Donnie Darko Review

Described by the director as a science fiction fable "Donnie Darko" tells the story of the eponymous teen hero Donnie, an American high school student in the dying days of the Reagan administration in October 1998 who faces all of the trials and tribulations you'd expect to see in a coming-of-age drama (worries about the future, conflicts with authority, the school bully, the new girl, the disinterested headmaster, and the one slightly subversive teacher that seems to understand him). On top of all that Donnie is also in therapy and on medication, finds himself sleepwalking in the middle of the night, and has visions of a sinister seven foot tall bunny who informs him that the world will end in twenty eight days…

"Donnie Darko" is far, far from your average Hollywood movie! Its cult status in the US has continued to grow ever since it was unveiled to critical acclaim at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival, and debut writer/director Richard Kelly (who made the movie at the unbelievable age of just twenty six) is to be praised for creating so engaging, darkly comic (and ultimately moving) a tale of this disenfranchised youth, although credit must also be given to veteran cinematographer Steven ("Someone To Watch Over Me" and "Stuart Little 2") Poster for giving the film such an impressive and panoramic look. The decision to set the film fourteen years ago allows writer/director Kelly to not only indulge in some nostalgia for his own teenage years (with great pop tunes from throughout the 80s, big hair, rubics cubes, and even that most 80s of movie stars Patrick Swayze in a great supporting role) but also make some critical observations about the way the teenage world was starting to change (with critical pot shots at the birth of political correctness & censorship, and the emergence of a school system concerned more with having pupils get on TV than get a decent education). The novice director brings out memorable performances from his two relative unknowns Jake Gyllenhaal and Jena Malone as Donnie and his new girlfriend, while executive producer Drew Barrymore (whose championing of the director ensured he was able to make the film as true to his original vision as possible) also takes on a small but crucial role of a sympathetic English teacher.

According to writer/director Kelly this is a multi layered film consciously designed to reveal more & more through repeated viewings. It's the kind of movie that will leave a distinct impression on you and lead to all sorts of fierce debates as you leave the cinema, and certainly left me with the desire to watch it through once more in the near future - bring on the DVD!