new talent as exciting as the film is quality...

Rating: 10/10 (16 December 2002)

From the films hilarious opening scenes through to its quiet conclusion, this film will take you on a ride that is emotional, heartwarming, deep and bizarre.
Perhaps the film's greatest selling point is in Jake Gyllenhaal, the arrival of a true talent and an actor who is a joy to watch. He carries the film and barely puts a foot wrong in the varied demands the film makes of him. Praise must also go to writer/director Richard Kelly for crafting a unique experience which i defy anyone to not take something from.
The plot, for what its worth, revolves around Gyllenhaal/Donnie's encounter with an "imaginary" rabbit called Frank who has come from the future to tell donnie that the world will end in 28 days - on hallowe'en, 1988. That's about as much as i want you to know, because the film rarely takes the path most expected - in fact, its almost impossible to figure out where the film might go.
Along the way, there are musings on good and evil, fear and love, teeenage angst, space-time, fate, coincidence and sacrifice. And if it all sounds heavy - dont worry - its not. Which is what is so clever. First and foremost it is an entertaining film with interesting characters and good actors (Gyllenhaal and his real-life sister, Maggie, Patrick Swayze in the best form he's been for years, Drew Barrymore and an overlooked Noah Wyle in what could be one of the most important roles), but for those looking for a bit more, there's plenty to dig into.
Certain scenes where Donnie is trying to act normal or fit in, or just express himself honestly are undercut with a dry wit seldom seen in american cinema - his scene in the park with Jena Malone is perhaps the comic high point - and the more bizarre aspects - his dealings with the eerie Frank - are strangely intense. A scene which starts and ends in a cinema screening of The Evil Dead is brilliantly handled, notching up tension and atmosphere, without getting in your face with it.
The film for many will ultimately fail or succeed based on its final act, where all the strands are woven together and we slowly realise, as does donnie, what the meaning of everything is, both in the narrative and in life. While certain visual aspects may not blow you away, the style and simplicity of the storytelling means that its hard not to be engrossed and some might feel let down by an emotional pay-off rather than an effects bonanza. This isn't that sort of film. And its all the better for it. I loved every minute of it.
And the eighties setting is wonderful, as is the soundtrack. Look out for references in the story style and design to Donnie Darko being a teenager's perspective version of ET. There is too much here to take in in one viewing. Do yourself a favour - go see it and see it again.
*****/*****