Donnie Darko is a disturbed adolescent in an upper to middle-class family. After escaping death as a jet engine crashes through his bedroom, he decides he must continue to follow the instructions of a demonic bunny, Frank, as Donnie feels Frank saved his life. Donnie is led by the bunny to create havoc that is destructive, productive, and sadistic. Darko is rebellious, goes against the grain, but wants to do good, and especially save the world if he can. Frank tells Donnie the world is coming to an end and only he can save them. Donnie is working on the theory of time travel to save us all.



"Damn it Donnie, why'd you have to get so smart on us?"



Richard Kelly, who was only paid $9,000 to write and direct this film, delivers a stunning and brilliant piece of work. He develops each character to perfection. You do not have to know everything about a character to get a feel for them, and Kelly provides just enough screen time for his characters so that you feel you know their persona. There were a few flaws in this film, but the pros far our weigh the cons.



"What is (....)?"

"Baby mice."

"Awww."



Donnie Darko is a brilliant film. Jake Gyllenhaal who stars as Donnie Darko does a superb acting job. His character, lines, and persona are delivered with such strong emotion and conviction. He definitely grabs you with each line, and you are dying to see what his fate is, as it cannot be good. Is he insane? Maybe, but his theories and will is not. My only complaint of the whole film, which I hoped would be corrected in the Director's Cut, was the transition from Darko sitting on the car at the end, to the final sequence (I don't want to give anything away now do I). It is easy to understand the differences of the two story lines, but not what truly happens.



"...and Bethany, if you feel the need to vomit up there, just swallow it."

"Thanks Mom."



Donnie Darko was a must have for my DVD collection. It is a film that when any friend visits you ask, "Have you seen Donnie Darko?" Requiem for a Dream has that same effect on people, though Donnie Darko is not as powerful. It is a rent first type of movie, as not everyone will not understand the film, enjoy the content, or appreciate its greatness. It is a marvelous film that everyone should give one solid viewing.



"Why do you wear that stupid bunny suit?"

"Why do you wear that stupid man suite?"



Grade: A