Incredibly Underrated!

Rating: 10/10 (18 February 2003)

Watching Donnie Darko for your first time is an enjoyable experience.
Watching someone else watch if for their first time is even more fun!
Without any expectations going in, I was pleasantly surprised at how brilliantly the film is pieced together and is polished so nicely. The soundtrack and musical selections were fantastic; I can't remember Tears for Fears songs sounding so good.
For a first time director, there are some great shots, including a remarkable unbroken shot through the hallways of a private school, observing the observances of the staff and students as they all intermingle, with "Head Over Heels" loudly playing in the background. It has to be seen to be appreciated.
The casting is perfect. Each actor and actress couldn't have been chosen any better. The entire Darko family just works. Jake Gyllenhaal has those dark cold eyes of a troubled teenager on a mission.
Researching the creation of the film is quite interesting too...filmmaking on a budget...without everything and everyone falling into place the way it happened, this film might not have ever been made. It's a shame to think about all the films that would have been at this level of quality that have fallen through the cracks, without a Drew Barrymore to save it.
A good film to study for starting filmmakers and DVD collectors, it gets better with each additional viewing.