Special 2006

Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies: The premise is intriguing, and the film is occasionally amusing, but it feels stuck between a completely satirical farce and an aching drama. Read more

Scott Tobias, AV Club: Its ambitions are limited -- though at 81 minutes, wisely proportioned -- but its heart is in the right place. Read more

Adam Markovitz, Entertainment Weekly: Thanks to Rapaport's brio in embracing the hero's drug-induced delusions, the movie is less a failure than a noble experiment gone awry. Read more

Amy Nicholson, I.E. Weekly: Shot for pennies -- a cash limitation that benefits the production's creativity and credibility -- this haunting film keeps shifting the ground under our feet Read more

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. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: Rappaport does a yeoman's job in this tonally confused oddity. Read more

Mark Holcomb, Time Out: Special is an inexplicable downer that favors pathos over satire. Read more

Robert Koehler, Variety: Special enjoyably toys with some knockabout comedy until it begins to take itself too seriously. Read more

Aaron Hillis, Village Voice: Rappaport's befuddled sincerity has never registered so poignantly, but given its singular premise, for the film to waste an easy opportunity to satirize vigilante do-goodery and pharmaceutical dependence is, well, villainous. Read more