I WAS BLOWN AWAY.

Rating: 10/10 (3 July 2002)

I don't know where to start with this movie. I knew nothing about this when I saw a copy of it at the store. I had heard it was good, so I decided to check it out. The movie opens with a perfect marriage of song and screen. We hear "The Killing Moon" from Echo and the Bunnymen while the camera just starts to set-up the environment. It will hook you from that point on. I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just say that the film revolves around the life of Donnie Darko, a gifted but troubled adolescent. But this isn't like any other movie you may have seen before. It almost transcends labeling, containing elements of many different genres. A great soundtrack of 80's new wave combined with an amazing score compliment the film so well. Great performances all around and a brilliant script also make this movie a masterpiece. Drew Barrymore gives her best performance since E.T., and Jake Gyllenhaal shows his extraordinary talent for acting. After watching this, I would see a film solely on the basis of seeing his work of the craft. If this is Richard Kelly's film debut, I eagerly await his next film. Do yourself a favor and at least check it out. Then tell all your friends to do the same.