Film

A 'Special' Film

By Marcos Bernal-Salas

Friday, November 21, 2008

What if we – normal people – could suddenly acquire a super-power? What if there was a pill that could suddenly levitate us mid-air? That’s loosely the premise for ‘Special’ by directors Jeremy Passmore and Hal Haberman – and their first collaborative effort.

Les Franken played by Michael Rapaport is a soft- spoken, everyday man with a thankless job. Kind of a modern ‘Mr. Cellophane’ accepting his average life and reading comic books at the local store. But everything changes once he participates in an experimental drug study for a new anti-depressant called Specioprin Hydrochloride; aka Special. As he begins to experience side effects he also begins to develop powers such as the ability to read people’s mind – or at least it seems so at first.

‘Special’ is a mix of comic book film an dark satire. The filmmakers’ commentary about the pharmaceutical industry and the culture surround it is not heavy handed but poignant. And even though it starts off the story, all the other elements of the film arise at their due time thanks to the impeccable writing and acting. Rapaport is great in the role and definitely seems to be having fun letting go and experiencing Les Franken – which is close to what the character is all about – after you drink the magical pill of course.

The film is simply superb without the big effects and whistles of the big Hollywood machine – which everyone has become used to see in most ‘superhero’ movies. That’s probably one of the reasons for Magnet Releasing to have ‘Special’ as part of their second film in their Six Shooter Film Series – and rightly so keeping company with ‘Let The Right One In’. It seems that great films are on the rise and ‘Special’ is definitely one of those rare and great films to enjoy these days.

Check out ‘Special’ Official Site