Gets at some core issues

Rating: Null/10 (10 May 2002)

If you liked American Beauty, Magnolia, and Vanilla Sky, you would probably enjoy the similarly-themed Donnie Darko. The main strengths of the film lie in its stylish direction, haunting images, and effective soundtrack (both the original score and 80's pop tunes). Though the sci-fi musings about time travel provoke some thought, the final resonance of the film lies in Jake Gyllenhal's performance as a young man who wants to know what we all want to know - namely, that we are not ultimately alone in a universe bereft of meaning. Mary McDonnell (as his mother) and Katharine Ross (as his therapist) turn in fine supporting performances as people desiring to help Donnie through his inner struggle. I must commend my high-school classmate Richard Kelly on a job well done. He seems to have developed sympathetic insight into the core issues common to us all. As I recall Richard in the memory banks of my own 80's suburban Virginia childhood, such sympathy was not readily apparent to me then.