Donnie Darko (2001) Reviews
- Starring:
- Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, (more)
- Director(s):
- Richard Kelly
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Member Rating
My RatingAverage Ratings
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful I wrote a 10 page paper for this film for an English literature-Film class centered around fear and culture. I've seen it about 30 times. It's a movie you might need to watch a couple of times for it ... Read More I wrote a 10 page paper for this film for an English literature-Film class centered around fear and culture. I've seen it about 30 times. It's a movie you might need to watch a couple of times for it to come full circle. It plants little clues here in there for an dramatic ending, toying with time and space. There are many focal points in this movie--hypocrisy in community, censorship, etc, and then there are supernatural themes such as self-sacrifice, time travel, and predestination. Donnie gets various visitations from a dream-like character named Frank. You are wondering, is Donnie crazy and going to shoot up his school, or is Frank an omen from a higher power trying to warn Donnie. You're not really sure and that is the allure of the plot. Donnie learns how to manipulate his world and ultimately make a final descision about his fate and the fate of the communit. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful to really apreciate it. I really just enjoyed the look and feel of this movie. It isn't often that a filmmaker dares to present ideas and events that they admit they actualy don't understand or even ... Read More to really apreciate it. I really just enjoyed the look and feel of this movie. It isn't often that a filmmaker dares to present ideas and events that they admit they actualy don't understand or even intend on answering but I'm sure this, sadly, explains some of this movies comercial failure. The other problem it had was the title doesn't really reflect the weight of the movie. Really this is a solid movie from all aspects. I found it well acted and well crafted. The soundtrack was really used to set the mood for this. Being a child of the 80's I loved it. This movie probably won't appeal to you if your not comfortable with a lack of real closure. It will appeal to most fans of thought provoking scifi like the Twilightzone. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful this is one of the best movies ive ever seen and one my favorites. you need to watch it more than once to really capture the magic, essence, and whole feel of the movie, and definitely to understand ... Read More this is one of the best movies ive ever seen and one my favorites. you need to watch it more than once to really capture the magic, essence, and whole feel of the movie, and definitely to understand what is going on and what has happened, but it is well worth it. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful Unlike the vast majority of drivel produced for (and about) the high school crowd, this film has a complex plot that patiently develops to a smart payoff in the last few minutes. Along the way it ... Read More Unlike the vast majority of drivel produced for (and about) the high school crowd, this film has a complex plot that patiently develops to a smart payoff in the last few minutes. Along the way it delivers the conventional teenage themes of alienation, bullies, love, sex, creepy moments, party-while-parents-are-out-of-town, and school talent shows. A terrific movie that is worthy of several viewings for those who crave substance in a genre dominated by superficial junk. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
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