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.
59 Reviews
Documentary style, cinema verité, terrific acting
pebsdad19 June 2001
Troubled youth with anger and rage issues are filmed documentary-style in a youth lockup ward. The plot is simple...counseling sessions, fighting, making friends, playing basketball. The dynamics of the plot are not simple, though. The acting is uniformly superb and, if there hadn't been easily recognizable actors in the film (Joseph Gordon-Levitt from "3rd Rock from the Sun" and Don Cheadle), you might think it was a real documentary.
The film, however, was filmed in cinema-verité by a cameraperson with a bad case of the jitters. The result is a constantly unfocused and moving camera like you've never experienced before. I saw this screening at the Seattle Int. Film Festival and aprox. 25% of the audience walked out in the first 30 minutes. If you can handle this type of film-making, then this thoughtful film is worth checking out, especially for the very realistic performances.
The film, however, was filmed in cinema-verité by a cameraperson with a bad case of the jitters. The result is a constantly unfocused and moving camera like you've never experienced before. I saw this screening at the Seattle Int. Film Festival and aprox. 25% of the audience walked out in the first 30 minutes. If you can handle this type of film-making, then this thoughtful film is worth checking out, especially for the very realistic performances.
The mental institution
jotix1006 May 2006
Warning: Spoilers
The group of teen agers that are staying in an institution for troubled youths, come from all kinds of backgrounds and problems. All of them are the byproducts of a society in which parents have failed these kids in one way or another. Each one of the kids in the story could have never landed in this private mental facility with the kind of positive nurturing that responsible parents give their children.
It is indeed a motley crew we meet. When we first see Lyle, he is seen in an incident where he beats another teen with a bat and almost kills him. Tracy has been raped and screams at night. Kenny, the sensitive boy, sharing a room with Lyle, has been molested by his step-father. Michael, the rap fan, thinks and acts as though he was black. Chad, who soon will be leaving the place is a boy that should not be released to the outside world.
We get to hear all their stories as the well intentioned Dr. Monroe guide them thorough sessions of group therapies. They all bring their own baggage to the encounters and don't open up in the way the therapist would like them to, yet, it's clear these sessions have a profound effect on all of them.
The film, which was shown on cable recently, deserves an audience as its director, Jordan Melamed shows an affinity for the material written for the movie by Michael Bacall, who also plays Chad, and Blayne Weaver. The director and the cinematographer, Nick Hay, captured nuanced performances by everyone in the cast. The film utilizes the close up technique to emphasize all the emotions running at any given moment among the inmates.
Don Cheadle, a magnificent actor, plays Dr. Monroe with conviction. Mr. Cheadle deserves credit for always making the best of all his characters he has played, as he brings a dignity and vulnerability to his roles. Joseph Gordon Levitt is also another reason for watching the film. His Lyle is a study in contrasts. Zooey Deschanel makes a good impression with her Tracy. Michael Bacall is intense as Chad. Elden Henson, always a good addition to any films makes Michael, a bully, work. Cody Lightning is also good as the taciturn Kenny.
This is a film posing some serious issues and makes the viewer think. It also shows a good director at work, Jordan Melamed, who will go to bigger and better things, no doubt.
It is indeed a motley crew we meet. When we first see Lyle, he is seen in an incident where he beats another teen with a bat and almost kills him. Tracy has been raped and screams at night. Kenny, the sensitive boy, sharing a room with Lyle, has been molested by his step-father. Michael, the rap fan, thinks and acts as though he was black. Chad, who soon will be leaving the place is a boy that should not be released to the outside world.
We get to hear all their stories as the well intentioned Dr. Monroe guide them thorough sessions of group therapies. They all bring their own baggage to the encounters and don't open up in the way the therapist would like them to, yet, it's clear these sessions have a profound effect on all of them.
The film, which was shown on cable recently, deserves an audience as its director, Jordan Melamed shows an affinity for the material written for the movie by Michael Bacall, who also plays Chad, and Blayne Weaver. The director and the cinematographer, Nick Hay, captured nuanced performances by everyone in the cast. The film utilizes the close up technique to emphasize all the emotions running at any given moment among the inmates.
Don Cheadle, a magnificent actor, plays Dr. Monroe with conviction. Mr. Cheadle deserves credit for always making the best of all his characters he has played, as he brings a dignity and vulnerability to his roles. Joseph Gordon Levitt is also another reason for watching the film. His Lyle is a study in contrasts. Zooey Deschanel makes a good impression with her Tracy. Michael Bacall is intense as Chad. Elden Henson, always a good addition to any films makes Michael, a bully, work. Cody Lightning is also good as the taciturn Kenny.
This is a film posing some serious issues and makes the viewer think. It also shows a good director at work, Jordan Melamed, who will go to bigger and better things, no doubt.
9
GRECOFILM8 January 2004
Following a fight which left his classmate with 50 stitches to the head, Lyle (Levitt) finds himself admitted to a juvenile ward of a private psychiatric facility.
The new admission's fellow patients are being treated for a variety of conditions: Chad (played by co-screenwriter Michael Bacall) suffers from an acute manic-depressive disorder; the self-mutilating Tracy (Deschanel) wakes up screaming in the night; tough-guy Mike (Henson) asserts himself through violence; and the shy, diminutive Kenny (Lightning) has been sexually abused by a family member.
The clinic's psychologist Dr Monroe (Cheadle) attempts to get these troubled individuals to explore their feelings and to take responsibility for their actions in group therapy sessions.
Is it ever going to be possible for them to find real meaning in their chaotic existences?
Shot with a powerful immediacy on handheld digital video, the debut feature of director Jordan Melamed is a US indie which borrows from the spirit of the best Dogme films.
There's little in the way of a conventional story here - just a powerful concentration on character and atmosphere.
Set almost entirely within the confines of a psychiatric ward (where shoelaces are removed in case of attempted suicides), the film steers clear of the phony redemption offered by the likes of "Girl, Interrupted" and "Good Will Hunting".
Partly through some astute editing, Melamed conveys the strange rhythms of institutional life for these adolescents: the sense of boredom and frustration is mixed with frenetic bursts of energy, whether on the basketball court or in a slamdance trashing of the recreational room.
The dialogue is often biting - "Do you think being black is talking **** and wearing baggy clothes?" Monroe asks white B-Boy Mike.
The performances are also impressively convincing, while the ambiguous ending is in keeping with the rest of this edgy, sincere drama.
The new admission's fellow patients are being treated for a variety of conditions: Chad (played by co-screenwriter Michael Bacall) suffers from an acute manic-depressive disorder; the self-mutilating Tracy (Deschanel) wakes up screaming in the night; tough-guy Mike (Henson) asserts himself through violence; and the shy, diminutive Kenny (Lightning) has been sexually abused by a family member.
