Lyle Jensen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has a few issues with anger management. Most of the time, he's in complete control, but one day, during a baseball game, he loses it and almost kills someone. Lyle's not quite eighteen yet, so he's sent to a psychiatric hospital, where he learns that compared to others, his problems are nothing. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the single most underrated and under appreciated actor in all of Hollywood. I've seen a lot of his films, some are great and some are awful, but the fact remains that he always gives a strong performance and makes even the worst movie that much better. Manic was a rare inside look at a youth psychiatric facility, but there wasn't much of a story behind it. Of course we meet Lyle and the other patients, finding out why they're there, but there really isn't a point to it. The quality of the film further decreases with the way it was filmed, as every scene features constant movement from numerous angles. Similar to these camcorder films, I honestly found it pretty distracting, not to mention nauseating. The best part of Manic though is clearly the performances. This was released in 2001, before any of the stars were household names, however after seeing the film, it's easy to see why they all became popular. Don Cheadle is another actor that doesn't get the recognition he deserves, playing the Doctor in Manic, he is the glue that brings everyone together. Even with JGL's performance, this film is a mess of nonsense without Don Cheadle. Manic is somewhat disturbing and filmed in a way that makes it hard to watch, but the performances are just about as good as it gets and make this film worth seeing.

A film that not everybody knows which maybe is a good thing.I will be honest. I only wanted to watch this movie because it was Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's first movie together prior to (500) Days of Summer. I expect Joseph's bright face smiling all through the film with no care in the world and Zooey's aura just lightening up the whole set with her beautiful blue-ish, green-ish, grey-ish eyes (frankly, despite practically worshiping her, I don't really know her eye color). My God was I wrong.This movie made me scared of Gordon-Levitt. Seeing him in (500) Days of Summer, I thought he was a crazy loony and like every other guy who has watched (500) Days of Summer, saw ourselves in him. But Lyle, the character he plays is not a pleasant one.I've only seen Zooey Deschanel's big movies like Elf, (500) Days of Summer, Yes Man etc. and only seen her characters in a more of a calm type of person. I never seen her in an intense emotion as I did in Manic. I felt sympathetic for her character. Also her appearance was real just as everyone else in the film. I think they didn't have a make department for the film and I think it was intentional.As for Don Cheadle, he is Don Cheadle, what more can I add? The plot is a roller coaster ride of emotions, most of them practically being negative. Its a psycho thriller that will have you shaking with rage.Overall, the movie is real. The camera is in weird angles and made me a little dizzy but that's just the effect. Everyone looked greasy but that's what the intention was. The theme is great, good to anybody especially any young adult who is facing issues in life. The ending has an important symbolism that will have the viewer sorting out his/her life.

This movie started off a little heavy and I at first had to ask myself if I was emotionally ready for a long venture into a darker movie. However, after the opening scenes the movie takes shape and what is to be a most accurate description of life as a youth in a "mental institute" begins to unfold. I myself have been in an extraordinarily similar position as Lyle (the main character), going through the ropes of being forced into such an institution and the portrayal is spot on. This film does the world justice by painting a picture of youth that are truly troubled at heart and the struggles that they go through. The characters are truly unique and yet viable at the same time and the cast could not have been more well selected. The relationships that are built and the interactions between parties are truly stunning. I was blown away by how real the entire film felt, especially being quite experienced in it's content and nature. The cast and crew clearly did their homework before embarking on the set. See this film if you're in the mood for a heavy yet feel good movie. Some parts of the film are difficult to experience but in the end you are left with a sense of connectedness and hope for the characters that you will be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

What I like about this film is that it doesn't try to be overly optimistic in order to make you believe that everyone turns out alright. This particular formula of a bunch of teenagers in a psychiatric ward may have been used many times before in other films, but this one leaves me with the greatest impression. Yes, everyone has difficult problems to get through in their lives, but it's how certain people deal with them that makes them end up in situations like this. So many things discussed by the group and even the counselor ring true.It's no surprise that extras were actual young people who've been in psychiatric care sometime in their lives. Even so, Gordon-Levitt does a phenomenal job of being someone who struggles deeply with his emotions and his past.