Les Franken (Michael Rapaport) is a kind-hearted and soft-spoken man who loves reading comic books. He’s the type of guy who most people walk by on the street without even noticing. However, everything changes for Les the day he is accepted into an experimental drug study. As he begins to take the drugs, an unexpected side effect occurs - he develops special powers. In an effort to use his new talents for protecting others, Les is actually in a predicament to save himself.

CRITIQUE

Special premiered at the Sundance Festival on January 20, 2006. Numerous film festivals (in the US and internationally) and some three years later, the movie (which also received a very limited theatrical engagement at the end of 2008) gets its home video premiere from Magnet Releasing via its 6-Shooter Film Series banner, which they describe as a collection of "six high-quality films that aims to bring fans a mix of the most intelligent  genre-bending titles available."

This movie was obviously running around the festival circuit for a couple of years, and perhaps that’s where it should’ve stayed, because unfortunately there is hardly anything special about this independent feature. The reason is simple; the concept is interesting, but execution is not. Concept-wise, it’s fun to have a regular Joe like Les Franken, who is a parking meter cop, develop the power to levitate and walk through walls. Les demonstrates his abilities for his two comic book store friends and soon after (wearing a white costume that he created himself) tries to thwart petty criminals by preventing crime. Essentially, the first 25 minutes are the film’s most interesting moments.

With the set-up complete and Les’ powers in full swing, the script (unfortunately) switches gears and reveals that Les is actually delusional and suffers from partial hallucinations, quite possibly due to the pills he was given by a doctor conducting an experimental drug study. What happens next is a collection of Les experiencing paranoia, thinking his doctor is lying and believing two government agents are trying to kill him. And, of course, the script isn’t without a romance subplot, Les meeting a quiet woman at the supermarket he frequents. Les becomes increasingly confused about his abilities, resulting in him beating up said agents but also worrying his two friends, who think he’s gone crazy.

While I grant that the concept itself, a dude with powers, probably cannot sustain three acts, making Les crazy in the head is something I didn’t care to see explored, or better yet I didn’t care because the writing didn’t make me care. The script did not effectively do its job here, perhaps because the limited budget available forced writer-directors Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore to write smaller. Landing Michael Rapaport in the starring role is a good deal, the actor turning in a nice performance for the majority of the film (although playing a delusional cop in a convincing manner is a stretch even for this character actor).

Special starts off strong, but doesn’t sustain its concept due to limited and improper execution.

THE VIDEO

Magnolia presents Special in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. Image quality is pretty rough here. There’s simply too much grain, most likely due to the limited budget, and perhaps because the filmmakers were using either natural light or opting for a low-lit environment feel. I’m not too sure, but the grain eats up the picture. Colors are all over the place, not strong or well defined. Black levels are decent at best.

THE AUDIO

Magnolia presents Special in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. Dialogue is easy to understand, music is clear, while sound effects are a bit muted. Overall, it’s nothing special here, just the standard transfer. A Dolby 2.0 track is also included.

THE EXTRAS

Outtakes (4:28) is a collection of flubbed lines and occasional random weirdness (like Michael Rapaport preparing for scenes). Nothing special.

HDNET: A Look at Special (4:07) features Rapaport hosting a brief preview of the movie. Not worth watching.

6-Shooter Film Series: Trailers for Let the Right One In, Special, Timecrimes, Eden Log, Donkey Punch and Big Man Japan.

Also included are a number of Trailers that play before the main menu; Let the Right One In, Timecrimes, Splinter, and Shuttle, as well as an advertisement for the HDNet satellite channel.

FINAL THOUGHTS

You’d have to be almost special yourself to really enjoy Special. With the first 25 minutes being what they are, the film's most and only interesting moments, I'm going to raise the movie's point total to a 5.

Despite my reservations about this specific film, I really like the idea of Magnet's 6-Shooter Film Series, and hope to see them expand on the concept in the future.