The clinic's psychologist Dr Monroe (Cheadle) attempts to get these troubled individuals to explore their feelings and to take responsibility for their actions in group therapy sessions.
Is it ever going to be possible for them to find real meaning in their chaotic existences?
Shot with a powerful immediacy on handheld digital video, the debut feature of director Jordan Melamed is a US indie which borrows from the spirit of the best Dogme films.
There's little in the way of a conventional story here - just a powerful concentration on character and atmosphere.
Set almost entirely within the confines of a psychiatric ward (where shoelaces are removed in case of attempted suicides), the film steers clear of the phony redemption offered by the likes of "Girl, Interrupted" and "Good Will Hunting".
Partly through some astute editing, Melamed conveys the strange rhythms of institutional life for these adolescents: the sense of boredom and frustration is mixed with frenetic bursts of energy, whether on the basketball court or in a slamdance trashing of the recreational room.
The dialogue is often biting - "Do you think being black is talking **** and wearing baggy clothes?" Monroe asks white B-Boy Mike.
The performances are also impressively convincing, while the ambiguous ending is in keeping with the rest of this edgy, sincere drama.
Manic Depression
Teebs210 March 2006
"Manic" follows teenager Lyle (Joseph Gorden-Levitt) as he is sent into therapy to work on his serious anger management problem, having nearly killed a boy at his school with a baseball bat. The film follows his relationships within the small group, comprising of teenagers suffering mostly from depression or similar anger issues.
Similar to "thirteen" released a few years after this film, "Manic" was co-written by one of the teenagers (Michael Bacall) in the film (although presumably not from his own direct experiences) and this does give the script an authentic ring in terms of dialogue, subjects of discussion and a feel for contemporary American adolescence. Several genuine patients of similar therapy institutions play small roles here and the moments when they tell, presumably true stories, do lend an authentic feel. Unfortunately, the film never quite takes off dramatically. It's too stuck in 'realism' to turn into an outright escape narrative such as "One Flew..." or "Girl, interrupted".
Lyle makes plans to escape and dreams of travelling to Europe but it never forms a central plot to the film. Similarly a tentative romance with a girl in the group, Tracey (the marvellous Zooey Deschanel) is downplayed. There are strong sub-plots, such as an ongoing feud with gangster wannabee Michael (a very good Elden Henson) but the film doesn't address the fundamental issues in these kids lives preferring to just address the direct group dymanics rather than digging deeper. In fact the most distressing story is of Kenny, Lyle's quiet room-mate, who it turns out was abused by his apparently normal, caring father. Holding the film together is a fantastic Don Cheadle, as Dr Monroe, the compassionate yet strict group leader. Cheadle manages to give a layered performance that shows an obvious connection to the kids in his care, professional skill at helping them, a mild touch of cynicism as to the extent people really can change and hints of battling problems of his own.
It's an understandable decision not to over-dramatise events but by playing straight the film risks drifting into banality. The decision not to investigate in more depth the way the US, and Western world, relies on medication to control such teenagers is also a missed opportunity.
The intrusive, mostly close-up DV filming does give that documentary feel to some extent, otherwise it's a little excessively jittery and some may find it distracting from the story and characters, rather than adding an emotional subjectivity.
I would give this film a lower score but the performances by the majority of the cast are first class and there are some very emotional moments and scenarios. Gordon Levitt seems to be favouring these kind of messed up teenager roles and his performance is convincing. Zooey Descchanel yet again proves herself the best young actress around in a demanding role and as mentioned, Don Cheadle near steals the film and provides a much needed strong central foundation in an otherwise dramatically and thematically uncertain script.
Similar to "thirteen" released a few years after this film, "Manic" was co-written by one of the teenagers (Michael Bacall) in the film (although presumably not from his own direct experiences) and this does give the script an authentic ring in terms of dialogue, subjects of discussion and a feel for contemporary American adolescence. Several genuine patients of similar therapy institutions play small roles here and the moments when they tell, presumably true stories, do lend an authentic feel. Unfortunately, the film never quite takes off dramatically. It's too stuck in 'realism' to turn into an outright escape narrative such as "One Flew..." or "Girl, interrupted".
Lyle makes plans to escape and dreams of travelling to Europe but it never forms a central plot to the film. Similarly a tentative romance with a girl in the group, Tracey (the marvellous Zooey Deschanel) is downplayed. There are strong sub-plots, such as an ongoing feud with gangster wannabee Michael (a very good Elden Henson) but the film doesn't address the fundamental issues in these kids lives preferring to just address the direct group dymanics rather than digging deeper. In fact the most distressing story is of Kenny, Lyle's quiet room-mate, who it turns out was abused by his apparently normal, caring father. Holding the film together is a fantastic Don Cheadle, as Dr Monroe, the compassionate yet strict group leader. Cheadle manages to give a layered performance that shows an obvious connection to the kids in his care, professional skill at helping them, a mild touch of cynicism as to the extent people really can change and hints of battling problems of his own.
It's an understandable decision not to over-dramatise events but by playing straight the film risks drifting into banality. The decision not to investigate in more depth the way the US, and Western world, relies on medication to control such teenagers is also a missed opportunity.
The intrusive, mostly close-up DV filming does give that documentary feel to some extent, otherwise it's a little excessively jittery and some may find it distracting from the story and characters, rather than adding an emotional subjectivity.
I would give this film a lower score but the performances by the majority of the cast are first class and there are some very emotional moments and scenarios. Gordon Levitt seems to be favouring these kind of messed up teenager roles and his performance is convincing. Zooey Descchanel yet again proves herself the best young actress around in a demanding role and as mentioned, Don Cheadle near steals the film and provides a much needed strong central foundation in an otherwise dramatically and thematically uncertain script.
An open examination of teenagers with destructive mental illness.
vanrosss18 April 2002
An open examination of teenagers with destructive mental illness, societies need to create and control them, and their own quest for control in their lives. The pace is consistent, and the direction is strong and steady as the audience is made to feel like they are directly observing the story unfold. Teenagers who are real patients for the same kind of mental illness helped out in the coaching of the actors which made the improvised work that much more stark. Digital film making heightens the sense of reality since it is used in a documentary style within a good set.
