooey Deschanel. The only gripe I had was with the plot development. At times the story felt like it wasn't really going anywhere. Even with that gripe this is still a good movie and I wouldn't let that keep you from watching it.
Really raw. and very dynamic. Well made. Well acted. Just a really good drama in my opinion. loved how many things the ending represented.
Chad: I'd rather feel like total shit sometimes, and God the rest of the time, than just like - ok all the time, you know? Fuck mediocrity. "You Can't Escape Yourself" Manic has been a movie a really wanted to check out for sometime now and I'm happy I did. This is the type of movie that you don't see to often. It's pessimism will make you feel all the terrible things in your life. It's blunt, it's honest, and it's not all about the happy ending with this one. I respect the movie, but I must say it won't be for everyone. I didn't love it, and at times it's hard to watch. So much pessimism with no optimism will do that to the audience, but that's not to say that this wasn't made the right way. A story like this doesn't need happiness. Lyle is committed to a juvenile mental ward after brutally beating another kid with a baseball bat. He's supposed to find the reason why he is there. He's supposed to hone his anger, and be able to do productive things with it instead of using it in violent outbursts. He befriends a few of his peers and becomes enemies with one. The film is shot in a handheld, quick shifting way that is effective with this type of movie. I liked the way it was shot. The score was also very good in a subtle type of way. But the main reason why I liked the movie was the performances. Everyone is phenomenal. Don Cheadle as the counselor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Lyle, and Zooey Deschanel as Tracy. The other actors whose names I don't know where great as well. Manic is a film worth watching if you can accept the bluntness and are able to handle the pessimism. It's not a fun movie to watch, it's not "entertaining", but what it is is a well-made, honest movie about a kid who may never get his anger under control. Well worth a look in my opinion.