Featured Audience Ratings

• Anthony L

  
  Michael Rapaport makes you believe in the character, this is one of the best performances I've seen from him. The story is actually brilliantly written although I don't think we should be told from the beginning that his powers are in fact in his conscious and not real until… More
  Michael Rapaport makes you believe in the character, this is one of the best performances I've seen from him. The story is actually brilliantly written although I don't think we should be told from the beginning that his powers are in fact in his conscious and not real until the end of the film, it would have certainly been a lot better than the rubbish last scene we where left with. I like the style, the effects and the overall feel to the film, a few tweaks here and there and it would have been awesome. Much better than Super and Griff the Invisible but still not as good as Defendor.

• Devon B

  
  What happens when a parking meter cop with low self-esteem gets super powers? What if he just believes he has super powers even though they're just hallucinations? It's kind of a funny premise, and with a target as big as the modern pharmaceutical industry, you think… More
  What happens when a parking meter cop with low self-esteem gets super powers? What if he just believes he has super powers even though they're just hallucinations? It's kind of a funny premise, and with a target as big as the modern pharmaceutical industry, you think it'd be rife with wicked satire, but "Special" is more content to be a psychological study of an insecure man on the verge of madness. Les (Michael Rapaport) is a mild-mannered loser who signs up for an experimental new drug designed to boost self-confidence. The drug works wonders for most in the test group, but for Les, a man obsessed with comic books and super heroes, it gives him the illusion he's garnered some new and unique super powers of his own, which he, of course, must use to combat evil wherever he may find it (usually at the local convenience store). The financial backers of this new wonder drug find out about Les' super hero adventuring, mainly due to him wearing their logo on the back of his homemade superhero suit, and are displeased to see some nut scaring off the pharmaceutical company they were hoping to sell it to, and so they begin to try and hush him up (which only serves to fuel his paranoia). As I said, it's a movie detailing a man's descent into madness, and while is has moments of comedy, it's very dark to be sure. Filmed on an obviously tight budget, the filmmakers make the most of what money they have to use. The movie really isn't bad, that is, until the final act, where they kind of lose focus (and steam). The ending is a bit of a mess. Still, it's not a bad attempt at a movie.

• Randy T

  
  A nerdy, social misfit volunteers for an experimental medical study of a new drug and discovers that the pills give him super powers. Back in high school I knew this guy who was kinda tall, had curly red hair, freckles, and was a total prick. Michael Rapaport looks a lot like that… More
  A nerdy, social misfit volunteers for an experimental medical study of a new drug and discovers that the pills give him super powers. Back in high school I knew this guy who was kinda tall, had curly red hair, freckles, and was a total prick. Michael Rapaport looks a lot like that guy. Now, that's not Michael Rapaport's fault, but every time I see him, in my mind, I see that other ass-hole. Why, you ask, am I telling you this? Because for me to say that Michael Rapaport is good in anything he has to be really (REALLY) good. In this film, he's good.

• Daniel H

  
  A churning, dark drama that inexplicably bills itself as satirical or humorous. The concept: to play out dark psychological drama against a paper-thin backdrop of comic-book heroism is jarring to say the least... especially when the self-importance of such a backdrop is continually… More
  A churning, dark drama that inexplicably bills itself as satirical or humorous. The concept: to play out dark psychological drama against a paper-thin backdrop of comic-book heroism is jarring to say the least... especially when the self-importance of such a backdrop is continually torn and punctured by the presence of the reality underneath it all. This isn't a film about a superhero dealing with being human, or a human trying to be a superhero. In the end, its an average human dealing with being human and getting very messed up in the process. Sadly, the plot is riddled with holes, and a small array of cinematic stylizations that eventually wear a bit thin. It takes a bit of effort to see past the low-budgeted hurdles... but such effort is rewarded with a glimpse of the inspired acting by Rapaport (the film beautifully abuses his nice-guy persona) as well as the simple yet grittily accented story underneath it all. A unique presentation of a depressing concept, which falters more often than it flies. Yet unlike other films, whose failures confuse or anger, one can clearly see (and enjoy) the film that lies beneath the blemishes. That achievement alone is something to be celebrated, and is the essence of independent film-making.

• A.D. V

  
  A satifsfyingly quirky comedy/drama with a standout performance from the underused Michael Rapaport. Worth it if you're looking for something a little different and unique.

• Steve K

  
  Fun, small independent film with a terrific performance by Rapaport as a medical test subject who experiences some interesting side effects. A small gem, worth seeing.

• Jason S

  
  It was ok. While Rapaport was good in the flick I think a lot of the weakness comes from the script. I'm not sure it really knew what to do with itself after introducing the main object of the plot. A man who signs up for a drug test starts to imagine that he has super powers.… More
  It was ok. While Rapaport was good in the flick I think a lot of the weakness comes from the script. I'm not sure it really knew what to do with itself after introducing the main object of the plot. A man who signs up for a drug test starts to imagine that he has super powers. What should we do with the story after that? I dunno. The writer seems to think that the best thing to do was to let it wind down until the credits rolled. At the end of the movie I was only thinking one thing. What was the point of it all?

• Nicki M

  
  Idiotic, but more watchable than it should have been. Alexandra Holden was a highlight - now there's an actress that is capable of much better than this.