The casting was excellent as each member of the ensemble portrayed their character with depth and individual motivation, and they all interacted believably.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Lyle Jensen sets himself apart from all his previous roles. His portrayal of a disconnected youth full of vague rage and a low threshold for violence gave him many subtle challenges to which he arose. His subconscious search for meaning is the pavement upon which our journey is taken. Don Cheadle is one of the best yet most under appreciated actors there are. His conflicted Dr. Monroe keeps the balance as he tries to manipulate these kids to self control as he precariously avoids the demons of his own past. Michael Bacall plays Lyle's institutional friend Chad. He is great as the basically nice guy with the realistically subtle bipolar disorder who has his own conflicted agenda. Zooey Deschanel's Tracy is a depressed teen with crushingly low self esteem. Her beauty and kindness are in contrast to the others as we struggle to understand her cause for being committed. Sara Rivas maintains balance well as she plays the wannabe hardass Sara who is recovering from severe drug addiction. Sara is destructive to herself, but she does act somewhat as the nurturer for the other patients, especially the meek Tracy. Cody Lightning is compelling as the quiet and messed up Kenny who is also the youngest patient in the wing because he is so messed up. Elden Henson is successful in making the audience completely hate his character Mike. He has problems similar to Lyle plus he behaves ghetto to compensate for his self identity. The Lyle versus Mike conflict is the driving point of the story because they can't escape that what they hate about each other is that within the other they see themselves.
This film describes mental illness for youths in a raw upfront manner that Hollywood could never handle, yet it is to be seen.
The casting was excellent as each member of the ensemble portrayed their character with depth and individual motivation, and they all interacted believably.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Lyle Jensen sets himself apart from all his previous roles. His portrayal of a disconnected youth full of vague rage and a low threshold for violence gave him many subtle challenges to which he arose. His subconscious search for meaning is the pavement upon which our journey is taken. Don Cheadle is one of the best yet most under appreciated actors there are. His conflicted Dr. Monroe keeps the balance as he tries to manipulate these kids to self control as he precariously avoids the demons of his own past. Michael Bacall plays Lyle's institutional friend Chad. He is great as the basically nice guy with the realistically subtle bipolar disorder who has his own conflicted agenda. Zooey Deschanel's Tracy is a depressed teen with crushingly low self esteem. Her beauty and kindness are in contrast to the others as we struggle to understand her cause for being committed. Sara Rivas maintains balance well as she plays the wannabe hardass Sara who is recovering from severe drug addiction. Sara is destructive to herself, but she does act somewhat as the nurturer for the other patients, especially the meek Tracy. Cody Lightning is compelling as the quiet and messed up Kenny who is also the youngest patient in the wing because he is so messed up. Elden Henson is successful in making the audience completely hate his character Mike. He has problems similar to Lyle plus he behaves ghetto to compensate for his self identity. The Lyle versus Mike conflict is the driving point of the story because they can't escape that what they hate about each other is that within the other they see themselves.
This film describes mental illness for youths in a raw upfront manner that Hollywood could never handle, yet it is to be seen.
Very impressive
elderlemon2003-116 September 2006
While the jerky camera is a little off-putting at the beginning, it does add realism to the film, which considering the subject matter, suits it perfectly.
The script is sharp as a tack, and the performances stellar, particularly from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, and the always reliable Don Cheadle.
At turns brutal and heartbreaking, the film deserves kudos for its honest and unflinching portrayal of rage, the uncertainty of youth, cause and effect (from our actions and the actions of those around us), and the suffering of disturbed teens.
Excellent movie. Highly recommended.
The script is sharp as a tack, and the performances stellar, particularly from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, and the always reliable Don Cheadle.
At turns brutal and heartbreaking, the film deserves kudos for its honest and unflinching portrayal of rage, the uncertainty of youth, cause and effect (from our actions and the actions of those around us), and the suffering of disturbed teens.
Excellent movie. Highly recommended.
As Well-Constructed As A Poem
thomasdosborneii10 May 2003
There wasn't a soul working on this film who did not produce brilliant, genuinely communicative work that demonstrates exactly what the art of filmmaking is at its very best. And it was only the very clear and obvious display of such tight creative genius at work that kept reminding me that this was actually a film instead of real life recorded at an institution by an inmate with an ever-intrusive video camera. In my life I have known youths suffering from the uncontrollable volatility of a rage as extreme as shown in the film, and just as justifiable as their defensive reaction to the powerful external forces that have waged against them their whole lives. When any biological creature, animal or human, is backed helpless and wounded into a corner, what solution is there other than to bare one's fangs and claws and fight to the death? What can really be done to help people like that get out of their trap, to reverse their ever-spinning deeper into themselves until they have irretrievably locked themselves into madness? From this film I can see why the same word, madness, is used to describe both anger and mental illness.
Lyle, the lead character vividly realized by actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, was certainly mad, although his face ingeniously was always comported into an expression of a questioning sadness and resignation, like he was rather surprised that life had turned out to be this way. And he was violent, although for those who are squeamish, his violence was never really clearly shown face-on, but was revealed in an almost subliminal way via quick frames that suggested a fiery atmosphere of angry voices, relentless punches, and splatters of blood--this is the world he has lived in externally and now it demonizes his inner world. And the actor, even when at rest, continued to maintain the demeanor of a coiled spring so tightly wound that it was a wonder his body didn't implosively burst or rip itself apart like a case of tetanus. And yet he was entirely sympathetic, and the groundwork for that sympathy was laid the very first moment when we met him, getting his wounds dressed in a medical clinic. The camera moved behind him and casually revealed him sitting there in a hospital gown that had fallen open in the rear, revealing a vulnerable, skinny back its spinal cord nodules, a smooth back that perhaps his mother when he was a baby or a current lover ought to have soothingly and reassuringly rubbed, if only there had ever been someone who had actually loved him.
I wondered at an institution that so casually mixed up different patients with such diverse problems--the criminally violent with those who cut only themselves, or the changeably manic with those who have an almost invisible self-esteem, or, the relentlessly demeaning with those who are deeply suffering to the point of catatonia or austism. And yet it soon became clear that beyond the realistic and compassionate guidance of a truly dedicated counselor (played to standing-ovation intensity by Don Cheadle), the only hope for them was to be stimulated into opening their hearts to each other and in this way discovering meaning beyond their personal demons.
The patients in the adult ward separated from the youths by a chain-link fence seemed to be irretrievably lost; the freedom of the crows that soon became a symbol of flight out their tight corners for the youths, became only a mocking crowing absorbed by one of the adults. Madness in this institution metaphorically became a clear, legible story, such as the beautiful girl who hid herself behind black lipstick and heavy black eye-liner, or the boy who relentlessly tried to build a house of cards, and yet never seemed to manage to set up the first three.
Without a doubt one of the best scenes was a spontaneous mosh pit that erupted around the playing of a cassette of the Deftones. As I am at least one whole generation older than kids who would smash around in a mosh pit, it might be easy for me to be repelled by this kind of music and scene, and instead I am fascinated and can see how perfectly expressive and either dangerously visceral or benevolently cathartic such music really is and this scene in the film, which to me was like a ballet, was enlightening on many levels. Ultimately, it is clear that the suffering of these youths in the mental institution is metaphorical of the suffering that we all experience in real life and demands a relief of some kind--rage against the machine, indeed.
