Manic

Manic (2001)
Directed by Jordan Melamed
Length: 100 minutes
Rated R for disturbing violent content, strong language, and some drug use




When you discover a new actor, it's generally a good idea to check out some of their earlier, less known work. Sometimes you are able to see how far he or she has progressed or even how talented they were early on. My interest in Manic came about from the rise in respect for Joseph Gordon-Levitt, or "that kid from 3rd Rock from the Sun or 10 Things I Hate About You." This is not a feel good movie; instead it is an analysis of the troubled youth of modern society and the tragic circumstances afflicting many of their lives. Manic may be in-your-face about the conditions many of these young adults live with (rage, self-abuse, sexual abuse, etc.), but it leaves you with a sense of hope that life goes on.

Manic centers around Joseph Gordon-Levitt [G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, (500)Days of Summer] as Lyle, a youth suffering from rage and aggression issues stemming from child abuse. After almost bludgeoning a young man to death with a baseball bat, Lyle is entered into a treatment center to help him cope with his anger issues. While in treatment, Lyle meets other young adults that have suffered other unspeakable tragedies. Unfolding in a documentary style, Manic allows you to feel the angst and suffering each one of the characters bares.

Gordon-Levitt has enjoyed a long acting career in anonymity, but recently he has started to garner some recognition. Over the last decade, he has stared in numerous indie films that have allowed him to showcase his acting prowess, and Manic is no exception. One scene, in which Lyle is placed in solitary confinement, helps to convey the raw anger as he literally bounces off the walls in a manic rage. With performances like this and the others that Gordon-Levitt has consistently delivered (just check out The Lookout and Mysterious Skin), it would not surprise me to see him one day considered the new Daniel Day-Lewis, an actor who embodies his craft in such a way that the lines between performance art and reality become blurred.

Manic also boast a good performance from the usually reliable Don Cheadle (Iron Man 2, Traitor) as Dr. David Monroe, the psychiatrist charged with helping these troubled youths. This film does a good job of not only showing the ills plaguing the patients, but also the loss of hope and meaning that Dr. Monroe also has to cope with. Few movies allow both the doctor and patients to show weakness; here we see the doctor feeling utterly defeated, enraged at his patients, and faced with his own demons.

This film ultimately tries to convey that from the worst of things can spring hope. An image of a road leading off into the horizon serves as a metaphor throughout the movie; and the message that no matter what happens in life, good or bad, we just have to keep on going and living. Manic may be difficult to watch for most. Many of the kids seem like the typical problem children often cited any time a horrible act of violence among youth is committed: punks, Gothic, heavy metal, whorish, bad parents, etc. They fight, they swear often, and they engage in disturbing behavior that many may not be able to comprehend. But if you can look beyond the difficult content, there is a sense of hope that Manic tries to convey. Asking for help isn't the end. In fact, sometimes it turns a dead end into an endless road of possibilities.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars (sorry Daniel, couldn't help it)

Favorite Quote:
Chad: "Sex is meaningful."
Dr. Monroe: [disbelief] "You had sex?"