Enlightening and totally enjoyable.

Rating: Null/10 (18 August 2005)

This movie was so amazing. I really loved it, the only character I disliked being Drew Barrymore's. Thrilling at parts and hilarious at others, it's one of those rare black comedy/romance/psychological thrillers that I was hooked on from beginning to end. Watch this as long as you won't be offended by quite strong language or permanently scarred by a man in a bunny suit. I've seen it too many times to count, and each time I'm surprised by the new depth I discover. Levels of story and characters keep on emerging, making this one of those movies you won't get bored of after seeing it again and again. Everything comes together in the end, or it will if you've followed everything closely up till that point. This film covers everything from child pornography to the Smurfs. Jake Gyllenhaal gives a fantastic performance as Donnie Darko, a guy with serious problems, including a man dressed in a pink bunny suit and insect mask named Frank whom only he can see. Maggie Gyllenhaal is playing her real-life role as his sister. Jena Malone is awesome in her role as Donnie's love interest, a tough job for anyone. Drew Barrymore is all right, but I got the feeling that she was only there to give the film real star-power; her character was needlessly put in in some scenes. However, one finds him- or herself involved in the characters' lives, from Donnie's troubled mind to his mother's lack of commitment to Sparkle Motion. It's not a movie for the faint of heart or tolerance to raunchy language and dialog. Even when this movie is making fun of things, like evangelists, it is giving its opinions and thoughts. This is NOT a movie in which you can drift off, not pay attention, or think of as a light-hearted farce. Don't be fooled by anything you may have heard about this being for laughs; sure, it's funny at parts, but that isn't what it's about. "Donnie Darko" is a new turn on emotional distress in adolescents, time travel, and psychiatry. I don't even pretend to fully comprehend the true meaning of this movie. Maybe I'm taking it too seriously, but I find it more likely that I just don't understand what was and is happening in the minds of the people who made this movie or in the minds of people who actually know what this means. I've been blown away by other movies, but this one made me think more than anything. Try not to be too skeptical about the views in this movie, and don't be saddened by the surprising deaths. I can't think of another movie that stirred me as much as this one. See it, because even if it doesn't affect you as it did me, it will provide a couple hours of enjoyment.