All in all, Manic is a movie for those who truly care about the craft of film, care about collaborative, creative skill that can come from a work of the heart, care about humanity's relief from suffering, and care about compassionate answers for otherwise seemingly unsolvable problems. For all these reasons, I highly recommend this film.
Lyle, the lead character vividly realized by actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, was certainly mad, although his face ingeniously was always comported into an expression of a questioning sadness and resignation, like he was rather surprised that life had turned out to be this way. And he was violent, although for those who are squeamish, his violence was never really clearly shown face-on, but was revealed in an almost subliminal way via quick frames that suggested a fiery atmosphere of angry voices, relentless punches, and splatters of blood--this is the world he has lived in externally and now it demonizes his inner world. And the actor, even when at rest, continued to maintain the demeanor of a coiled spring so tightly wound that it was a wonder his body didn't implosively burst or rip itself apart like a case of tetanus. And yet he was entirely sympathetic, and the groundwork for that sympathy was laid the very first moment when we met him, getting his wounds dressed in a medical clinic. The camera moved behind him and casually revealed him sitting there in a hospital gown that had fallen open in the rear, revealing a vulnerable, skinny back its spinal cord nodules, a smooth back that perhaps his mother when he was a baby or a current lover ought to have soothingly and reassuringly rubbed, if only there had ever been someone who had actually loved him.
I wondered at an institution that so casually mixed up different patients with such diverse problems--the criminally violent with those who cut only themselves, or the changeably manic with those who have an almost invisible self-esteem, or, the relentlessly demeaning with those who are deeply suffering to the point of catatonia or austism. And yet it soon became clear that beyond the realistic and compassionate guidance of a truly dedicated counselor (played to standing-ovation intensity by Don Cheadle), the only hope for them was to be stimulated into opening their hearts to each other and in this way discovering meaning beyond their personal demons.
The patients in the adult ward separated from the youths by a chain-link fence seemed to be irretrievably lost; the freedom of the crows that soon became a symbol of flight out their tight corners for the youths, became only a mocking crowing absorbed by one of the adults. Madness in this institution metaphorically became a clear, legible story, such as the beautiful girl who hid herself behind black lipstick and heavy black eye-liner, or the boy who relentlessly tried to build a house of cards, and yet never seemed to manage to set up the first three.
Without a doubt one of the best scenes was a spontaneous mosh pit that erupted around the playing of a cassette of the Deftones. As I am at least one whole generation older than kids who would smash around in a mosh pit, it might be easy for me to be repelled by this kind of music and scene, and instead I am fascinated and can see how perfectly expressive and either dangerously visceral or benevolently cathartic such music really is and this scene in the film, which to me was like a ballet, was enlightening on many levels. Ultimately, it is clear that the suffering of these youths in the mental institution is metaphorical of the suffering that we all experience in real life and demands a relief of some kind--rage against the machine, indeed.
All in all, Manic is a movie for those who truly care about the craft of film, care about collaborative, creative skill that can come from a work of the heart, care about humanity's relief from suffering, and care about compassionate answers for otherwise seemingly unsolvable problems. For all these reasons, I highly recommend this film.
Well acted and involving but overall ineffectual
CuriosityKilledShawn30 July 2006
Problem teens are everywhere and make everyone's life hell, we know this. I would love to send all of these miserable bastards away to some fortified compound where they can never return from.
But you have to think about a few things. Why are problem teens the way they are? Most of the time it can be attributed to bad upbringing, which is really the fault of irresponsible or evil adults. So I guess that some people are just screwed from day one. Either way, they are the kinda folks I like to avoid. Is that the wrong attitude for me to have?
The ubiquitous Joseph Gordon Levitt plays Lyle, a teenager who has been sent to a juvenile mental hospital because he cracked open the skull of a kid who taunted him. While I would usually say the kid deserved it, it becomes clear that Lyle has too much aggression crammed inside him and has no way of controlling it other than the occasional blind rage or makeshift mosh-pit.
While in the hospital he makes pals (and some enemies) with a fragile Native American kid, a no-confidence girl and another boy with manic depression (oh, sorry...'Bi-polar disorder'). It's nothing particularly astonishing but it's the commitment to acting and making it all seem as real as possible that makes it so watchable. This is helped by director Jordan Melamed's documentary style and hard close-ups of actors without make up and with their honest faces and zits.
There's more honesty and realism in the fighting too, which does occur at regular intervals and somehow seems more engaging than in action movies. I myself have pulverised people (who I hated and thought really deserved it) into the dirt only to feel huge guilt as they look up at me all bloodied and broken, their eyes watering. I assume so many of these angry teenagers put on this act of aggression and being hard to hide how sensitive they really are. It's not a big revelation I know, but it's very well done in the film.
In the end it doesn't do much else than offer a balanced view of such kids. Not everyone has the power to turn their rage off, not all parents are going to be wonderful. But who says you are any better? Maybe we could all get along better if everyone admits that they could be a better person.
But you have to think about a few things. Why are problem teens the way they are? Most of the time it can be attributed to bad upbringing, which is really the fault of irresponsible or evil adults. So I guess that some people are just screwed from day one. Either way, they are the kinda folks I like to avoid. Is that the wrong attitude for me to have?
The ubiquitous Joseph Gordon Levitt plays Lyle, a teenager who has been sent to a juvenile mental hospital because he cracked open the skull of a kid who taunted him. While I would usually say the kid deserved it, it becomes clear that Lyle has too much aggression crammed inside him and has no way of controlling it other than the occasional blind rage or makeshift mosh-pit.
While in the hospital he makes pals (and some enemies) with a fragile Native American kid, a no-confidence girl and another boy with manic depression (oh, sorry...'Bi-polar disorder'). It's nothing particularly astonishing but it's the commitment to acting and making it all seem as real as possible that makes it so watchable. This is helped by director Jordan Melamed's documentary style and hard close-ups of actors without make up and with their honest faces and zits.
There's more honesty and realism in the fighting too, which does occur at regular intervals and somehow seems more engaging than in action movies. I myself have pulverised people (who I hated and thought really deserved it) into the dirt only to feel huge guilt as they look up at me all bloodied and broken, their eyes watering. I assume so many of these angry teenagers put on this act of aggression and being hard to hide how sensitive they really are. It's not a big revelation I know, but it's very well done in the film.
In the end it doesn't do much else than offer a balanced view of such kids. Not everyone has the power to turn their rage off, not all parents are going to be wonderful. But who says you are any better? Maybe we could all get along better if everyone admits that they could be a better person.
