birdo71

The film of the decade still for me, as I write this 23 years after viewing; the film still resonates all these years later, as I sit in a cinema awaiting an unrelated film to start. We can relate to the enigmatic and conflicted Donnie, ably depicted by Jake Gyllenhaal, and the seedy Jim Cunningham, one of the primo Patrick Swayze roles - oozing creep and promising salvation through fear - seem eerily familiar in 2024? Your engagement and enjoyment whilst watching this film can be put down to how you get your brain around the philosophy behind time travel, and the juxtaposition of the facade of American suburban life and teen angst. No wonder we couldn't fathom it in 2021! The director Richard Kelly uses 1980s pop anthems to magnificent effect, specifically for the opening scene, where Echo and the Bunnymen's Killing moon deliciously expediates Donnie's early dawn bicycle trip back down the mountain road back to his home in leafy well-off suburbia. Bunnies feature lots in this film! The Drew Barrymore scene at school resonates, with Head over Heels, by Tears for Fears, complete with an astounding tracking shot. Their hit Mad World gets the breathy atmospheric treatment also to great effect, with Gary Jules stepping in for Roland & Kurt. Incidental and orchestral music also is used to maximize the impact of the 'stupid rabbit suit' moments. Wow. You will never look at rabbits the same way again! I had to wait a while to see it at the cinema again, and made sure I was by myself - as my first viewing what peppered with my mate going "WTF" every other scene! Legendary.