Brandon at Random Reviews

What a bizarre film. Truly. I’ve seen it multiple times before this viewing and I must say it never feels less weird than it did the first time. It’s still great, don’t get me wrong. I just wanted to preface this review with that little tidbit. Also, I watched the original theatrical cut this time around, I have the Director’s Cut but I haven’t watched it in years so I can’t comment on differences between the two versions. I feel compelled to mention that the Theatrical Cut is on HBO Max for your viewing convenience.

For a brief and unspoilery synopsis of this strange plot, you take this “psychologically troubled teenager” played by Jake Gyllenhaal, who btw might be my favorite actor as of recently. You get this weird glimpse of all the crazy shit he has going on in his head. All the while he’s just like a typical teenager getting into trouble, hanging out with friends, and pursuing a girl who is new to his school.

There is a lot of very cool imagery all over this movie, some scenes with hallucinations and others with just pure great cinematography that make this film easy on the eye(s). As viewers, we get lost in Donnie’s dazed fantasies/dream-like sequences, but they perplex us. Why things are happening are wildly unclear as they happen. What are we doing here? I don’t know, but it’s fascinating. Sit tight and find out.

Jake Gyllenhaal stars in the titular role as Donnie Darko. His love interest is played by Jena Malone. His real life older sister Maggie Gyllenhaal plays his movie sister. Patrick Swayze plays a motivational speaker type dude that visits their school. Also, Beth Grant, who I don’t know by name without looking her up but I always recognize for playing total uptight bitchy older women (as she does here to perfection). There are other actors including a bit part appearance by a Freaks and Geeks-age Seth Rogen! Gahh! Honestly, the acting in this movie is fucking superb, even in the smaller roles.

I want to try and mention music more frequently on these reviews, I might even review an album or something sometime. But with this movie, there are a lot of solid tunes that fit the late 1980s setting. The biggest standout has to be the drastically re-tooled version of “Mad World” this cover is performed by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews, which aside from lyrics, sounds nothing like the original song by Tears for Fears. The song is so stripped down and minimal. And eerie. And most of all, fitting for the scene during which it plays in the movie. I love it.

This one will possibly leave you scratching your head, and may require at least one rewatch if you don’t get it initially, at least in my opinion. Or read the wiki page plot section to see if that helps. I will say it’s not for everyone. There are a lot of creepy/unsettling and often surreal things that take place on screen so I cannot recommend someone under…we’ll say 10 should watch? I don’t know, I don’t have kiddos so ignore my advice, I hope you have a more trustworthy rating system to go on than me. Maybe IMDb, they seem to hit important points on kid-friendliness. This one is, as I mentioned, on HBO Max. Check it the fuck out.

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