• Aaron N

  
  Les: And these really work? Dr. Dobson: Our results have been remarkably promising. Michael Rapaport, best known as an actor with a familiar face and a Brooklyn accent or as Dick Ritchie in True Romance, stars as a lonely man who has a reaction to some experimental pills. He starts… More
  Les: And these really work? Dr. Dobson: Our results have been remarkably promising. Michael Rapaport, best known as an actor with a familiar face and a Brooklyn accent or as Dick Ritchie in True Romance, stars as a lonely man who has a reaction to some experimental pills. He starts to believe he has superheroes. The movie starts with Rapaport as Les, a man who works as a meter maid. He has only a few friends and is generally shy. We find Les at a drug testing facility where he is given a drug called special. Soon Les begins to believe he can fly. Shortly after this he believes he has other power as well, including walking through walls and telepathy. We the audience, as well as everyone else knows that Les is in fact having a psychotic reaction to the drugs. More problems arise when the creators of the drug try to get a hold of Les, who has taken it upon himself to try and fight crime. Les: You can't make me stop. Rapaport is great in this role. He is rarely given a lead role, but here he is absolutely solid. This movie may have moments of comedy, but Rapaport and the movie as a whole is dark, sad, but oddly touching as well. The film's gritty, independent feel combined with a few visual tricks to convey the split perspectives of Les' "powers" between him and his onlookers only adds to the effectiveness of the film. The grungy soundtrack is effective as well. At 80 minutes, the film is a bit simplistic, leaves a few points underused, and didn't leave me completely satisfied by its conclusion, however the final expression on Rapaport's face in this film was fairly powerful. A nice film under the radar. Les: The truth is, with so many billions and billions of people on the planet, most of us can't be unique or important in any meaningful way.

• Curtis L

  
  It's times like this that I'm reminded why i love movies so much. Michael Rapaport is my hero. He just makes such a big lovable guy that bad things seem to happen to, but he's too oblivious to notice. The concept for this film is the real gem, and you're… More
  It's times like this that I'm reminded why i love movies so much. Michael Rapaport is my hero. He just makes such a big lovable guy that bad things seem to happen to, but he's too oblivious to notice. The concept for this film is the real gem, and you're gauranteed to laugh a few times...and you'll probably be pretty depressed at the end. Good stuff.

• Christopher H

  
  With the serious, "dedicated" performance from Michael Rapaport, Special would just be another low budget, independent film. But with that performance comes a truthfulness that carries the off-the-wall concept to a level of seriousness that is then taken seriously. With the… More
  With the serious, "dedicated" performance from Michael Rapaport, Special would just be another low budget, independent film. But with that performance comes a truthfulness that carries the off-the-wall concept to a level of seriousness that is then taken seriously. With the craze of average people becoming superheroes (Kick Ass, Super, Bad Ass), Special is a nice change of pace, looking more at the human psyche rather than the bravado and action that comes with fighting crime.

• Kyle S

  
  Saw this about a year ago and never got around to rating it, check it out, really great comedy that has it's touching moments aswell.

• Aurelius D

  
  "The truth is, with so many billions and billions of people on the planet, most of us can't be unique or important in any meaningful way." -- Something I have thought to myself far too many times over the years and this movie says oh so well. I am not even sure… More
  "The truth is, with so many billions and billions of people on the planet, most of us can't be unique or important in any meaningful way." -- Something I have thought to myself far too many times over the years and this movie says oh so well. I am not even sure exactly how I came upon this movie, I think it's because I'm a Michael Rapaport fan. It's interesting to me because he plays a normal guy who decides to try an experimental anti depressant. He's a meter maid, and I know how they get made fun of in other films, but the way his character is so down to earth and just so genuine it's like you feel for him. I guess I sympathize with him because of the way he feels sometimes, he talks about how he read a story about a demon that ate the spirit off a person in their sleep for 16 years. Since it was spread out like that they never really knew what was missing, they just felt like they were missing something. So he's the typical every man that enjoys comics and has a pretty lonely and uneventful life. But it seems that once he starts taking these pills next thing you know he's flying...only he's not. It's like...you think he is, but at the same time you doubt it. It's interesting because I mean you see him show it off to his stoner friends and you wonder are they just high or is it real. It's quite the trip. "Special" is a rather amusing title because I can imagine someone walking up to me telling me they think they have super powers. I'd think they are "special" too. It's funny watching him come to terms with his powers and trying to think about how to "be" a hero which all boils down to his costume. The sincerity to his belief that he's "special" doesn't really feel fart fetched or cliche. The fact that he goes out in public driving around in like a Geo looking for crime or stalking customers in and outside of stores he looks more like a pervert than a superhero. It's kind of funny watching him trying to prove his "powers" to people. Paul Blackthorne has a part in this movie as the head of this pharmaceutical company. I enjoyed his work in Dresden Files and 24, he plays a bad guy quite well. I guess he is suppose to be his "arch nemesis". There are some serious moments that have some serious shock value. The movie will be following a nice calm pace and next thing you know BAM out of left field something happens that totally takes you off guard. Paul's character is definitely someone you don't have any problem not liking in this film. The battle Good VS Evil isn't exactly like it's commonly portrayed, it's a bit more grounded. The movie is touching and and rather unique. If you want something you haven't seen before and just want to see something inventive yet touching from an actor that often gets underrated and under played this is definitely something that should be checked out.

• Marion R

  
  It's good and it accomplished what it set out to do. I wish I would have felt more emotionally involved.

• alan j

  
  Highly original in concept, this movie works more as a comedy than a human interest story. The first half is funny and works well, but the second half slows down and becomes more serious in nature and becomes a bit of a drag. It is almost as if the creators of the movie didn't… More
  Highly original in concept, this movie works more as a comedy than a human interest story. The first half is funny and works well, but the second half slows down and becomes more serious in nature and becomes a bit of a drag. It is almost as if the creators of the movie didn't know what direction to take the story, and ultimately ends with a thud. Great idea, but mediocre execution toward the end. To me, alot of potential but a missed opportunity.

• Christopher B

  
  One of the saddest things I've ever seen, and yet advertised as a comedy about an average joe who has a bad reaction to medication and believes he is a superhero. Rappaport gives the performance of his career in this sad, downbeat and great film.

Read all 16 featured audience ratings