Donnie Darko for those of us who generally don't like new films from Hollywood

[Tim Casey]

I picked up this movie last night for $10 at Best Buy since I had heard good things about it. Egads, what a film! It's the one about the disturbed teenage boy and the big monster rabbit named Frank that only he can see and is telling him to do bad things. It's actually a really, really well done film - almost like an anti-"Harvey" or an anti-"It's A Wonderful Life" done by someone like David Lynch. I'm going to have to watch it two or three more times just to soak it up. I highly recommend it, especially to those who have recently been posting about not wanting to see useless films anymore.

[dcooper]

Outstanding movie that's been playing at an arthouse in DC for several months as a midnite movie. It came out right after 9/11, so it got lost, but it's found quite a niche and has great staying power.

There is some great acting in it -- Jake & Maggie Gyllenhaal, Noah Wyle, Drew Barrymore, and even Patrick Swayze -- and it's based in the 80s so there are some great 80s tunes used ironically throughout. It's dark, funny, and scary, and it doesn't insult the audience's intelligence. It's a great movie to see with people who like to debate the movie afterwards, because there are a lot of loose ends to argue about after the movie.

There is a new director's cut that's making the rounds of the theaters and will end up on DVD soon. Whether you buy the current DVD or wait for the director's cut, I highly recommend that you seek out this movie.

[GregY]

Magnolia + Jacob's Ladder for the teen set. :)

[rjp]

one of those films you can watch over and over.

[RexKramer]

There is a new director's cut that's making the rounds of the theaters and will end up on DVD soon. Whether you buy the current DVD or wait for the director's cut, I highly recommend that you seek out this movie.

I love the film, too. I'll be a bit cautious with the directors cut, though. On the deleted scenes there's one exchange between Donnie and his psychiatrist that Richard Kelly (the director) says is his biggest regret of not keeping in the film. I love the film's ambiguous tone and think this would damage the film. I think an experienced editor used better judgment than a first-time filmmaker. But I don't think the film ever played Philly during its first run, so it might be my only chance to see it on the big screen.

Mark

[120dB]

A real "sleeper" of a film. Anyone who
enjoyed Blue Velvet, Being John Malkovich,
The Good Girl, and Harvey will find a lot
to like here...