Powerful and deeply affecting
ollie50125 January 2004
Manic - 2002 Dir Jordan Melamed
A Review by Ollie
Lyle Jensen, played with astonishing accuracy by Joseph Gordon-Levitt is subject to sudden and violent outbursts, and he is committed to the juvenile wing of the Northwood Mental Institution, where a dramatic and very powerful insight into juvenile mental illness is played out by an equally adept cast. To single Joseph out would be unfair, as the entire cast turns in a remarkable performance. Cody Lightning's quiet, gentle and deeply affecting performance of an abused child is disconcerting; actor's aren't supposed to be this realistic are they?
Trying to help these desperate young people is Dr Monroe, portrayed by Don Cheadle, who clearly has problems of his own. The scenes of group therapy are powerful and emotionally draining, most notably when Monroe 'loses it' with Lyle.
I am not going to even attempt to review the film with too much depth. This is one where only the individual reviewer can do that. There are plenty of reviews on the IMDB, 99% of which all seem to voice more or less the same opinion, which I share, that this is a compelling, and frighteningly realistic portrayal of the depths of human instinct and mental torture.
The final scene is beautiful and you are left wondering whether Lyle is walking away, or walking back - more than that I will not say.
I have worked with people who have had various mental disorders, and the portrayal of each individual character is startlingly accurate, and almost poetic. Levitt portrays more with his eyes than most actors manage to convey through an entire film. From sadness, desperation and an emptiness that no fully sane person could hope to comprehend, to intense anger and rage, it's all there, deep in those eyes. Words become an added luxury to his conveyance of such a deeply disturbed young man.
Weakest link? I don't know - the colour of the walls? Put simply, there are no weak links. The direction is intense, the camerawork belies that of a fly-on-the-wall documentary, the score is subtle and effective, the casting could not have been better.
This isn't going to be to everyone's taste - it is deeply, deeply affecting, and succeeded in reducing me to tears at more than one point. The shaky, camcorder style direction is bound to put some off, but this isn't a big bucks, Hollywood blockbuster - this is a film for people who love and appreciate true film, and moreover, true life. This is as real as it gets, and is well worth seeing.
It gets a full 10/10 from me, for many reasons, not least that I have seen first hand the ravaging affect mental instability can have a person, and I have yet to see a more accurate portrayal. Simply astonishing.
Reviewed by Ollie Jan 2004.
A Review by Ollie
Lyle Jensen, played with astonishing accuracy by Joseph Gordon-Levitt is subject to sudden and violent outbursts, and he is committed to the juvenile wing of the Northwood Mental Institution, where a dramatic and very powerful insight into juvenile mental illness is played out by an equally adept cast. To single Joseph out would be unfair, as the entire cast turns in a remarkable performance. Cody Lightning's quiet, gentle and deeply affecting performance of an abused child is disconcerting; actor's aren't supposed to be this realistic are they?
Trying to help these desperate young people is Dr Monroe, portrayed by Don Cheadle, who clearly has problems of his own. The scenes of group therapy are powerful and emotionally draining, most notably when Monroe 'loses it' with Lyle.
I am not going to even attempt to review the film with too much depth. This is one where only the individual reviewer can do that. There are plenty of reviews on the IMDB, 99% of which all seem to voice more or less the same opinion, which I share, that this is a compelling, and frighteningly realistic portrayal of the depths of human instinct and mental torture.
The final scene is beautiful and you are left wondering whether Lyle is walking away, or walking back - more than that I will not say.
I have worked with people who have had various mental disorders, and the portrayal of each individual character is startlingly accurate, and almost poetic. Levitt portrays more with his eyes than most actors manage to convey through an entire film. From sadness, desperation and an emptiness that no fully sane person could hope to comprehend, to intense anger and rage, it's all there, deep in those eyes. Words become an added luxury to his conveyance of such a deeply disturbed young man.
Weakest link? I don't know - the colour of the walls? Put simply, there are no weak links. The direction is intense, the camerawork belies that of a fly-on-the-wall documentary, the score is subtle and effective, the casting could not have been better.
This isn't going to be to everyone's taste - it is deeply, deeply affecting, and succeeded in reducing me to tears at more than one point. The shaky, camcorder style direction is bound to put some off, but this isn't a big bucks, Hollywood blockbuster - this is a film for people who love and appreciate true film, and moreover, true life. This is as real as it gets, and is well worth seeing.
It gets a full 10/10 from me, for many reasons, not least that I have seen first hand the ravaging affect mental instability can have a person, and I have yet to see a more accurate portrayal. Simply astonishing.
Reviewed by Ollie Jan 2004.
Great Movie - Have to be in the right mood for it though.
mdhalljr28 April 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Saw this one night on Cinemax. Watched it about 20 minutes, turned the channel, then switched back because I was going nuts to see where this was going to end up. It's very captivating.
The acting was really good, by the teen actors anyway. Don Cheadle's performance was so/ so. The kids really stole the show.
The herky-jerky camera movements were very annoying, especially the basketball scenes. You want to see more of the surroundings and detail, but are always denied that by the camera. Which is probably the intent of the director.
The movie is mainly about Lyle, from actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who I knew I had seen before, but just could not place in anything I had seen. Lyle, comes from a single parent home, and has violent tendencies toward others who he disagrees with. Actually, he is just very self-righteous and you almost want to agree how he sticks up for himself. You almost want to see him beat the crap out of the resident bigot resident, who is Caucasian, but sees himself as a African-American gangsta type.
Joseph hit this character right on the mark as far as I am concerned, and it was just great to see him pull off a role like this. A truly talented young actor. Who would have thought this from the kid on Third Rock From The Sun?
So, great movie, if you are in the mood for something indie-spirited, raw, and truly depressing in a lot of respects, go ahead and watch. It left me hoping you can see some of these kids fix their problems, and get out of the institution.
The acting was really good, by the teen actors anyway. Don Cheadle's performance was so/ so. The kids really stole the show.
The herky-jerky camera movements were very annoying, especially the basketball scenes. You want to see more of the surroundings and detail, but are always denied that by the camera. Which is probably the intent of the director.
The movie is mainly about Lyle, from actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who I knew I had seen before, but just could not place in anything I had seen. Lyle, comes from a single parent home, and has violent tendencies toward others who he disagrees with. Actually, he is just very self-righteous and you almost want to agree how he sticks up for himself. You almost want to see him beat the crap out of the resident bigot resident, who is Caucasian, but sees himself as a African-American gangsta type.
Joseph hit this character right on the mark as far as I am concerned, and it was just great to see him pull off a role like this. A truly talented young actor. Who would have thought this from the kid on Third Rock From The Sun?
