Go see, skip the hype

Rating: 8/10 (3 March 2003)

I finally did it: I sow Donnie Darko. It is a good movie. Especially when you take in account that it's the first movie this director has ever made.
And it must be great being able to write, portrait and direct yourself without over-writing, over-acting and over-directing. It does contain some nice clues, and there's a lot of social criticism and (I dare say un-American) self reflection, so much needed in nowadays America.

However.though I liked it a lot, I just can't see what all the fuss is about. Was it worth all the hustle, talk, secrecy and hype? No I think not.
Maybe it has become such a smash hit because it has all the elements to entertain the average public, plus a little extra to let that same audience have a taste of the better none-Hollywood-style-movie. It really doesn't ask that much of the viewers imagination. My advise to those who consider Donnie to be that special movie they've all been waiting for so long: go to the cinema more often and skip the action packed standards. This is cinema it is supposed to be: it is good, it is well thought, it is original. But not worth the hype.