It's a serious, effective first film that deserves your attention, even if it isn't especially fun to watch.
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05/09/03
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Manic (2003)
69
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:58
Fresh:40
Rotten:18
Average Rating:6.4/10
Consensus: A well-acted drama about trouble teens.
Theatrical Release:Apr 25, 2003 Limited
Synopsis: Jordan Melamed's directorial debut is a strikingly honest depiction of life in a juvenile mental ward. Following a disturbing and violent fight at school, Lyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is... [More]
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Don Cheadle, Zooey Deschanel, Michael Bacall
Director: Jordan Melamed
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Reviews for Manic
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12/06/05
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12/30/06
Gordon-Levitt, Deschanel and Cody Lightning ... should be commended for matching acting veteran Cheadle's gravity in their roles.
01/10/02
Presents a realistic portrayal of the kids' complicated and confounding mental illness.
04/24/03
The acting here sustains and at times even elevates this material, a self-styled teenage version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest comprised of elements both good and also not quite fully formed.
05/12/03
A dynamo of a movie with solid performances.
02/11/08
I've rarely seen the hand-held, docudrama approach done with more intimacy or accuracy.
05/23/03
A riveting troubled teens story that has the unvarnished poignance of first-rank docus (e.g. Streetwise, Decline of Western Civilization III, etc.) on similar thematic turf.
05/14/03
Top CriticManic's landscape is filled with emotional thunderstorms; don't expect a sunny sky, but you might find a ray of hope.
06/01/03
No review available.
09/09/05
I couldn't detect a single false moment in the entire movie.
09/18/02
Absorbing and occasionally disturbing film.
05/09/03
Top CriticAvoids the common pitfalls of the genre, instead giving us an intense character study supplemented by a supporting cast of characters, not vague stereotypes.
06/01/02
The young cast throw themselves (quite literally) into their demanding assignments with vigor.
04/25/03
Top CriticGordon-Levitt explodes any expectations about him. The rage he projects is so real it becomes its own character.
05/27/03
Yes, there are the usual lessons learned, but the movie also speaks the truth about kids who need to lash out but only end up harming each other and themselves.
05/22/03
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is terrific as the lead in this raw, indie, Gen X version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
02/07/03
Shows scenes of life in a psychiatric unit, and it's up to you to draw conclusions about the usefulness or pointlessness of the high-tension life of the ward.
04/29/03
The film’s blurry camerawork, jumpy editing, and oversaturated hues are annoying and distracting.
05/15/03
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