great movie, disappointing ending

Rating: 8/10 (20 August 2004)

My initial reaction to this movie when it ended was disappointment; to an extent, I still feel this. I thought the movie itself was excellent, and yet the ending seemed to wrap up so quickly, it just didn't seem fitting.
It wasn't so much the concept that I enjoyed, as I usually don't care for movies involving time travel. There were other elements that made this so great, such as the acting (particularly Gyllenhaal). The dialogue was amazing. I really think this could be overlooked as a result of the "confusing" concept and the creepy plot, but little things in the conversations were so refreshing to see in a movie. For this alone I could watch the movie over and over (not that I plan to).
I also enjoyed the political and social commentary woven into the dialogue and the story. It was a huge part of the film, yet in so many different ways. Its thrown at you immediately that the story takes place during a presidential election year ('88). Debates within Donnie's family, conversations among school officials, and TV news reports constantly remind you of this. On a more subtle level, the entire power structure within the school is used to take multiple stabs at politics and society. There are plenty of specific examples, but its better to decide for yourself what it could represent.
The best thing about the movie to me is everything going on while Donnie figures out the Frank/time travel mystery...his interactions with his peers, family, and authority. As I said, the time travel/cause and effect thing didn't really grab me. Its been done before, and will be done again. The ending seemed really rushed and it bothered me. Other than that, the story of Donnie and the hypocritical world he lives in is truly entertaining and thought provoking in many ways.