Manic
List Price:
Our Price: $3.86
You Save: $11.12 (74%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.99 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Adrienne Rollo, Blayne Weaver, Don Cheadle, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Maggie BairdBrand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: AC-3, Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 100 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-01-20
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
DVD Reviews of Manic
DVD Review: Very, Very Powerful
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie, Manic, is the first movie in a long time that I was eager to watch. I know it was released back in 2003 or 2004, and I've seen the movie case at video stores but never bothered to look and see what it was about. Well, you know on those really lazy days when there seems to be nothing to do, and you're just flipping through the channels on TV desperately trying to find something to watch? On one of those days, I saw a movie coming on entitled "Manic", and I figured due to the title it may have something to do with manic depression, (which would make the movie interesting since I have it), so I decided to hit the information button to get a plot sypnosis. It sounded good so I watched it. I'm glad I did.
The movie is centered around Lyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a teen who had an abusive father and has a huge anger problem. From the beginning, you hear noises that sound like someone being beaten, which is exactly what's happening, as Lyle beats another teen across the head with a baseball bat at a game, and you learn that the teen he beats has to get his jaw wired shut. These actions get him a place in a psychiatric ward, seeing as he needed help controlling his anger and his self-abuse, as he also cut himself and sometimes burned himself with cigarettes.
The other teens at the ward are very realistic with their problems. Chad (played by Michael Bacall) is suffering with depression and also has a cutting problem. Another teen, Kenny, was sexually abused and as a result molested young children himself. One girl, Tracy, has terrifying nightmares that make her scream when she tries to sleep. Mike is a teen who in his own words, likes to smoke, drink, and likes to fight. Sara is a girl who also has a cutting problem and has depression. The doctor, David Monroe, (played amazingly by Don Cheadle), works with the teens and you can tell he actually cares about them. David doesn't feed nonsense to his teens though, and he doesn't lie to them. He tells Lyle in the film that his anger will most likely be with him for his whole life, but he's got to learn how to live with it and express it in a less destructive way, or he will keep on until he hurts someone he cares about or maybe even kills himself.
The script, dialogue, scenes, and all the problems presented are very realistic. I myself actually have many of the problems that the teens have in the film, especially an anger problem just like Lyle, so I know that the emotional scenes are not overacted or overdramatic. Lyle makes a rival with Mike in the film, and many of the more serious scenes in the movie are where Lyle lashes out at him in a very believable manner. Viewers with anger problems, like me, can empathize with Lyle and his feelings. I believe anyone who has had problems like anger, cutting, and/or depression can connect with this movie on a deep level just like I did.
Some people complain about the way the movie was filmed. Yes, at times the camera angles may become annoying, as this is a lower budget film. The angles make the film appear a little like a documentary, even though it is not. If you can get past the way the camera moves, and just focus on the story and what's happening, this should not be a big deal. The acting in the movie is great in my opinion. Michael Bacall did a great job as Chad. Don Cheadle does an amazing job in the film. His emotions are especially felt in one scene where he goes into a rage ironically in response to an altercation between Lyle and Mike. They couldn't have picked any other actor to play Lyle better than Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is definitely a promising actor. He portrays Lyle very well. The film also avoids cliche's. In reality there are no happy endings where everyone turns out just fine at the end of some terrible period of their life. This movie shows that, making it even more realistic in it's approach. The movie shows the true issues that teens have in their lives that so many movies do NOT show, and it shows those issues perfectly. Even though there are some problems not shown, it doesn't take anything away from the movie.
One only problem I have with this movie is something other reviewers have mentioned: the film just ends, leaving us with no answers. No loose ends are tied up. You don't find out what happens to any of the other patients in the ward. It just kind of leaves you hanging to guess for yourself. But other than this, there really isn't anything else I could complain about. The acting is great, the script and dialogue is nice, and the overall story is very realistic. People like me who have very similar problems to the characters in the movie may appreciate this movie more than others who don't, but I believe anyone can enjoy it. It's powerful, gripping, and you won't forget about it for a long time after watching. Give Manic a try.
Description of Manic
Lyle jensen is subject to sudden and violent outbursts and he is committed to the juvenile wing of the northwood mental institution Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 02/13/2007 Starring: Don Cheadle Zooey Deschanel Run time: 100 minutes Rating: R Director: Jordan MelamedBestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Winter PassingFox; Release date: 2006-05-16; Published: 2006-05-01; DVD
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
The LookoutRelease date: 2011-05-03; DVD
Best price: $2.80
Price in other shops:
Elektra LuxxSony; Release date: 2011-06-21; DVD
Best price: $8.45
Price in other shops:
Havoc (Unrated Version)NEW Line Home Video; Release date: 2007-05-15; DVD
Best price: $4.98
Price in other shops:
Stop-LossPARAMOUNT PICTURES; Release date: 2008-07-08; Published: 2008-07-01; DVD
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops:
UncertaintyMPI; Release date: 2010-04-20; DVD
Best price: $3.05
Price in other shops:
The LookoutBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2007-08-14; Published: 2007-08-01; DVD
Best price: $6.18
Price in other shops:
HesherLions Gate; Release date: 2011-09-13; DVD
Best price: $17.69
Price in other shops:
BrickGORDON-LEVITT,JOSEP; Release date: 2006-08-08; DVD
Best price: $1.79
Price in other shops:
Mysterious Skin (Deluxe Unrated Director's Edition)Release date: 2006-03-20; DVD
Best price: $14.80
Price in other shops: