Manic (2001)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

I'll tell you why so serious

I wanted to but couldn't!

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

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.

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.

This film is gritty. It is...explosive. Dramatic. There is little to warm your heart, but there is a great deal of connectivity with the troubled youth of today. Don Cheadle is 100% convincing in his role as Dr. David Monroe, which was a genuine, but delightful, surprise.Lyle teaches us that society and societal issues drives us, shapes us, and sometimes misshapes us down deep, where it matters. The problems of his friends and fellow in-house residents cuts the meat this film is made of, while demonstrating aptly how our messed up society produces messed up individuals.They teach us to believe in the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, the Tooth Faerie...and then they tell us it was all just a lie. But we're not supposed to lie. So do we hate those who have lied to us? Hate the lies themselves? Or adapt and accept? This demonstrates the fight or flight instinct within us all, and aptly so.All in all, this is a great film which is deserving of your time, however, it may be a bit too darkly depressing for a Friday or Saturday night flick.It rates an 8.1/10 from...the Fiend :.

I liked the content of the movie. The camera moving around so much was kind of a distraction but otherwise great performances. Zooey is definitely a sweetheart. Also, if anyone knows the listings for the soundtrack can you please let me know. I want the song where at the end of the movie Lyle is sitting at the bus stop and decides not to run and then hes walking back to the institution a song starts to play its all acoustic I believe. (what is it?)Manic was a touching film I liked how the friendships were built. Don Cheadle portrayed a therapist perfectly, hes really a great actor. I can say Manic is on my list of great films that include: Where the Buffalo Roam, Drugstore Cowboy, and Buffalo'66.