Moody, Atmospheric, and Entertaining

Rating: 8/10 (27 December 2013)

Directed by Richard Kelly, 2001's "Donnie Darko" is at the time young Jake Gyllenhaal's breakthrough movie as a lead actor. It achieves an otherworldly feel with aspects of the movie that lend it strength including excellent atmospheric music, quirky cynical dialog, quantum physics musings, and Gyllenhaal and Mary McDonnal's acting performances. Re-watched the movie recently after initially seeing it a year after its release date and felt that I understood it much better probably because I paid closer attention. It deals with issues of time-paradox mixed with a bit of religion, and some certain disdain for Middle and High School. The movie is a solid effort that's lifted with writing, acting, and music, although it does overuse music video edits. About a 7.5/10