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Jack Angstreich, Roberta Hill, Bill Heidbreder, Harvey Schwartz, Eric Chadbourne ... see more see more... , Richard Aidala , Tia Bonacore , David Schwartz , Michael Slipp

Angela Christlieb and Stephen Kijak direct the documentary Cinemania, concerning five individual New Yorkers with self-styled movie obsessions that border on the psychotic. Living on disability is Eri... read more read more...c Chadbourne, who is an obsessive collector as well as viewer; Harvey Schwartz, who has memorized countless amounts factual data like movie running times; and Roberta Hill, who is such an aggressive audience member that she has been kicked out of several theaters. Unemployed and living in denial, Bill Heidbreder is into European art films to a serious degree, while the somewhat self-aware Jack Angstreich lives off of an inheritance and claims to keep a schedule of watching five movies a day. The conclusion appropriately features the five subjects screening a rough cut of the documentary and offering their comments. Shot on digital video, Cinemania contains a cinema-themed soundtrack provided by witty French indie pop band Stereo Total. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Flixster Users

58% liked it

1,062 ratings

Critics

86% liked it

37 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 20 min.

Directed by: Angela Christlieb, Stephen Kijak

Release Date: January 1, 2002

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DVD Release Date: November 5, 2003

Stats: 96 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (96)

  • kiriyamakazou
    April 23, 2011
    kiriyamakazou
    This film means I no longer feel bad about how many films I watch. It's a rather depressing tale about how far obsessions really can go, but also how they can comfort those with mental disorders. Clearly there's some debate as to what is normal. The people themselves justify thei... read morer actions by saying that normal is just what everybody else is like, and who wants to be like everyone else. While this is certainly true, there are limits. They live on the cheap, have very few social skills, and even plan their diets to make sure their bathroom stops are predictable. There are some genuinely sad moments, such as Roberta's reaction to being comforted about the horses dying. She seems genuinely taken aback and devastated when she is told "They weren't really hurt, it's just a movie." "Why would you say that?" comes her response "You can't suspend disbelief for everything else and not that.". We also hear testimony about her physically attacking a woman that tore her ticket stub. When it reaches a point that dreams are films and nightmares are on video, and saying that sex with real people would be disappointing because it wouldn't be in black and white, it all gets a bit sad. Cinema should be an escape from life, these people need a life to escape cinema.
  • webalina
    March 18, 2010
    webalina
    A documentary about five obsessive New York film buffs. And these are some strange people, folks.

    They all view as many as a half-dozen films a day -- EVERY DAY -- in various theatres around the city. Three are on disability for various mental health issues (I'm guessing OCD)... read more, one is well-educated but collects unemployment because a real job would interfere with his film schedule, one inherited money and spends it all on movies and prostitutes. They are hoarders and collectors of every type of film memorabilia, some keep elaborate databases of the film schedules in town and of all the films they've seen (ring a bell with anybody?)...one man even eats a somewhat constipating diet -- very little fiber or vegetables -- so he isn't inconvenienced by a bathroom trip during a film. Roberta -- the only female of the group -- has been known for fight with ticket takers if they DARE tear her ticket stub, and has been banned from at least one theatre for her behavior. One claims to have seen 1000 films in a month once, but that is mathematically impossible...at least I THINK it is.

