Donnie Darko

Rating: 9/10 (26 December 2011)

WARNING: THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAINS SPOILERS!
It is certainly a complicated film, in the sense that the plot revolves around a fictional book content made by one of the characters (Roberta Sparrow) concerning time travel. What makes the plot complicated is the fact that the content of this book and its "theories" are not disclosed to viewers, making it very difficult or almost impossible to decipher what's going on most of the time. This is probably the reason why this movie has been designated as a "cult" film, simply because the plot is so cryptic that is exposed to as many interpretations as people who watch it.
This is not necessarily bad, in fact it is a good idea, it's a good way to invite people to think, investigate and generate their own conclusions, and to give a mythological touch to the film.
I think that in order to form an interpretation of the plot it is necessary to read the excerpts from the book "The Philosophy of Time Travel" shown in the extras on the director's cuts version DVD. (Just google "The Philosophy of Time Travel" and you'll find it right away).
The characters and situations are sometimes realistic and sometimes surreal, at the point it made me doubt several times if the plot was developed in reality or a dream or imagination of the protagonist. I guess in the end it's up to each one to choose which of the two is.
The dialogues seemed good in general, and credible.
The direction is very good, and as some say, is hard to believe it's the director's first film (Richard Kelly). Certainly the best work of his short career.
As for acting, I found it very good, and almost none (if any) overacting. I liked the cast, and they all play their role effectively. But I think the applause goes to Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko) that does a great job, Mary McDonnell (Donnie's mother) who doesn't cease to surprise me in every movie I see her, and Maggie Gyllenhaal (sister of Donnie, his sister in real life), i really loved her performance. These are at least the three characters i found most believable and best played.
In conclusion a little gem of the 7th art. To see more than once. If you didn't you should, don't think twice. Though, i warn you that you won't fully understand it the first time, or the second, if you don't look up "The Philosophy of Time Travel" or the website afterwards.
And to those who says "this movie is no entertaining" "it gives no new ideas, nothing to think about" "i wasted my time" i can only say: It is after all just a movie, you like it or you don't. But you can't judge other people for enjoying it. I bet you waste more time doing things more unproductive and stupid that watching a movie, i know i do.
With nothing to add. Thank you for reading my review (my first critique on IMDb). (Sorry for the broken English)