Now THIS is the kind of originality 90% of modern films are lacking.

Rating: 10/10 (25 November 2002)

This film gets a lot of bad press, largely from those who do not understand it. The critics, on the other hand, loved it, and for once, are bang on target. Donnie Darko is a masterpiece.
I'm not going to rabbit (sorry, bad pun) with the basic plot here, as it's already been done in so many reviews, and really, the less you know the better. I'm also not going to put forward my own spoiler laden interpretation of the film: this is truly one which I believe all should take their own thoughts on, not to be influenced by another's.
But what I am going to say is that Donnie Darko is easily one of my favourite films of the last 10 years. Virgin director Richard Kelly has created here a masterpiece that is equal parts hillarious and depressing, bitingly funny and traumatically sad. Through his utterly believable, and bluntly real, characters, he manages to almost make you believe in theories you might normally ridicule. Add to this a plot so far warped it'll leave you thinking for (literally) weeks afterwards, and some truly memorable scenes, and you have got what is that rare thing, a real achievement in film. Take what you will from this film, con yourself into thinking you fully understand Kelly's own intention for the film's meaning, or even spend weeks musing over it like I did, but watch it unbiased, don't expect too much or too little. Donnie Darko is so open to interpretation that one should watch it with a completely free mind.
A like it or loathe it achievement, Donnie Darko is a film you just have to watch. I love it, but I don't want to sway you, go watch it yourself and see what you think. And whether you leave gobsmacked or asleep from boredom remember you only have 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds to live.