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Manic Reviews

2004

60
from 924 members

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 admitted--against his will--to Northwoods Mental Institution. There he joins a group of troubled teens: withdrawn Tracey (Zooey Deschanel); .. Read more

Starring	Michael Bacall, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Don Cheadle, Zooey Deschanel
Director	Jordan Melamed
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of Manic
View all critics' reviews (3)
- A teen One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest filmed like The Idiots (on DV, vÃritÃ-style), Manic confidently establishes... read more on Time Out
- 46666
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:17
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Manic
View all members' reviews (11)
- - 17
  - 0
  Gritty little indie
  
  Well acted, well scripted little indie set in a mental institution for juveniles. Nothing much happens, it's not supposed too, just a look at how a group of... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 18296
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Goldenboots
  - 53 reviews
  - East Grinstead, England
  - 15 Sep 2004 at 12:58
Most recent members' reviews of Manic
View all members' reviews (11)
- - 0
  - 0
  Manic emotions Manic drama
  
  The camera followed the eyes of its subjects all the time - a masterful piece of filming as the eyes gave away the intensity of pain and emotion in every scene<... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 986528
- - a customer
  - 26 Apr 2011 at 22:00
- - 0
  - 0
  Real live drama!
  
  Well first I thought this would be one of those spin-off's of Jack Nicholson's ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST and it almost started like that.read more »
  
  Report this review
- 918090
- - Brighouse1971
  - 151 reviews
  - Brighouse, WY
  - 26 Aug 2010 at 00:15
- - 0
  - 0
  A very good and engaging film
  
  A very good and engaging film, JGL's acting is excellent again. Between The Lookout and Manic, some of the best acting I've seen in a while.
  
  ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 917357
- - Stuartw2008
  - 11 reviews
  - England
  - 23 Aug 2010 at 16:00
- - 1
  - 0
  you feel like you're right there
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Often if I see that a film is considered an indie I don't hold out much hope for not getting bored at least at some point during the film. Not the case ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 851116
- - Ddraig
  - 3 reviews
  - Pontyclun
  - 19 Jan 2010 at 15:10
- - 0
  - 0
  Dissapointing
  
  As always Joseph Gordan Levitt was outstanding and still remains an exceptional talent and Zooey Deschanel is also good. The film as a whole is filmed in a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 685023
- - a customer
  - England
  - 10 Jan 2009 at 16:39
- - 0
  - 0
  Gritty
  
  There are inevitably going to be comparisons with One Flew over the cuckoos nest. Unlike that film, there is more of the nurse Ratched drama than the Jack ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 491999
- - CHRIS
  - Lancashire
  - 06 Nov 2007 at 22:21
- - 1
  - 0
  Disturbing film with a strong message.
  
  I thought this was a very good film if very hard to watch in places and quite disturbing too. Very well acted especially from Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the lead ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 184199
- - Chris
  - London
  - 13 Dec 2005 at 09:12
- - 2
  - 0
  Juvenile delinquents
  
  Q: What are you rebelling against?
  
  A: What ‘ave you got?
  
  This is basically a ‘kid’s having to find out who they really are... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 181344
- - chungking
  - 101 reviews
  - London
  - 03 Dec 2005 at 22:41
- - 1
  - 0
  EXCELLENTLY ACTED MOVIE
  
  Joseph Gordon Levitt excels in this brilliantly acted indie movie, he is exceptional as the lead character. Don Cheadle offers excellent support as always, as ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 174155
- - LEE GIBBON
  - reading, england
  - 15 Nov 2005 at 10:14
- - 0
  - 1
  Great acting
  
  This is a very well acted film, the story is gritty and sometimes disturbing. Very stylish in the way it is made, low budget but worth a look.
  
  Report this review
- 97877
- - Dave
  - England
  - 28 Apr 2005 at 18:02
View all members' reviews (11)

- - 17
  - 0
  Gritty little indie
  
  Well acted, well scripted little indie set in a mental institution for juveniles. Nothing much happens, it's not supposed too, just a look at how a group of... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 18296
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Goldenboots
  - 53 reviews
  - East Grinstead, England
  - 15 Sep 2004 at 12:58
- - 2
  - 0
  Juvenile delinquents
  
  Q: What are you rebelling against?
  
  A: What ‘ave you got?
  
  This is basically a ‘kid’s having to find out who they really are... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 181344
- - chungking
  - 101 reviews
  - London
  - 03 Dec 2005 at 22:41
- - 1
  - 0
  EXCELLENTLY ACTED MOVIE
  
  Joseph Gordon Levitt excels in this brilliantly acted indie movie, he is exceptional as the lead character. Don Cheadle offers excellent support as always, as ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 174155
- - LEE GIBBON
  - reading, england
  - 15 Nov 2005 at 10:14
- - 1
  - 0
  Disturbing film with a strong message.
  
  I thought this was a very good film if very hard to watch in places and quite disturbing too. Very well acted especially from Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the lead ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 184199
- - Chris
  - London
  - 13 Dec 2005 at 09:12
- - 1
  - 0
  you feel like you're right there
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Often if I see that a film is considered an indie I don't hold out much hope for not getting bored at least at some point during the film. Not the case ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 851116
- - Ddraig
  - 3 reviews
  - Pontyclun
  - 19 Jan 2010 at 15:10
- - 0
  - 0
  Gritty
  
  There are inevitably going to be comparisons with One Flew over the cuckoos nest. Unlike that film, there is more of the nurse Ratched drama than the Jack ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 491999
- - CHRIS
  - Lancashire
  - 06 Nov 2007 at 22:21
- - 0
  - 0
  Dissapointing
  
  As always Joseph Gordan Levitt was outstanding and still remains an exceptional talent and Zooey Deschanel is also good. The film as a whole is filmed in a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 685023
- - a customer
  - England
  - 10 Jan 2009 at 16:39
- - 0
  - 0
  A very good and engaging film
  
  A very good and engaging film, JGL's acting is excellent again. Between The Lookout and Manic, some of the best acting I've seen in a while.
  
  ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 917357
- - Stuartw2008
  - 11 reviews
  - England
  - 23 Aug 2010 at 16:00
- - 0
  - 0
  Real live drama!
  
  Well first I thought this would be one of those spin-off's of Jack Nicholson's ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST and it almost started like that.read more »
  
  Report this review
- 918090
- - Brighouse1971
  - 151 reviews
  - Brighouse, WY
  - 26 Aug 2010 at 00:15
- - 0
  - 0
  Manic emotions Manic drama
  
  The camera followed the eyes of its subjects all the time - a masterful piece of filming as the eyes gave away the intensity of pain and emotion in every scene<... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 986528
- - a customer
  - 26 Apr 2011 at 22:00

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Critics' reviews
- A teen One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest filmed like The Idiots (on DV, vÃritÃ-style), Manic confidently establishes... read more on Time Out
- 46666
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:17
- "....The performances are fine, and in the case of Gordon-Levitt, exceptional...."
- 12348
- - Los Angeles Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 13:00
- "...Brutally honest and brilliantly acted..."
- 12349
- - The Chicago Reader
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 13:00

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Manic
  
  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 admitted--against his will--to Northwoods Mental Institution. There he joins a group of troubled teens: withdrawn ...