Can anyone tell me about Donnie Darko before I rent it?
Oh, my God. How do I love this movie? Let me count the ways.
As much as I love Jack Twist, I love Donnie Darko more. I love that he's a revolutionary. I love that he isn't afraid of anything (except being alone) or anyone. I love how he stands up to injustice wherever he sees it and doesn't give a tinker's cuss what the school bully or even his best friends and girlfriend think of him when he does it. I love how kind he is to the school and town outcasts. I love that he loves literature and understands how to dissect it for its meaning. I love that he can draw and write.
I love the music. It's all circa 1988, and that was one of the best years of my life.
I love Donnie's parents. I love how they look like they could actually be his parents, and how, although they're flawed, they're so likable, just like him.
I love that Maggie plays his sister in it and seeing how they play off each other. You can see the real affection they have for each other in their scenes together.
I love that the first time I saw it, at the end I said, "What the hell just happened?" but that I wanted to see it again (and again) to find out.
I love the version of "Mad World" that accompanies the final scenes. Absolutely haunting - there is no better song and no better version of it Richard Kelly could have chosen.
Mostly I love it because it's original. It was original in 2001, and it's still every bit as original now. I've never seen anything like it, before or since.
I recommend seeing the original theatrical release first - the Director's Cut is less ambiguous, and ambiguity is my friend. If you buy one, I'd still buy the original version, because then you get Richard Kelly's and Jake's commentary instead of Richard Kelly's and Kevin Smith's commentary. Lotta people like and admire Kevin Smith - I could largely do without him and most of his movies. But maybe that's just me.
And you thought you rambled?