Manic (2001)

I love this movie so much

Strong and Moving!

As Good As It Gets

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

I think that the movie tries to show two things: 1. The way we become as human beings in society is shaped by our infancy. The situations that we were exposed as kids (violence, drugs, abuse, intolerance) mark our adulthood and unless we don't face it and do something about it there's no way we can live without it. 2. The second point is related to the first one. That is because no matter how far you run from your problems they'll run with you because you are the problem that has to be solved. It's a very touching movie that represents many problems through everyone of the people in the institution and how each one of them deal with their own problems. The direction of the movie shots always the face of the characters trying to let the audience see every expression everyone of them makes with every event that occurs in the mental institution.

A film that not everybody knows which maybe is a good thing.I will be honest. I only wanted to watch this movie because it was Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's first movie together prior to (500) Days of Summer. I expect Joseph's bright face smiling all through the film with no care in the world and Zooey's aura just lightening up the whole set with her beautiful blue-ish, green-ish, grey-ish eyes (frankly, despite practically worshiping her, I don't really know her eye color). My God was I wrong.This movie made me scared of Gordon-Levitt. Seeing him in (500) Days of Summer, I thought he was a crazy loony and like every other guy who has watched (500) Days of Summer, saw ourselves in him. But Lyle, the character he plays is not a pleasant one.I've only seen Zooey Deschanel's big movies like Elf, (500) Days of Summer, Yes Man etc. and only seen her characters in a more of a calm type of person. I never seen her in an intense emotion as I did in Manic. I felt sympathetic for her character. Also her appearance was real just as everyone else in the film. I think they didn't have a make department for the film and I think it was intentional.As for Don Cheadle, he is Don Cheadle, what more can I add? The plot is a roller coaster ride of emotions, most of them practically being negative. Its a psycho thriller that will have you shaking with rage.Overall, the movie is real. The camera is in weird angles and made me a little dizzy but that's just the effect. Everyone looked greasy but that's what the intention was. The theme is great, good to anybody especially any young adult who is facing issues in life. The ending has an important symbolism that will have the viewer sorting out his/her life.

Manic tells the story of Lyle Jensen,played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt,who is subject of sudden and violent outbursts. He is committed to the juvenile wing of the Northwood Mental Institution.There he meets several other young kids who suffer from a variety of problems.There is Chad(played by Michael Bacall) who suffers from an acute manic-depressive disorder; the self-mutilating Tracy ( Zoey Deschanel) who was once raped and now has trouble sleeping at night, tough-guy Mike (Henson) who asserts himself through violence bullying everyone around him; and the shy, diminutive Kenny (Lightning) who was sexually abused by a family member.Don Cheadle plays the well intentioned Dr. David Monroe who tries to help this kids trough group therapy sessions where they're suppose to explore their feelings and understand the consequences of their acts. As the movie goes on we learn how the behavior of some of the kids is just a consequence from bad parenting and how some of them are just the product of today's society.Manic is definitely interesting; the entire film was shot by a hand-held digital camera and the director uses a lot of close up's to really demonstrate the emotion of a character at a certain time and it works very well. Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivered a great performance and so did Don Cheadle. I just wish the director/writers had explored the mind of the characters and the human psyche a bit more.That could have made a very interesting and fascinating film.There's definitely a lot of potential here but it could have been took to another completely different level.6.5/10

This movie is shot like a documentary, which adds to the raw edges of this film. If you are looking a feel good movie with all the answers, this film is not for you. If you are looking for a tiny glimpse of what it is like to have a mental illness and how difficult it is for professionals to help those, then sit back and watch. I was drawn into the characters, both the staff and the patience. The film ensured we never forgot that Psychologists and therapists are human as are the people with the illnesses. Although this film centered on teenagers with problems, the situations can apply to any age range. This is a must see film for any one interested in mental illness issues or those involved with dealing with mental illness. It is a shame this film did not get the positive press it deserves.