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Special

Play trailer Poster for Special R Released Nov 21, 2008 1h 22m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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59% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Les Franken (Michael Rapaport) has a boring and undistinguished life as a parking-meter monitor until he decides to participate in an experimental drug study. He experiences some strange side effects which make him think he is developing special powers, a belief that leads him to quit his dead-end job and start a new one -- as a superhero.
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Critics Consensus

This quirky indie comedy's low budget is readily apparent, but it's elevated by Michael Rapaport's dedicated performance.

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Critics Reviews

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Keith Uhlich House Next Door Take[s] a page from the cartoonist Bill Watterson, who noted of the tiger protagonist in his great Calvin & Hobbes, 'The nature of [the character's] reality doesn't interest me, and each story goes out of its way to avoid resolving the issue.' Nov 21, 2008 Full Review Lou Lumenick New York Post Rappaport does a yeoman's job in this tonally confused oddity. Rated: 1.5/4 Nov 21, 2008 Full Review Elizabeth Weitzman New York Daily News It may not be perfect, but this under-the-radar indie from Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore is smart enough to leave you glad you found it. Rated: 4/5 Nov 21, 2008 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Despite its grand metaphor about little people with big dreams often having to give them up for a painful dose of The Real World, the film works better as a neat little indie comedy chock-full of goofiness. Rated: 3/4 Dec 15, 2023 Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter Wildly funny at times, the film aims to break your heart and despite pushing its own special powers to their limits I think it succeeds. May 21, 2020 Full Review David Harris Spectrum Culture It seems that Haberman and Passmore's film is just as unsure of itself as Les: is Special a comedy, a political statement, an action film or a tragedy? Rated: 1.5/5 Oct 2, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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aaron g One of those painfully slow and unsatisfying indie movies. Rappaport was really good, it's just that the pace and actual content made it feel much longer than its 1:25m runtime. OK that I watched once, but not for the library. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Many people have described this low budget film as a "comedy". I do not see it that way at all. Rather, this as a tragedy about a good-natured man who becomes the victim of a reckless drug experiment. The movie takes the point of view of an emotionally suffering individual who becomes unable to discern reality from his drug induced hallucinations. The film does a great job of blurring the line so we experience the psychosis along with him. It does have moments of quirkiness, but underlying it all is a sadness because we know the man is slipping away. Ultimately, through his own sure will power, he triumphs over his psychosis by "getting up" and not letting a heartless world destroy him. The movie has its flaws, but I found it captivating. The lead actor, Michael Rapaport, is excellent. The music adds an edgy flavor as well. Well done. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review phil v Totally loved it. Totally heartbreaking. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member They did a good job of using a small budget to their advantage. It actually adds to the film. A bit depressing despite attempts at an uplifting message at the end. Rating: C Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member A film that keeps you wondering until the end as to whether or not the lead has special powers or is creating them in his mind. Obviously low budgeting and the acting slips every now and again but not bad. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member This movie's quirky main character drove a story that was very memorable. We enjoyed the potential realism concept. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Special

Michael Rapaport as Les in "Special." Michael Rapaport as Les and Jack Kehler as Dr. Dobson in "Special." Charlie Babcock, Michael Rapaport as Les and Robert Baker as Everett in "Special." Alexandra Holden as Maggie in "Special." Directors Jeremy Passmore and Hal Haberman on the set of "Special." A scene from "Special." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Les Franken (Michael Rapaport) has a boring and undistinguished life as a parking-meter monitor until he decides to participate in an experimental drug study. He experiences some strange side effects which make him think he is developing special powers, a belief that leads him to quit his dead-end job and start a new one -- as a superhero.
Director
Hal Haberman, Jeremy Passmore
Producer
Frank Mele, Edward Parks
Screenwriter
Hal Haberman, Jeremy Passmore
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Production Co
Rival Pictures
Rating
R (Brief Drug Use|Some Violence|Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 21, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.4K
Runtime
1h 22m
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