IMDb > Special (2006/I) > IMDb user comments

IMDb user comments for
Special (2006/I) More at IMDbPro »

Filter: Hide Spoilers:
Page 1 of 2:[1] [2] [Next]
Index 17 comments in total 

47 out of 56 people found the following comment useful :-
absolutely fantastic., 18 August 2006
10/10
Author: superhawk_5 from United Kingdom

Just saw this film at the Edinburgh film festival, nearly went to see something else instead and i'm so glad i didn't! First half of the film is very funny, lots of ridiculous yet sorrowful scenes of the main characters self belief in his own superpowers.

I rarely find "comedy " films in any way amusing, but found myself crying with laughter at a lot of this.Very subtle, believable performances which make it heartrending when most of the laughs give way to a film dripping with sadness and important comments about the way we live today, and the search to find something important and special within ourselves. Film looks beautiful too, lots of strange fluorescent lighting. I can't rave about this film enough, its such a gem. Hilariously sad if that makes any sense....

Was the above comment useful to you?

23 out of 26 people found the following comment useful :-
A seriously under-rated masterpiece, 2 September 2007
8/10
Author: Thomas Hardcastle from United Kingdom

I love this film. It's a bittersweet tale of life, loneliness, expectancy, and fulfilment.

The acting is superb, the storyline is original. The director gives the audience all the information in a concise way, enabling the viewers to immediately understand the scenario, and be able to both laugh at and sympathise with the protagonist throughout the rest of the movie.

Rapaport is incredible. His performance is under-stated and fits the character and the situation like a glove.

There is nothing wrong with this film at all. It's clever, it's funny, it's sad, and most of all, it's entertaining. I could watch this film over and over again. I was touched in the end. This is a lovely film.

Was the above comment useful to you?

21 out of 24 people found the following comment useful :-
Promising Debut for Writer/Directors and Rapaport is Super, 22 January 2006
8/10
Author: filmfortheblind from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Special is a very enjoyable movie that includes some of the best acting by Michael Rapaport and an extremely promising debut from first time directors Hal Haberman & Jeremy Passmore. The movie is shot on a low budget which negatively effects the look of the film as well as the music and titling. The story and acting however rise above this and create a very entertaining and ultimately gratifying movie.

Rapaport's role as a delusional meter maid who thinks he becomes a superhero is one that the audience can laugh at, yet identify with. The film does a great job of balancing the humor with drama and Rapaport plays out his character very well. I was skeptical before I saw the film but any hesitations I had were gone by the end of the first act.

Writer and directors Hal Haberman & Jeremy Passmore did an incredibly good job with the script. The movie seemed to remain alive throughout the duration of the film with very few slow points. Again, the blend of humor and drama was amazing and Hal & Jeremy showed capability beyond most seasoned Hollywood filmmakers.

Was the above comment useful to you?

20 out of 24 people found the following comment useful :-
Open your eyes, 7 October 2006
8/10
Author: the_soft_focus from Switzerland

Go out and see this great movie if you can. If this movie is in your neck of the woods, and your searching for something to do on a cheap matinée Monday night, this is your ticket. Your week will be better because of it. Actually, pay full price for this movie because its worth it. And because the directors and actors deserve the extra $5.00 or what have you.

I got the privilege of seeing this film at its opening night in the Zurich Film Festival. A little treat followed after the movie with a Q & A with writer and co-director Jeremy Passmore. This USC grad and his home-e came up on a whim with the idea of this movie, and within 18 months ( 18 days of shooting) made this feature. The movie itself: great storyline with phenomenal acting by one of my favorites M. Rapp. He was undeniably crucial in making this movie seem 'real'. So fabulous was this 'low' budget superhero movie. Fabulous. The characters, the foundation, the storyline, imagination ... the believability and emotional recognition for the characters ... it all was there. Made me want to laugh, made me want to cry and made me want to change the world. Awesome. That is what movies are supposed to make you feel. Hats off to these two directors and their crew with their first film ( which they were going to put on CCards before they got backing from agencies ... among other things) From what Jeremy was saying, everyone was supremely underpaid and overworked, but in the end, all knew that the finished product was worth more than anything. One of my top 10 for 2006.

Was the above comment useful to you?

12 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
Excellent, subtle, funny, touching small film that gives us a magnificent Rappaport, 16 February 2006
9/10
Author: Rajeev Dassani (rajeevdassani@yahoo.com) from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I just saw this film at the Hollywood pacific, the debut feature of a pair of recent USC grads, and I was blown away. The basic premise could have been taken in so many silly and campy directions, but instead they choose to play it in a way that is hilarious and yet almost sad, which gives us this wonderful melancholy feel. The doctor is hilarious, right from the first genius telepathy scene. I was surprised how much I was laughing and then suddenly cringing and then saddened within the span of a few seconds, it was an amazing and sophisticated directing job to get me to that place and not ever pull me out of it.

In the end though, the thing that really makes the film is Michael Rappaport. My god, he plays what could have been campy lines (not to say they are badly written, in fact the writing is absolutely stellar, its just that this was a difficult role to "pull off) with the utmost delicacy and sincerity, and I for one became totally entombed in his character purely on his charisma and the everyman melancholic charm he possesses in spades and has made use of ever since I saw him for the first time in "Beautiful Girls". Really, I want him to win awards for his difficult and touching part in this film.

