Very Compelling Film, Under-marketed

Rating: Null/10 (20 March 2002)

I finally got to see this last night. Living in Raleigh, NC basically means any movie that is cool, interesting or though provoking will never be released here...so when I read about this, then heard it wasn't coming here I knew this was something I would have to see. Picked it up on DVD last night and was blown away. This is another film in the Lynch, Fincher, PT Anderson vein. It will require multiple viewings to fully appreciate it but despite having seen it just once I can honestly say this film is an incredible work. The direction reminds me of PT Anderson which of course reminds me of older Altman and Scorcese...long tracking shots sync'd to music just so. The images are strange (ie, the rabbit and some of the sky shots)...and the pacing is Kubrick (title cards telling you the days of the month that progressively decrease in their duration: ie, Oct 2 followed by Oct 15 or something to that effect, then later it is like Oct 29, 6pm, Oct 29 8pm)...The advertising for this was almost as bad as Vanilla Sky's love story/Peter Gabriel crap...they portrayed this film as a horror movie about a giant rabbit. It is not. It is so much more meaningful touching on horror, sci fi, and themes explored in American Beauty. I had a small problem with Patrick Swayze as the self help guru. Since elements of the film reminded me of PT Anderson, Magnolia's Tom Cruise character came to mind everytime I saw Patrick trying to do his self help schtick. Thankfully he is such a minor character that this does not detract from the overall film. I am off to watch it again now with the director's commentary. FYI, for an added treat go to the website and take a head trip inside Donnie's mind...one of the coolest sites I have ever been on.