Manic (2001) is a gritty film, centered around the juvenile ward of a mental institution and filmed with a handheld camera.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Lyle, one of the ward’s patients who is prone to very violent outbursts. Surrounding him are patients with equally serious issues, including self-harming Tracy (Zooey Deschanel) and bipolar Chad (Michael Bacall). Don Cheadle is Dr. Monroe, the ward’s conflicted psychologist.
Cheadle and Gordon-Levitt give vivid performances that are, in my opinion, borderline award worthy. The script and characters are powerful on their own, but these two actors bring a certain intensity to the screen that takes the entire film to a new level. The result is an honest, heavy portrayal of teen depression, as well as the conflict between society and the “mentally ill” — certainly not a light or fun watch, but worthy of much more attention than it has received in the past.
Manic is available for instant streaming and DVD delivery on Netflix.
The Motion Pictures 