So, great movie, if you are in the mood for something indie-spirited, raw, and truly depressing in a lot of respects, go ahead and watch. It left me hoping you can see some of these kids fix their problems, and get out of the institution.
raw drama, digital filmmaking, sundance hit
feverdeang29 January 2001
my favorite drama in the 2001 Sundance festival ,Manic was a frightening look at teenagers out of control and how the world forces them to desparate measures. Set in a juvenile mental institution it tells the story of Lyle ( Joseph Gordon Levitt, in an amazing, breakout dramatic performance) put under lock and key for assaulting another boy with a baseball bat. He rejects the system, it's diagnosis and it's blindness to the real problems he and the other kids are facing. Brutally honest and inspiring (without any schlockly-hokey feel good crap) shot in DV and improv-ed and made with the help of REAL kids in this terrible situation, Manic was an example of what a film festival should support. Also I would be doing a great disservice if I didn't mention the quiet commanding presence of young actor Cody Lightning (only 14 years old!!!!!)See this film!
Storyline OK, Acting Brilliant
Domble2 March 2013
This film was really good, not for the storyline as that was quite average but because of the performances of everyone in it, main or side characters. Joseph Gordon-Levitt can definitely carry this movie. His performance as Lyle the teenager with the uncontrollable rage who doesn't believe he should be in a institute. Also It was good to see a role of Zooey Deschanel that didn't irritate me.
The only thing that slightly annoyed me in this was the camera work, some bit were good then in the next shot the camera was all over the place shaking. The director also used close ups a lot especially of the characters eyes. The quality of the film was good I liked the fact it was all recorded on a Sony PD150 digital camera.
The only thing that slightly annoyed me in this was the camera work, some bit were good then in the next shot the camera was all over the place shaking. The director also used close ups a lot especially of the characters eyes. The quality of the film was good I liked the fact it was all recorded on a Sony PD150 digital camera.
A typical "I have issues"movie
suicide_ballroom7 July 2004
Warning: Spoilers
***Somewhat of a SPOILER***
I rented this movie with much anticipation. The title alone got me excited about it. I had also seen an interview with one of the stars on Fuse a while back and desired to see it then.
First off...I think "Manic" was not the right title for the movie. The main character in the movie, Lyle, shows some signs of mania...but he's more angry and obviously cannot control any sort of anger. It is possible I may be confused by what the title is referring to, however, since this movie is placed in a mental ward and the characters are taking such things as Tegretol and Depakote, I leaned towards the bipolar disorder basis before I even rented the movie.
I did not like the "token characters." They wore thin with "Girl, Interrupted." Let's see....we have the girl that is goth looking (because we all know girls that wear black lipstick are wildly depressed). We have the quiet girl who is always calm towards people, but has obvious problems and is always holding things back. We have the person that makes everyone angry because he is so mad about his own life, he must make things terrible for all the people there. We have the friend that there is no hope for, because he does not try to get better (I feel mostly because he does not know how to live outside of a hospital). We have the shy one with lots of problems and who stays mostly quiet until the main character can bring some sort of feeling out of him. And last, but certainly not least, the main character...the one that comes in thinking they have no problem, but in the end realizes and works to get better and tries and usually ends up making an impact on some of the people there. I think maybe I should label this with a spoilers...but it is so typical.
The jerky camera work throughout the movie gets really, really annoying. It's like the director is screaming, "THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT FILM!!!!!!!!!!!!" The opening scene is done in an interesting fashion, that's about all I liked about it. I will, however, give credit for some decent performances. They were well calculated, but too similar to other movies dealing with mental illness issues.
2/4 stars
I rented this movie with much anticipation. The title alone got me excited about it. I had also seen an interview with one of the stars on Fuse a while back and desired to see it then.
First off...I think "Manic" was not the right title for the movie. The main character in the movie, Lyle, shows some signs of mania...but he's more angry and obviously cannot control any sort of anger. It is possible I may be confused by what the title is referring to, however, since this movie is placed in a mental ward and the characters are taking such things as Tegretol and Depakote, I leaned towards the bipolar disorder basis before I even rented the movie.
I did not like the "token characters." They wore thin with "Girl, Interrupted." Let's see....we have the girl that is goth looking (because we all know girls that wear black lipstick are wildly depressed). We have the quiet girl who is always calm towards people, but has obvious problems and is always holding things back. We have the person that makes everyone angry because he is so mad about his own life, he must make things terrible for all the people there. We have the friend that there is no hope for, because he does not try to get better (I feel mostly because he does not know how to live outside of a hospital). We have the shy one with lots of problems and who stays mostly quiet until the main character can bring some sort of feeling out of him. And last, but certainly not least, the main character...the one that comes in thinking they have no problem, but in the end realizes and works to get better and tries and usually ends up making an impact on some of the people there. I think maybe I should label this with a spoilers...but it is so typical.
The jerky camera work throughout the movie gets really, really annoying. It's like the director is screaming, "THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT FILM!!!!!!!!!!!!" The opening scene is done in an interesting fashion, that's about all I liked about it. I will, however, give credit for some decent performances. They were well calculated, but too similar to other movies dealing with mental illness issues.
2/4 stars
manic:beautiful
jeremyblaker29 April 2004
Alright, some reviews on this 'motion picture' are a little rough, and thats fine because everyone is entitled to their own personal opinions. So/But i figured i'll put mine out there too, so everyone doesn't think this is a horrible movie not worth your time/money.
The directing/cinematogrophy. . .alright, the director wanted it to feel personal, and up close. Like a documentary. And he suceeded. You have alot of upclose shots of the characters, which works in this type of movie. its filmed in DV to give it that 'raw' feel, as the director said in the behind the scenes stuff. Also the camera's, if not always, are mostly hand held and a tiny bit shakey. But again, it works for this type of film.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays his part just. . he's perfect in it, so is Zooey, she's absolutely beautiful in her character. So with those two, the movies already worth watching, IMHO. Then you add the ward Doctor, Don Cheadie, he's just, amazing in this.
Yes, i know this is one of those reviews that sounds like i was paid by the director to write, but its not that way. I thought this movie was perfect, even the soundtrack was great. But hey, i'm just some guy, writing a review, on a movie i liked. This is all in my little humble opinion.
I say, if you read a bad review, or hear it from the critics, watch it anyway. you might just like it
The directing/cinematogrophy. . .alright, the director wanted it to feel personal, and up close. Like a documentary. And he suceeded. You have alot of upclose shots of the characters, which works in this type of movie. its filmed in DV to give it that 'raw' feel, as the director said in the behind the scenes stuff. Also the camera's, if not always, are mostly hand held and a tiny bit shakey. But again, it works for this type of film.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays his part just. . he's perfect in it, so is Zooey, she's absolutely beautiful in her character. So with those two, the movies already worth watching, IMHO. Then you add the ward Doctor, Don Cheadie, he's just, amazing in this.
