Mini Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (17 November 2003)

One of the most haunting movies I've ever seen, a movie that has
the power to stick into your mind and linger there for a very long
time. From every frame of this movie it is evident what a heartfelt
project this was for everybody that was involved. The casting of the
roles is phenomenal and the performances are all top notch (even
if Jake Gyllenhaal owns this movie!), and it really is pretty amazing
to see such a young director have this confidence with his actors.
The cinematography is evocative and beautiful, and so is the
score, and the 80's songs are very well chosen and used with
exquisite taste (The Evil Dead homage is a gem too!) But to me, what really puts Donnie Darko in a league of it's own is
the fantastic warm feeling it gave me. I can understand people
having different tastes, but for those of you out there who didn't'
like it... well, really this just makes me feel sad for you, because
D.D. is real magic, a flight of imagination and originality which has
been so rare to see in recent times. Really, to me it's depressing
to know that a lot of people just don't get it. They surely didn't get it
here in Italy, where the movie hasn't even been released! Not even
directly to video!? (To see it I had to order the DVD from the UK).

I read that Kelly's new project `the Knowing' has to do with time
travel and possibly separate realities again. I just hope it will be
different from Darko, and if he can keep his work up to this level,
well then there really is `so much to look forward to' 10/10