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Manic

Play trailer Poster for Manic R,  2003,  1h 40m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 67% 60 Reviews Tomatometer 79% 5,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
67% Tomatometer 60 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Follows the fate of Lyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a violent adolescent who, in lieu of prison, is placed in a juvenile mental institution where he encounters a group of equally troubled teens. This motley crew - abused, sexually confused, violent, and yet hanging on by their grit and anger - becomes Lyle's last lifeline as he fights to find meaning in a world that seems to defy understanding.
Manic

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A grim drama about emotionally damaged teens, Manic's solid cast helps to elevate the material above cliche.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Dec 25, 2010
4/5
Powerful film packed with profanity and brutality. Go to Full Review
Nick Dawson Empire Magazine Dec 30, 2006
4/5
Anyone stumbling into the cinema halfway through would think they were watching a documentary, as Manic dispenses with all cinematic flourishes, instead aiming for and achieving absolute realism. Go to Full Review
Derek Adams Time Out Feb 9, 2006
It's an undemonstrative, vividly authentic film. Go to Full Review
Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed Apr 29, 2009
Cheadle is excellent and gives this the true credibility it deserves. Go to Full Review
Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Feb 11, 2008
4/5
A dynamo of a movie with solid performances. Go to Full Review
Ron Wells Film Threat Dec 6, 2005
4/5
This is exactly the kind of film the Dogme 95 movement was meant to inspire. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Abraham S Jul 17, 2017 Great ensemble acting but the Dogme 95 style hurts the film's impetus.
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Manic

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Jordan Melamed

Director

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Lyle

Michael Bacall

Chad

Zooey Deschanel

Tracy

Cody Lightning

Kenny

Elden Henson

Michael

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Manic

Manic (2001) Don Cheadle stars as Dr. David Monroe in Jordan Melamed's MANIC. An IFC Films release. Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing Lyle (foerground right) and Cody Lightning as Kenny (background) star in Jordan Melamed's MANIC. An IFC Films release. (l to r): Lyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) (NOT in thumbnail), Kenny (Cody Lightning), Sara (Sara Rivas), Tracy (Zooey Deschanel) and David (Don Cheadle) star in Jordan Melamed's MANIC. Director Jordan Melamed (right) and the cast on the set of MANIC. An IFC Films release. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Lyle) in a scene from MANIC directed by Jordan Melamed. An IFC Films release. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Follows the fate of Lyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a violent adolescent who, in lieu of prison, is placed in a juvenile mental institution where he encounters a group of equally troubled teens. This motley crew - abused, sexually confused, violent, and yet hanging on by their grit and anger - becomes Lyle's last lifeline as he fights to find meaning in a world that seems to defy understanding.
Director
Jordan Melamed
Producer
Trudi Callon, Kirk Hassig
Screenwriter
Michael Bacall, Blayne Weaver
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Manic LLC, Next Wave Films
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 9, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 19, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$70.2K
Runtime
1h 40m
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