Yes, i know this is one of those reviews that sounds like i was paid by the director to write, but its not that way. I thought this movie was perfect, even the soundtrack was great. But hey, i'm just some guy, writing a review, on a movie i liked. This is all in my little humble opinion.
I say, if you read a bad review, or hear it from the critics, watch it anyway. you might just like it
RAW and Unfiltered
reddiemurf8123 August 2021
An honest and touching film about the conflicts of life
howard.schumann16 February 2004
Put in the cinematic dustbin since its screening at Sundance in 2001, Jordan Melamed's Manic is deserving of an audience. It is an honest and touching film about the conflicts of life as seen by patients in Northwoods Mental Institution in California, a psychiatric hospital for adolescents. Brought to life by a brooding and intense performance by former Third Rock from the Sun star Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Lyle, a volatile teen ready to explode, Manic addresses important questions about violence and alienation among young people. Inspired by Albert Camus' "The Myth of Sisyphus," in which a Greek mythological figure is condemned forever to roll a boulder up an incline, only to watch it slide back down, the film questions whether people can find meaning in a seemingly absurd existence without melodrama or unconvincing epiphanies.
Lyle has been brought to the facility after brutally assaulting a boy with a baseball bat and the film is about his slow discovery of the reason he is there. Most of the film takes place within the psychiatric ward run by the life-affirming staff psychiatrist, Dr, David Monroe (Don Cheadle). Monroe wrestles with his own demons but treats the teens not as patients with labels but as human beings whose lives have meaning and value. The adolescents are hospitalized for assorted behavior problems and many have endured abuse and neglect at home. In addition to Lyle, the ward contains his bunkmate, 12-year old Kenny (Cody Lightning) a sullen Native American who is alleged to have molested younger children; Mike (Elden Henson), a volatile White rapper who pretends that he is black; Chad (co-writer Michael Bacall), a teen diagnosed with Bipolar illness; and rape victim Tracey (Zooey Deschanel), who wakes up screaming each night.
The teens have the same problems as many of their peers, only magnified beyond their endurance to cope. In researching the role Gordon-Levitt concluded that, "the patients are not some strange, alien beings. They are dealing with the same conflicts, struggles, and resolutions that we all have to deal with in life". Some of the acting is improvised but even when scripted, the film has a documentary feel to it. Shot in digital video, the hand held camera ratchets up the tension, capturing the pent-up emotions that are ready to explode at any moment -- in a basketball match, a pillow fight, or a fist-swinging free-for-all. While the camerawork increases the immediacy, its excessive use detracts from the power of the film, becoming intrusive and distracting.
Although our understanding of "mental illness" has changed in recent years, the treatment shown does not go much beyond pills or group therapy sessions. There is also no acknowledgment of alternative therapies such as Gestalt or Psychodrama that are geared to deal with this type of anger. David asks the patients to talk about why they are there but he cannot get them to go beyond victimization and have them feel responsible for themselves or each other. Indeed, most cannot articulate their pain or come to terms even with the fact that they need help. It is only when they see the sadness and extreme solitude of Van Gogh's last painting "Wheatfields With Crows" that the first awareness of mutual need begins to emerge.
Lyle has been brought to the facility after brutally assaulting a boy with a baseball bat and the film is about his slow discovery of the reason he is there. Most of the film takes place within the psychiatric ward run by the life-affirming staff psychiatrist, Dr, David Monroe (Don Cheadle). Monroe wrestles with his own demons but treats the teens not as patients with labels but as human beings whose lives have meaning and value. The adolescents are hospitalized for assorted behavior problems and many have endured abuse and neglect at home. In addition to Lyle, the ward contains his bunkmate, 12-year old Kenny (Cody Lightning) a sullen Native American who is alleged to have molested younger children; Mike (Elden Henson), a volatile White rapper who pretends that he is black; Chad (co-writer Michael Bacall), a teen diagnosed with Bipolar illness; and rape victim Tracey (Zooey Deschanel), who wakes up screaming each night.
The teens have the same problems as many of their peers, only magnified beyond their endurance to cope. In researching the role Gordon-Levitt concluded that, "the patients are not some strange, alien beings. They are dealing with the same conflicts, struggles, and resolutions that we all have to deal with in life". Some of the acting is improvised but even when scripted, the film has a documentary feel to it. Shot in digital video, the hand held camera ratchets up the tension, capturing the pent-up emotions that are ready to explode at any moment -- in a basketball match, a pillow fight, or a fist-swinging free-for-all. While the camerawork increases the immediacy, its excessive use detracts from the power of the film, becoming intrusive and distracting.
Although our understanding of "mental illness" has changed in recent years, the treatment shown does not go much beyond pills or group therapy sessions. There is also no acknowledgment of alternative therapies such as Gestalt or Psychodrama that are geared to deal with this type of anger. David asks the patients to talk about why they are there but he cannot get them to go beyond victimization and have them feel responsible for themselves or each other. Indeed, most cannot articulate their pain or come to terms even with the fact that they need help. It is only when they see the sadness and extreme solitude of Van Gogh's last painting "Wheatfields With Crows" that the first awareness of mutual need begins to emerge.
solid performers
SnoopyStyle25 July 2016
Lyle Jensen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) gets into a violent fight bashing another kid with a baseball bat. His mother commits him to the Northwood Mental Institution run by Dr. David Monroe (Don Cheadle). He gets put into a group with other youths. He fights violent Mike. His roommate Kenny is quiet. He falls for Tracey (Zooey Deschanel) who has night terrors. Chad is a manic depressive. Sara has anger issues.
This is trying very hard to be ultra-reality with its documentary shaky-camera style and gritty characters. The non-actors look like they've been in group therapy. I've never been in one and I can't discern its veracity. I expected a smoking area and some of the kids dealing with addiction problems. Its main drawback is a lack of a story structure. It may be helpful to have a ticking clock. It's a scattershot effect with everybody's problems. These are interesting performers taking on an acting course challenge. The girl who cuts is probably the best amateur. Gordon-Levitt is showing off his big time skills. The acting is solid but the movie doesn't rise beyond that.
This is trying very hard to be ultra-reality with its documentary shaky-camera style and gritty characters. The non-actors look like they've been in group therapy. I've never been in one and I can't discern its veracity. I expected a smoking area and some of the kids dealing with addiction problems. Its main drawback is a lack of a story structure. It may be helpful to have a ticking clock. It's a scattershot effect with everybody's problems. These are interesting performers taking on an acting course challenge. The girl who cuts is probably the best amateur. Gordon-Levitt is showing off his big time skills. The acting is solid but the movie doesn't rise beyond that.
Increible film. Absolutely incredible.
lordkir19 May 2002
At the end of "Manic," I was almost in tears.
"Manic" created a world of its own inside the Northwood Mental Institution, visually, psychologically, and cinematically. When I left the theatre, I felt as though I had left Northwood Mental Institute.
