By May be found at the following website: IMP Awards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6736957
Donnie Darko - (2001)
Another serious contender for my top films of the 2000s list,
Donnie Darko can split people into "love it" or "hate it" mode, but most can admit it's a complicated film that allows for much interpretation. Richard Kelly went full on
Mulholland Drive with his next feature,
Southland Tales and although
The Box was more straightforward, it takes in many twists and turns into other realms and dimensions.
Darko, being his first film, still feels fresh and exciting - full of philosophical detours and slightly sinister meditations on fate, alternate realities and trying to find meaning in life and death. The film captures the spirit of the 80s really well, and then gives it an ominous twist. Look out for Seth Rogan as a violent bully, Daveigh Chase (who would go on to play Samara in
The Ring) as Donnie's little sister and Patrick Swayze as a self-help guru who also happens to be a paedophile. Watched it yet again and still enjoy it to the hilt.
9/10
By May be found at the following website: IMP Awards, Fair use,
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2447247
The Bourne Identity - (2002)
I haven't seen the
Bourne films as of yet, so last night I watched
The Bourne Identity for the first time. I found it engaging and entertaining - easy enough to follow - and enjoyed seeing Franka Potente in something that wasn't
Run Lola Run, which I think is the only other thing I'd ever seen her in. This really seems to update the Spy Thriller film to it's 21st Century setting, so I'd be interested in seeing how it relates to the novel or the 1988 adaptation starring Richard Chamberlain. I have no Bourne experience at all you see. I'm going to check out the next two films in the series - it seems well worth it. I'm guessing this film has the popularity to crack the top 100 list when the time comes. These films were really popular - but I prefer Daniel Craig as James Bond in
Casino Royale and
Skyfall. This film is okay, but it doesn't top those two for me.
7.5/10