    We all believe we are the World's Greatest Film Buff, but how many of us have the direct phone numbers to the projection booth on our cell phones, AND know the projectionist by name? Some of these people do. This thing hit close enough to home for me a couple times that I found myself kinda squinching down in my chair, and being glad I was watching it alone. Not that I AM anywhere near this obsessive, but I could IMAGINE myself becoming this obsessive.
  • FilmFanatik
    December 20, 2009
    FilmFanatik
    An ok documentary, though far too long.
  • lesleyanorton
    January 2, 2011
    lesleyanorton
    Documentary about five film-watching obsessives and their lives (or lack of). Interesting, as it usually is to hear people talk about their passions, but also, as it usually is when people can only talk about one thing, slightly dull.
  • cacutshaw
    September 17, 2009
    cacutshaw
    An engrossing and entertaining doc on some very likable people who obsess about movies more than your average joe. I imagine most, if not all of the subjects have some form of compulsive disorder, so being a film fan myself (though not anywhere in the realm of where they are), i... read moret is nice to see them obsess about something as wonderful as film rather than how many footsteps to the door or how neat their apartment is (it seems like that isn't a particular problem for any of them). Still, it is heartbreaking to see people who "need" to see films, they all seem very nice and good hearted, though in one case, occasionally violent, and the audience can't help but hope that they are really happy and films aren't simply the drug to appease them while they are viewing them and they are miserable all other times. Still, great subjects and subject matter.
  • Dracula787
    October 5, 2008
    Dracula787
    This is one of those movies that makes me feel good? because I know I?m not nearly as insane as the people in it. This is a documentary about five absolutely hardcore film buffs, these people are not normal in any way shape or form. They are all living on disability, unemployme... read morent, or an inheritance and they spend all their time watching five movies a day in various New York theaters. One of them has hundreds of sound track LPs, and no stereo to play them on, another one will apparently watch anything, including The Amazing Crab Monster, and one of them attacked an Usher for tearing to much off her ticket stub. Only one of them is willing to even think about watching a movie on video. There?s nothing particularly amazing about the filmmaking on display, but it?s interesting to watch these quixotic people, see the roots of what they?re doing in my own behavior, and thank my lucky stars I haven?t gone that far.
  • KLFilmmaker
    July 11, 2008
    KLFilmmaker
    I thought I was a film buff until I saw this doc. These subjects actually schedule their lives around movie screenings.
  • timonthemeerkat
    September 4, 2009
    timonthemeerkat
    Interesting, and also slightly disturbing. Makes one believe that obsession is NOTHING, while over-obsession is SOMETHING.
  • cynder66
    July 24, 2008
    cynder66
    I thought I was bad, and addicted to films, but nope-not even close! These guys wouldn?t even call me a film lover-cus most of them don?t even like VHS (at home viewing).
    2 outta 5
  • criterionmaster1
    June 5, 2007
    criterionmaster1
    Not perfect in anyway, but that doesn't stop me from giving it a perfect rating. This film is just too much fun. If you are a film fan, or watch tons of movies, you really need to check this out. These people are so cool. :D

View All Cinemania Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert
September 5, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I know people like these, and I understand their desire to be absorbed in the darkness and fantasy. Full Review

John Monaghan
August 21, 2003
John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press

There's a certain smugness to the proceedings, like an episode of Cops where the camera lingers a bit too long on a police suspect's trailer-trash housekeeping.

Desson Thomson
August 1, 2003
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

It's too short, and it doesn't delve deep enough. But it's thoroughly enjoyable.

Wesley Morris
June 27, 2003
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

What Christlieb and Kijak do so well is keeping these folks from not seeming like loons. Full Review

Elizabeth Weitzman
June 10, 2003
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

Are we expected to sympathize with this motley bunch? Admire them? Laugh at them? Or, perhaps, relate to them? Against all odds, we do a little of each. Full Review

Frank Scheck
June 5, 2003
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

Ultimately not a particularly deep or resonant portrait, but it is as entertaining as a film about people who obsessively slave over film schedules to maximize their viewing can get.

Andrew Sarris
May 23, 2003
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

One addiction with which I can identify and sympathize wholeheartedly, inasmuch as I have written extensively about my compulsive moviegoing in earlier decades. Full Review

Stephen Holden
May 16, 2003
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Crisp, intelligent documentary film. Full Review

V.A. Musetto
May 16, 2003
V.A. Musetto, New York Post

They seem quite satisfied with their lives, which is more than can be said for a lot of people with more conventional lifestyles.

Dennis Lim
May 13, 2003
Dennis Lim, Village Voice

It's a film this reviewer responded to with appalled recognition and helpless, cringing empathy. Full Review

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