The performances of the entire cast were moving and realistic. The script and the concept itself were brilliant. The subtle shaking of the camera, though some people have expressed frustration at this, rang true to me as an interpretation of the art of realism. I highly recommend "Manic" to any one seeking a beautiful, original film.
"Manic" created a world of its own inside the Northwood Mental Institution, visually, psychologically, and cinematically. When I left the theatre, I felt as though I had left Northwood Mental Institute.
The performances of the entire cast were moving and realistic. The script and the concept itself were brilliant. The subtle shaking of the camera, though some people have expressed frustration at this, rang true to me as an interpretation of the art of realism. I highly recommend "Manic" to any one seeking a beautiful, original film.
Good story, HORRIBLE filming
gva-8648028 April 2022
realistic, surprising good movie
moviegeek7710 February 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this movie late at night on cable. I was about to flip past it when I saw Don Cheadle (the man), so I gave it a chance. It is the story of Lyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who severely injures someone during a fight and is sent to a psychiatric facility to work on controlling his rage. There we meet several other "troubled teens", including painfully shy rape victim Tracy (Zooey Deschanel), a young boy who has secretly been molested by his father-and has begun doing the same to younger children, an artist who craves freedom and thinks depression fuels brilliance , a wannabe gangsta w/anger management problems, and a rich kid w/ manic depression. This story is told in such a natural style, its more like you are watching footage of a psych ward than watching a movie.
The ensemble cast was remarkable, with quietly convincing portrayals of their characters. Especially noteworthy (aside from Cheadle-that goes without saying) were Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel as Lyle and Tracy. Lyle's rage was always just beneath the surface. Even during the "happier" scenes, there was always underlying tension. His overwhelming emotions practically came through the screen. Deschanel, as Tracy, projected an air of fragility. Throughout the film, you could feel how Lyle was drawn to Tracy and how he needed to protect her. This made their argument scene almost too hard to watch. When he was so cruel to her and even became violent, it was a wake-up call to Lyle.
I also like the fact that there is no happy ending. The movie makes a point of showing that a person has to make the choice to get better. As with real emotional problems, the kids in this movie have set-backs, make progress, and one completely self-destructs.
I give this film a 9/10. The camera work was a little off-putting, but nothing major and definitely nothing worth missing this movie over!
The ensemble cast was remarkable, with quietly convincing portrayals of their characters. Especially noteworthy (aside from Cheadle-that goes without saying) were Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel as Lyle and Tracy. Lyle's rage was always just beneath the surface. Even during the "happier" scenes, there was always underlying tension. His overwhelming emotions practically came through the screen. Deschanel, as Tracy, projected an air of fragility. Throughout the film, you could feel how Lyle was drawn to Tracy and how he needed to protect her. This made their argument scene almost too hard to watch. When he was so cruel to her and even became violent, it was a wake-up call to Lyle.
I also like the fact that there is no happy ending. The movie makes a point of showing that a person has to make the choice to get better. As with real emotional problems, the kids in this movie have set-backs, make progress, and one completely self-destructs.
I give this film a 9/10. The camera work was a little off-putting, but nothing major and definitely nothing worth missing this movie over!
An honest look at kids who don't "toe the line"
AndersonMM24 July 2005
Manic went largely unnoticed after it's 2001 release and remains highly underrated. To say the least, Manic is a remarkable achievement in my opinion. It is the most realistic portrayal of a youth psych ward that I have yet seen on film. It focuses on a group of kids, roughly 12-17 years old, who are locked up in a hospital in order to receive "therapeutic healing." None of them are crazy per say, but they all seem to have serious emotional issues (but then again who doesn't?). This film is brutally honest, raw, and sometimes hard to watch. Having been in a similar type of institution myself when I was 17, I can speak highly for the credibility and accuracy of the content. I have not seen another movie tackle this subject in such an unflinching realistic manner. There's no fabricated drama here for the sake of the box office. The sometimes shaky, nontraditional camera work, and the lack of a musical soundtrack (with the exception of when the kids actually turn on the radio themselves), make this movie feel more like a documentary and less like a cinematic feature. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is phenomenal as Lyle Jensen, a ticked off confused kid who can't seem to contain his rage. Don Cheadle is equally effective as the head Counselor struggling to make a difference in the lives of these troubled teens. They couldn't have cast a better man for this role. He is more than convincing as the lead staff member who realizes that he's probably not getting through to these kids at all. I noticed some similarities to the movie "One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest," but Manic is far from a remake of that film. I doubt that Manic will become a classic like "Cuckoo's Nest," but it is certainly an underground hit in my book. My mother works at an alternative high school for kids with similar issues to those in Manic. I showed her Manic and could tell she had trouble watching it, identifying the characters with both me and her students. Manic is an important film but it's not for everyone. It's definitely on my top ten list. If you want to take a strange trip down a dark painful path, and see what it is to grow up feeling like a "messed up kid" like I did, then check out Manic for sure. Otherwise, steer clear, you may be disturbed. Then again, aren't we all.
Didn't watch - everything ruined by shaky camera bs
johncaamzvagt16 July 2021
Gimmick doesn't work, is just distracting - don't do it. Once had an architectural designer who thought he was hot stuff because he used 45 degree angles in his designs. All he actually ended up doing is drawing the whole, square building at a 45 degree angle to the paper. Made everything more difficult, not better.
Excellent! Where is Cheadle's award????
pinkeye17 March 2004
Why Don Cheadle did not receive a major award for this film is shocking! This is one of the best actors around today and his performance in this film is amazing. It's the subtle way he handles himself and the intense focus that he gives that is very rare these days. He works a lot but I feel he is one of the more underrated actors around. That said, the rest of the cast is also excellent! Such strong acting from all of them. The filmkmaking is very realistic...they were going for that "documentary" style shoot and they captures it very well...finally, I'm always very happy to see a great film shot on video...It's not money that makes a film good, it's talent!
Wow
eden0523832 January 2010
What I like about this film is that it doesn't try to be overly optimistic in order to make you believe that everyone turns out alright. This particular formula of a bunch of teenagers in a psychiatric ward may have been used many times before in other films, but this one leaves me with the greatest impression. Yes, everyone has difficult problems to get through in their lives, but it's how certain people deal with them that makes them end up in situations like this. So many things discussed by the group and even the counselor ring true.
It's no surprise that extras were actual young people who've been in psychiatric care sometime in their lives. Even so, Gordon-Levitt does a phenomenal job of being someone who struggles deeply with his emotions and his past.
It's no surprise that extras were actual young people who've been in psychiatric care sometime in their lives. Even so, Gordon-Levitt does a phenomenal job of being someone who struggles deeply with his emotions and his past.
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