Special

SPECIAL is a uneven; the higher the stakes get, the less the filmmakers seem to know how acute to make Les' instincts, let alone how to resolve the central issue. Paul Blackthorne is good as a businessman severely out of his depth, Jack Kehler finds poignancy as a stunned pharmaceutical rep and Josh Peck and Robert Baker are entertaining as Les' best buds. ... Full Review

By Jette Kernion (originally published on 10/29/06 -- Austin Film Festival) I wasn't sure what to expect from a movie called Special , "special" being a word that gets used snarkily and ironically these days. He's assisted by a strong script with good dialogue from writer-directors Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore . ... Full Review

Though Mr. Rapaport is affecting (and well cast) as Les, the character often feels condescended to, and his inner conflict becomes stranded in some desultory plot mechanics involving shady drug company executives. Special" takes the notion of the mentally unstable vigilante hero to its logical conclusion - outright delusion - and offers an empathetic alternative to the nihilism of the recent Batman pictures. ... Full Review

The story of a metermaid with big dreams who decides that his destiny is to become a superhero, Special works as an honest portrait of little people with big dreams even if it remains itself a little movie without a big impact. Admittedly much of the script is familiar, particularly his tenuous relationship with a stuttering (but of course adorable) grocery clerk whom he rescues from a robbery, but Rapaport provides one of the very few portrayals of metermaids that actually seems like plausible motivation ... Full Review

In Special , Les Franken (MICHAEL RAPAPORT) is a kind-hearted and soft-spoken man who loves reading comic books. We recently caught up with Michael Rapaport and the writing/directing duo of Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore to talk with them about this crazy new take on the super hero genre. ... Full Review

Where but in the fertile imagination of Steve Martin would Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso even meet, much less share drinks and theoretical discussions? The comic genius not only brings these two titans together, he makes them funny, likable -... ... Full Article

Michael Jackson's 51st birthday is going to be celebrated and remembered for a good cause at the Palms Casino and Resort in the Pearl Theater on Saturday, August 29th at 3pm. ... Full Article

Michael Rapaport stars as a metermaid who thinks he has superpowers but this is not your average superhero movie. Rappaport, who recently starred in the TV sitcom The War at Home, as well stints on My Name is Earl and... ... Full Article

By David Noh For movie details, please click here . Certain key scenes in Special take place in a comic-book store, frequented by the kinds of adolescents, as well as adults, who never grow out of that particular mindset-who will... ... Full Article

THERE is, alas, nothing particularly "Special" about this strange little movie that provides a rare starring role for Michael Rappaport, a ubiquitous and reliable supporting actor whose face is more recognizable than his name. ... Full Article

Satirical tale of a loner who believes he's a superhero.At the Sunshine Cinema (1:22).R: Language, violence, drugs . It may not be perfect, but this under-the-radar indie from Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore is smart enough to leave... ... Full Article