Thanks for the memories!

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Blistering performances.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Cinemania is a documentary about a bunch of crazy people in NYC who spend their lives watching films (in theaters).Either on disability or independently wealthy or working dead end jobs, they exist to just go to the movies...several times a day (and its go to the movies not watch videos). Yea I know they are like me... or not I don't need the projected image, I am happy with video and I do try to actually do things with people other than films or theater...Even by my standards these people are nuts-and I know buffs like them, who are more obsessive then sane (one of which was in a mental hospital- my friends-not in the movie). These are people who for the most part must see good films (one guy who is like me and will watch anything is derided) in good conditions or else they get nuts, complaining to the manager or even getting violent (The sole woman in the bunch was banned from The Museum of Modern Art's screening room for her bad behavior.) I admire their drive and ability to do nothing but sit but these people are too much. I would love to have a screen on 24 7 but I'd do other things while I watched. The film itself is good, if a tad long (Apparently it was originally intended for Finish TV and ran a half hour shorter). We get to know the people pretty well and we see their mania and we even like them. The thing is that running some 85 minutes the film runs out of steam because for the most part these are limited people and watching them talk about movies is different then talking to them about films (Having been around people like this I know its better to be involved then on the sideline). I liked it and recommend it, but I'm not sure I'll watch it again. (I am frightened that I could recognize the inside of most of the theaters shown....)

Before I start into the film, I should point out that there are two versions of this documentary about cinema addicts living in New York City. The first I saw was a little less than a hour long and there is a longer version that was for theatrical release. Having now seen both, I actually prefer the shorter TV version because the interviews work so much better because of the editing--with less "dead time" and a tighter focus. Still, both are well worth seeking.My love for this documentary is for two main reasons. First, I teach psychology and have used this film to illustrate Obsessive-Compulsive behavior, various personality disorders and the recently identified phenomenon of "collectors"--people who hoard items of practically no intrinsic value in a reaction against the shallowness of their lives. Second, with the third largest number of reviews on IMDb as of 12/07, I myself am a bit of a cinemaniac--but not nearly to the degree of those featured on the films. While I do watch a huge number of films (almost exclusively on VHS, DVD and cable TV), I also have a good job, healthy family life and don't think I'm THAT screwed up yet--and the documentary is a great way to warn me against the dangers of compulsively watching films. This was especially brought to my attention when I noticed that almost all the odd art films they mention in the movie are ones I have seen and often loved. In particular, the one man who adores THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG said a lot of brilliant things about this masterpiece. Scary, huh?! I have a bit of a kindred spirit out there! However, in the case of these rather sad individuals, enjoying the films in a traditional sense isn't possible. They are so obsessed with the details that often they don't stop to enjoy the film itself! One man has memorized the running times of practically every film (like a Savant) and it tears him apart if the film is shortened by even a minute! Another so obsessively saves every film ticket that she becomes violent if the ticket taker actually rips the ticket in half. And, even more sad, most have no lives or jobs because of this disability or mania. Some of this is because some of these people are indeed mentally ill, but most are not in a legal sense "crazy"--just possessing very disturbed personalities (meaning therapy or medication would probably do nothing to change their odd behaviors).This film opens up so many discussions for psychology students and sociologists. Much of it is because these people are all a bit different--with different styles of their obsessions, different mental illnesses or personality disturbances. In a way, a psychology student taking a class on diagnosis could almost make a game of spotting the pathology.As for how this documentary was made, it was made in Europe but is completely in English. Plus, oddly, there is no narration--the subjects and those who know them are just encouraged to speak for themselves. This was a wonderful choice since it was edited so well--and narration often ruins a good documentary as it isn't always helpful or needed.Brilliant, shocking and a bit disturbing, this is not for everyone's tastes, but a wonderful film nonetheless. By the way, many who did NOT like this documentary had valid reasons but many did not--not liking the subjects personality is NOT a valid reason nor that it wasn't a comedy nor was the knucklehead who was angry because the films the obsessed people liked (mostly art films, foreign films and classics) were not the same films they themselves liked!!! Hello....anyone out there.....this was NOT the purpose of the documentary. Liking the people or their choices of films was certainly NOT the reason for this great film--but the pathology and detrimental effects on their lives was (as most of them did NOT work but were on the public dole due to someone considering this a true disability).

I love the topic of this documentary and was interested enough to buy it. I was hoping I could identify just a little with these people, being a movie buff myself but they were too different and we don't really get to know them well.One of the problems I personally had was that all these people loved older films, black and whites, European classics, that sort of work. I have never been very interested in those. Also, their insistence to go to the cinema instead of watching a DVD I could not identify with.I thought it would also have been interesting to see what made these people what they are, what it is they're afraid of and escaping from. How people around them, family and friends have dealt with their behavior. These topics are neglected way too much. I think it would have been interesting to hear more other people, from outside the little movie buff circle, voice their opinion of the cine-maniacs.Also, if you want to see a documentary about loneliness this is not it. All of them had (seemingly) at least one friend and they didn't seem like they were hermits. They were all obsessive but not depressed or anything, they just like going to the movies way too much.We don't get to see their inner conflicts, what they are struggling with. They don't seem to struggle with anything anymore, maybe they decided to give that up long ago and decided for a simple life that consists of going to the cinema. It must be extremely boring, even for film lovers. What's going on with these people? We don't get the answers, too bad.

CINEMANIA runs sometimes on the Trio channel so I've seen it a few times. Its characters are what I'd probably become if I had unlimited time and resources to go to the movies five times every day. I've already been to some of the rep houses they frequent (like the Film Forum).But even though this movie purports to be a comedy, I don't find it particularly funny. These people are sad loners who go to the movies all the time because they don't have anything else in their lives to do. Nowhere in the movie do we see them loving the films they see, or even enjoying them. No post-film chitchat about what they just saw, what they think of it, if they even liked it. Roberta collects memorabilia. She's got a fast-food tie-in beverage cup for LAST ACTION HERO, but what does she think of the movie? Has she even seen it? Does she go to summer blockbusters or stick to film festivals and rep houses? Do any of these maniacs have opinions? It's like they're obligated to partake in this ritual day after day, and any joy the cinema once gave them is long gone. Oh, and I object to a movie called CINEMANIA that's shot on video.