14 votes

Maniac review – Jonah Hill and Emma Stone hit career highs in NYC dystopia

20 comments

  1. [11]
    creepmyrtle
    Link
    Wow, didn't realize this was out already. Glad to see ~30 min episode lengths. I've been struggling with shows that have hour long episodes for some reason. Looking forward to checking it out this...

    Wow, didn't realize this was out already. Glad to see ~30 min episode lengths. I've been struggling with shows that have hour long episodes for some reason. Looking forward to checking it out this weekend.

    Should this be under ~tv instead of ~movies?

    6 votes
    1. [10]
      dubteedub
      Link Parent
      I agree. I really prefer the shorter 30 minute episode length. Binge watching 40 - 60 minute shows just feels like a chore. Also, yeah, my bad. I just moved it over to ~tv.

      I agree. I really prefer the shorter 30 minute episode length. Binge watching 40 - 60 minute shows just feels like a chore.

      Also, yeah, my bad. I just moved it over to ~tv.

      3 votes
      1. cfabbro
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        I actually thought Maniac was a movie when I first saw the trailer a few days ago, since it looked like it had a huge production value, a distinctly film-like mind-bending story, and was starring...

        I actually thought Maniac was a movie when I first saw the trailer a few days ago, since it looked like it had a huge production value, a distinctly film-like mind-bending story, and was starring such huge names. So imagine my surprise (and excitement) reading these comments just now and finding out it's actually an episodic series! :P

        5 votes
      2. [8]
        creepmyrtle
        Link Parent
        Yep, I slogged through Castle Rock on Hulu recently and it was difficult to even keep myself from falling asleep most weeks.

        Yep, I slogged through Castle Rock on Hulu recently and it was difficult to even keep myself from falling asleep most weeks.

        1 vote
        1. [7]
          dubteedub
          Link Parent
          Yeah, I am glad that I watched Castle Rock as it was coming out every week. It would have been torture to watch it all in one go. I also just need to say that the ending for Castle Rock was so...

          Yeah, I am glad that I watched Castle Rock as it was coming out every week. It would have been torture to watch it all in one go.

          I also just need to say that the ending for Castle Rock was so unfulfilling, so they definitely got the Stephen King feel right on that point.

          2 votes
          1. anas
            Link Parent
            Your comment captured my feelings on Castle Rock exactly.

            Your comment captured my feelings on Castle Rock exactly.

            2 votes
          2. [5]
            creepmyrtle
            Link Parent
            Haha, I watched it week to week too and I still had a tough time! What did you think of Maniac? I've only watched the first episode and I'm sold. I was getting a lot of Philip K. Dick vibes from...

            Haha, I watched it week to week too and I still had a tough time! What did you think of Maniac? I've only watched the first episode and I'm sold. I was getting a lot of Philip K. Dick vibes from it. It's also a lot funnier than I was expecting.

            1 vote
            1. [4]
              dubteedub
              Link Parent
              I'm actually traveling abroad right now so I havent watched Maniac yet I'm waiting until I get back so I can watch it with my wife It certainly looks exactly up my alley with surrealist dystopia...

              I'm actually traveling abroad right now so I havent watched Maniac yet

              I'm waiting until I get back so I can watch it with my wife

              It certainly looks exactly up my alley with surrealist dystopia scifi

              Brazil is probably my favorite movie of all time

              1 vote
              1. [3]
                creepmyrtle
                Link Parent
                We have similar tastes then. Brazil is also one my all time favs. Did you see Sorry to Bother You?

                We have similar tastes then. Brazil is also one my all time favs. Did you see Sorry to Bother You?

                1 vote
                1. [2]
                  dubteedub
                  Link Parent
                  Of course, Sorry to Bother You was probably my favorite movie this year!

                  Of course, Sorry to Bother You was probably my favorite movie this year!

                  1 vote
  2. [3]
    mrbig
    Link
    I started watching and soon realized this is not the type of show to "watch" while I work. So I switched to rewatching friends for the 10th time. Will come back to it in my "serious TV" time.

    I started watching and soon realized this is not the type of show to "watch" while I work. So I switched to rewatching friends for the 10th time. Will come back to it in my "serious TV" time.

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      stephen
      Link Parent
      Nice to know that I am not the only one who does this. Not necessarily the habit I'd like to have normalized since I am not convinced its healthy but nice to know even still.

      Nice to know that I am not the only one who does this. Not necessarily the habit I'd like to have normalized since I am not convinced its healthy but nice to know even still.

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        Comment deleted by author
        Link Parent
        1. stephen
          Link Parent
          My thought regarding rewatching a show for the tenth time (for me that parks and rec., bojack, archer, etc etc) was that there has to be something wrong with not wanting to be alone with my...

          My thought regarding rewatching a show for the tenth time (for me that parks and rec., bojack, archer, etc etc) was that there has to be something wrong with not wanting to be alone with my thoughts for more than like 20 minutes. Or maybe the desire for constant stimulation. Or the further thought than neither of those behaviors are conscious decisions but rather the way my brain has been conditioned on autopilot.

          3 votes
  3. Traveler
    Link
    I'm late to the party, but I'm just done watching this and... I quite liked it. The story starts really slowly because of how the first two episodes are structured, but then it picks up and stays...

    I'm late to the party, but I'm just done watching this and... I quite liked it.

    The story starts really slowly because of how the first two episodes are structured, but then it picks up and stays interesting until the very end.

    I was really surprised by Jonah Hill, I didn't know he had such range! And I was glad that, for once, a character in a series/movie (when you think about it Maniac US really is a movie) suffering from mental illness was actually seeking help, instead of running from it.

    Hill and Stone had the opportunity to show us a variety of emotions and it was quite fun to watch. The rest of the cast was great too, of course.

    In the end I think some plot points are open to debate since not everything is fully explained, but that's ok. You can take the story as if or you can try to look deeper into it, there's room to enjoy both approach.

    If I had to summarize Maniac real quick in a spoiler-free manner, I'd say it's a story about people coping with their emotions.

    In quite a weird way, Maniac made me feel... hopeful. I recommend it.


    PS: I think I'm still in love with Emma Stone. Send help.

    3 votes
  4. dubteedub
    Link
    I am really excited to see this. Cary Fukunaga directed much of Season 1 of True Detective and I think really showed off his chops there. The reviews are all coming in that this is going to be...

    I am really excited to see this. Cary Fukunaga directed much of Season 1 of True Detective and I think really showed off his chops there. The reviews are all coming in that this is going to be great.

    Previous discussion and trailer available here - https://tildes.net/~tv/4ij/maniac_is_a_mind_bending_drama_starring_emma_stone_and_jonah_hill

    2 votes
  5. Pilgrim
    Link
    So excited for this one. Love Jonah Hill

    So excited for this one. Love Jonah Hill

    2 votes
  6. trojanhorse
    Link
    I really liked maniac and I didn't think that it would be as well received as it was. It seems like shows like that are only well-received if they're marketed it a specific way. And I just didn't...

    I really liked maniac and I didn't think that it would be as well received as it was. It seems like shows like that are only well-received if they're marketed it a specific way. And I just didn't see this show marketed the same way. I really liked it and the two did a really great job with their parts.

    2 votes
  7. Neverland
    Link
    On episode 1 right now. Wow! This is excellent so far.

    On episode 1 right now. Wow! This is excellent so far.

    1 vote
  8. stephen
    Link
    I don't know if I want to watch Jonah Hill hit the high water mark of his career tbh. Does that make me a snob? Am I a snob y'all?

    I don't know if I want to watch Jonah Hill hit the high water mark of his career tbh. Does that make me a snob? Am I a snob y'all?