Among other accomplishments, Netflix miniseries Maniac is proof the line between TV and film has blurred. Starring Emma Stone (La La Land) and Jonah Hill (Moneyball), the series follows troubled strangers Annie Landsberg and Owen Milgram as they participate in a mind-bending pharmaceutical trial. During the program, the two consume drugs that allow them to deal with their deepest issues.
Created by Patrick Somerville (The Leftovers) and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective), Maniac jumpsbetween Annie and Owen’s time at the trial and their varied connected dreams. Comprised of ten episodes, the miniseries is a must-watch of Netflix’s catalog. Here are ten reasons why it should be given a chance.
It Is A Short Self-Contained Story
One of the worries after falling in love with a series is it being canceled. In the streaming age where there are countless things to watch, many programs are not continued despite fan acclaim. Maniac avoids that issue since it was always envisioned by Somerville as a limited series.
Spanning only ten episodes, the story of Annie and Owen is finished. Because of its short length, Maniac is a strong recommendation for anyone seeking to watch something relatively quick between binge sessions of other series.
It Has a Great Soundtrack
Music is one of the most underappreciated aspects of TV and film. It can enhance an emotional moment or disappear to give it more weight. Despite being a miniseries, Maniac has music that arguably rivals major films that Stone and Hill have starred in.
Scored by composer Dan Romer, the Maniac soundtrack compliments the range of emotions in Annie and Owen’s story perfectly. From the joyful “Out of Nothing, Everything” to the triumphant “Annie and Owen,” Romer’s songs form a great playlist worth listening even after completion of the series.
It Tackles Real Psychological Disorders Well
Mental illness can be tricky to feature in a major Hollywood project. Going too deep can turn off audiences and making light of it can offend them. A dark comedy-drama, Maniac toes the line perfectly with its depiction, notably with Annie and Owen.
The severity of their disorders is not skipped over even with the series’ partly comedic tone. The nuanced writing, combined with Stone and Hill’s acting, creates a realistic, complex portrayal of mental illness that steers away from parody and more towards compassion.
It Combines The Past With The Future
Taking place in an alternate 2018, the universe of Maniac has many differences with reality’s present. Uniquely, it mixes the outdated aesthetics of the late 20th century with glimpses of the future to create an unusual world that is both familiar and foreign.
For instance, characters use old corded telephones and yellowed computers in one episode but will sit at a clean, futuristic table the next. There is a significant Japanese influence as well, with things like bonsai trees and sleeping pods having a presence.
It Is Influenced By Greats
While Maniac is its own unusual creation, it’s still influenced by greats in film and TV. This becomes clear when Annie and Owen visit dreamscapes – it’s hard to see Stone play an elf and not think The Lord of the Rings (2001). Even the premise of characters sharing dreams invokes Inception (2010).
Outside Annie and Owen’s dreams, there are nods to numerous films ranging from 2001: A Space Odessey (1968) to Brazil (1985). Apart from being treats for film buffs, these acclaimed influences help form thedystopianuniverse the series is based in. They also imply the creators had high ambitions.
It Features Strange Inventions And Ideas
Taking place in an alternate universe, Maniac features strange ideas throughout its ten episodes. Aligning with the series’ subject matter, these concepts tend to deal with personal issues like loneliness and poverty. The trial’s pills and mega-computer, GRTA, literally identifies and confronts a user’s demons.
There are even more interesting ideas outside the trial. In the park, people can play chess with a talking, intelligent koala animatronic. If someone is short on cash, they can use Ad Buddy, a service that pays for a user’s goods in exchange for having a person recite ads to them. While unique, these ideas paint the Maniac universe in a gloomy tone.
It Has A Great Supporting Cast
The supporting cast of a series can often be overshadowed but that’s not the case in Maniac. Justin Theroux (The Leftovers) plays Dr. James Mantleray, the creator of the drug who has a complicated relationship with his mother, popular psychologist Dr. Greta Mantleray (Sally Field).
The rocky mother and son are balanced by Dr. Azumi Fujita (Sonoya Mizuno), a smoking scientist who had a prior relationship with the latter. Despite Maniac revolving around Stone and Hill, the trio have a fun, emotional storyline that showcases Theroux and Field brilliantly.
It Spans Multiple Genres
In Maniac, dreams are limitless just like they are in reality. Featuring Annie and Owen in varied scenarios, each medically-induced dream identifies, maps, or confronts a user’s demons. Dreams allow for the exploration of these issues by having dreamers fill them with elements of their lives and working through them.
For Stone and Hill, the dreamscapes encourage them to flex their acting range by immersing themselves in a variety of characters and worlds. Stone has stated she does not like fantasy films, so her elf character may be the first and last time she visits the genre.
Cary Joji Fukunaga Directs It
One of the prominent rising directors in Hollywood, Fukunaga has been on an acclaimed run for the last few years. His last foray in TV was directing the first season of HBO’s True Detective (2014), which received two Emmy nominations and a win for Outstanding Direction for a Drama Series.
With Maniac, he directs two troubled protagonists who are polar opposites again. Apart from handling the nuances of characters well,Fukunaga is exceptional at action too – some of which is seen in Maniac. An indicator of his talents, his next directorial project is No Time To Die (2020), the next James Bond film.
Stone And Hill Are The Leads
In 2007, Stone and Hill were in raunchy comedy Superbad. In the following years, both have starred in a variety of films that have garnered them Academy Awards nominations and even a win. Maniac marks their long-awaited reunion since then.
Despite the change in medium, Stone and Hill bring their usual compelling performances to the silver screen. Together, they bounce each off other brilliantly as the reckless Annie and the stoic Owen. Considering how their usual TV roles are small or voice-acting, their leading presence in Maniac is a treat.
