anic”” is a disturbing drama about 17-year-old Lyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who finds himself in an institution with other troubled youths after beating one of his peers close to death with a baseball bat.
This film is enough to put one in a post-mania depressive state, even if one doesn’t suffer from clinical manic-depression. It is stark and dizzying (and not “”dizzying”” in some figurative sense). This is obviously done to convey the unstable states of the characters in each shot, but it is an unnecessary and nauseating aesthetic. Do not take a date to this feature, unless of course, both of your ideas of a good time include abusive behavior, toppling furniture, self-mutilation and sickening camera tricks.
Lyle’s character is verbally reserved and expresses himself with little else than violence. He immediately butts heads with the bully Michael (Elden Henson) and buddies up with Chad (Michael Bacall), seemingly the truest bipolar manic-depressive in the film.
The stoic girls of the group, goth-girl Sara (Sara Rivas) and violent-nightmare-sufferer Tracey (Zooey Dechanel), often watch the males act out in the recurring group therapy circle, facilitated by Dr. Monroe (Don Cheadle), who seems to suffer from either addiction or manic depression himself. The result of this equation is a very volatile group of characters bound for inevitable violent conflict and repeated disaster.
“”Manic”” does, however, address relevant issues of the most recent generation in a responsible, yet noncommittal (so to speak) fashion. Any young member of the audience will be able to identify with at least one of the characters. The characters, as well as the certain aspects of popular culture that they address (i.e., raves, Rage Against the Machine, PlayStation, etc.) are geared toward an estranged, institutionalized medicated generation. The lesson to be learned, according to Dr. Monroe, is that, “”wherever you’re going, you’re still gonna be there.””
The strongest point of this film is the acting jobs of some of the young actors, particularly Gordon-Levitt as Lyle. One would never believe that this is the kid from “”Third Rock from the Sun,”” as he exercises his power to identify with the audience one moment, then estrange us the next.
Henson portrays Lyle’s nemesis, Michael, in such a way that he is the most despicable, and thus, the most memorable of all. Michael attempts to disguise his insecurity with the bravado of black stereotypes, although he is as white as can be. Bacall also gives a profound performance as Chad.
Although this film is shot in such a way as to nauseate and spell out the obvious, its sense of timing is stunning and the original soundtrack is sublime. But be ready — it’s a rough one, a downer and by no means a feel-good movie.
Manic
***
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel
In theaters May 23
Rated R