A Surreal Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (6 November 2017)

"So what do I tell the other kids when they ask about you?' 'Tell them that everything is going to be just fine."
If anybody said that they understood everything in the 2001 film, Donnie Darko, right away I'd know they were lying. I've watched the movie 3 times now, I and still don't fully comprehend everything.
Donnie Darko is the type of movie that just reels you in from the first shot, and does not let you go for the next hour and 53 minutes. Everything is so expertly crafted, it is astounding that this was the directors first movie. The film blends pretty much every genre in film. A few examples are, drama, comedy, horror, thriller, sci-fi, and more. This is without a doubt on of the most original movies I have every had the pleasure of watching. Not only with its plot though, with includes a jet engine, a giant rabbit named Frank, and superpowers. It finds ways to be original like the way the story is structured, or the way the characters are developed.
Speaking of character, lets talk about that for a little bit. The films protagonist is a troubled teenager named Donnie. I loved his character and Gyllenhaal's performance too. I found myself crying at multiple points in the film because I felt for this character so deeply. Other than Donnie, the supporting characters really are not that well developed. This doesn't really matter though, since the rest of the cast are really just vehicles to get Donnie to where he needs to be by the end of the film. Another thing I find interesting is if you take all the giant bunny rabbits and time travel out of the film, it operates as a high school teen drama. This is where the films gains most of it's heart and reliability.
In conclusion I think Donnie Darko is a weird, quirky beautiful, masterpiece. Every scene gives you something to love and every line is quotable in some shape or form. I love how many ways you can interpret this movie. Some could call it a metaphor for all the confusion going on in your teenage years. Some could consider call it a wake up call for others to accept their destiny and finally gain a sense of fulfillment. I choose to think that it is telling the audience that eventually everything will alright. However you choose to interpret it, it is brilliant either way.