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By David Lee Simmons

Few films in recent memory divided, but nevertheless intrigued, critics like writer-director Richard Kelly's feature-length debut, 2001's Donnie Darko. For every thumb's up ('A wondrous, moodily self-involved piece of work that employs X-Files magic realism to galvanize what might have been a routine tale of suburban teen angst,' wrote Village Voice's J. Hoberman) came a decided thumb's down ('If this movie ever figured out what it wanted to be when it grows up, it would be a terrific one,' opined the San Francisco Chronicle's Bob Graham). Color me somewhere safely in between after seeing the director's cut that was released last year and screened at the New Orleans Film Festival. Kelly's exploration of teen angst (featuring this era's poster child, Jake Gyllenhaal) through an '80s prism had its darker moments but ultimately felt less than the sum of its parts. (Don't say that in a film-geek chat room; you'll get run out on a rail along with any Fight Club detractors!) One thing's for sure; that rabbit creeped me out. Regardless, Donnie Darko is a perfect kickoff for Canal Place's midnight movie series. Tickets $7.50 adults, $5.50 kids/seniors.

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