Was the above comment useful to you?

21 out of 32 people found the following comment useful :-
Funny, emotional, great!, 29 October 2006
10/10
Author: krisgaluska from United States

Best movie at the Austin Film Festival. One of the best movies of the year. Funny, emotional, and one of the few recent movies that is generally unpredictable.

Michael Rapaport is brilliant. He has a subtlety about him that I did not expect from his TV show, "The War at Home." He has scenes of great physical comedy, and emotional scenes that nearly brought a tear to my eye.

I don't want to give away anything about the story. The log-line gives all the information for you to know what the movie is about. Seek this movie out. Take your friends with you.

It is too easy for us to just exist throughout our lives. It is up to us as individuals to make ourselves truly Special.

Was the above comment useful to you?

11 out of 15 people found the following comment useful :-
donnie darko meets superman, 14 March 2007
8/10
Author: boozy_bean from United Kingdom

at first when the film started i thought it was going to be a long drawn out cheap indie film but i loved it, this film had the same feel to it as darko did but with this film i was not left feeling confused and bewildered, the acting in this film is the same class of such classics like darko and eternal sunshine of the spotless mind that you don't realise that there is no big names in this film but you are sure that they will be in big films to come. so if independent movies are your thing this film is a must see. P.S there is a lot of super hero films coming out at the moment(spiderman 3 fantastic 4.2) but non of them will make you think like this film does

Was the above comment useful to you?

4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Rapaport is EXCELLENT!, 24 October 2006
10/10
Author: a_cerase from Canada

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I saw this movie a few days ago at the new Toronto After Dark Film Festival. First off, this movie was a little more serious than I thought it was going to be after seeing the trailer. Fear not, it has plenty of funny moments though! I was impressed by the fact it was, in a way, a movie where the underdog (such as a kid bullied by the more popular kids) comes back to win in the end without being one of the typical Hollywood 'feel-good' or 'after-school special' movies. At least that was from my point of view.

Rapaport was perfect in this movie. I cannot imagine anyone else playing Les. From his portrayal of being a simple guy with a simple life, to his slide downhill into mental illness, he played the role to a T. He seemed to give himself completely to the character, but was never over the top. He made the character real.

Go see this movie when it comes out. You won't be disappointed.

Was the above comment useful to you?

4 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Another excellent role for Josh Peck, 16 August 2006
10/10
Author: interesting_drug from United Kingdom

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I was lucky enough to attend the UK premiere of Special as part of the Edinburgh Film Festival. I had been looking forward to seeing the film for months and I was not left disappointed.

The basic premise of the film is as follows; Les Franken (played by Michael Rapaport) enrols in a testing programme for a new drug named Specioprin Hydrochloride. A side effect of the drug causes him to believe has developed superhuman powers such as levitation and mind reading. He then decides, against the advice of his doctor and his friends, to use these "powers" to fight crime.

I was only familiar with Michael Rapaport through his role as Pheobe's one time boyfriend on Friends and I was pleasantly surprised by his performance. He is instantly likable as a character which of course is essential as he in every single scene of the film.

The main reason that I went to see this film was Josh Peck, who gives yet another staggeringly good performance as Joey, a stoner who works in a comic book store. This film only further solidified my belief that Josh is the greatest actor of all time. Most people will be familiar with him through his Nickelodeon show, Drake and Josh. His role in Special, like his role in Mean Creek also, will likely shock those who think they can pigeonhole him.

The film constantly walks the line between the humorous and the intense. The first half of the film offers a few laughs at Rapaport's delusion however things turn sinister in the latter half with some extremely violent scenes.

Another thing to note about the film is the sublime soundtrack. The scoring was lovely, and reminiscent of Michael Andrews' work in Me and You and Everyone We Know.

There was a Q&A with the films producers after the screening where they said the film would be released in the USA in early 2007, and late 2006 in the UK.

Was the above comment useful to you?

1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
The best movie I have ever seen, 15 September 2009
10/10
Author: cjk_35 from United States

I love this movie! Everyone should see it! The most underrated film ever! four stars! I laughed, I cried and in the end my life was changed! Okay enough with the ass kissing. Let me tell you what it's about. Les is a loser who likes to read comics. He volunteers for an experiment to take a new drug. The drug causes him to believe he has super powers and he becomes a superhero. But the drug company finds out about this and try to stop him.

I know this sounds like an off the way silly comedy, but is not. It is serous and has a lot of heart. Watching this movie you will find yourself caring about the characters. His pain will become your pain, he happiness will become your happiness. This is what every underdog story should be.

I'm surprised I wrote that since I am tired of underdog stories. But this movie really brings out the nobody becoming somebody and then facing an unstoppable force story.

The movie is directed and written by Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore who I hope to see more of in the coming years. They should have a bright future in movie making. Michael Rapaport gives a performance of a life time. I really didn't think he had it in him. I thought he was a crappy sitcom star that can't act but he proved me wrong. Michael rapaport is Oscar worthy.

The Production is very good considering the budget. There is not one shot in the movie that looks fake. The set design and locations fit well with the story.

In closing Special is great movie that you should watch.

Was the above comment useful to you?
Page 1 of 2:[1] [2] [Next]

Add another comment

Related Links

Plot summary Ratings External reviews
Parents Guide Official site Plot keywords
Main details Your user comments Your vote history