It's good but I'm not as gaga about it as the fanbois out there are. This film is actually studied (according to friends of mine that went to film school - which is a strange school in my opinion) globally as being some sort of ground breaking film. I'm not saying I don't like it, because it is a good film, but I honestly can't imagine why it is used as a staple in film school.
The films stars a very young (yeah, we all were at some point) Jake Gyllenhaal and at least to me, it is the first time I recall seeing him in anything at all. The movie deals with Jake's character (who is named Donnie not surprisingly) and the doomsday visions he has surrounding himself and everyone around him. This all begins when an airplane engine lands in his bedroom while he is not in it. Later on Donnie is awakened and meets a terrifying rabbit costumed character that tells Donnie his name is "Frank"
a series of terrible events unravel mostly by Frank's suggestions and eventually this results in bad things happening to a lot of people including a person that Donnie cares about being killed. Then he shoots someone in the face who happens to be named Frank and is wearing a similar costume (it was a costume party) as "Frank" that has been haunting Donnie's imagination over the past month or so.
I'm not going to spoil the movie because you really should watch it. It is good. It actually wasn't released because a major part of the film is an airplane crash and this was right around the time that the Twin Towers thing happened in USA. It had a limited release and made its money back barely. It then when on to become a cult classic and made a bunch more money and is now considered one of the best independent films ever made.
Now this is where I part ways with the critical review. It is interesting, it is well-shot, it is spooky and it does make you think. However, I don't think it is one of the best movies ever made. It deserves accolades for being as good as it is on a shoestring budget but the fact that it is studied in film school doesn't make sense to me.
I know I am probably in the minority here and let me say again ... I LIKE THIS MOVIE.... I have watched it multiple times to try to understand what film professors might be harping on about, but i guess i just don't get it. Maybe it is because Patrick Swayze is in it.
so all right, bring it on people. rip me to pieces. Tell me why you think it is one of the best films ever made because i disagree.