Richard Kelly invaded my love for film in a very specific, frightening, and mind-blowing way. My sophmore year of film school while watching random movies with my friend Sean our evening came to a close. Sean wanted to watch Donnie Darko but was too tired, so he lent me his copy. I was hooked immediately. Incredible song choices, fluid and mature camera moves, intelligent screenwriting were just the tip of the iceburg as the movie was only moments in. But when I heard Frank's "Wake Up Donnie." i nearly jumped through the roof. At that moment I realized that this film was going to be a trip and a half and I would need all my wits to survive it.

Since that vewing I have maintained that Donnie Darko is one of the most important films of the last Decade. Why? Because I've now seen it over ten times, with multiple groups of people and each viewing stimulates intense discussion about physics, time and time travel, phylosophy, religion, and responibility. Not to mention film aestetics and theory. I feel that a film that can stimulate such deep and thoughtful discourse deserves to be called important.

I have since my Darko days been waiting for Kelly's next project. I read every hint of info I could, navigated through the puzzle that was the Donnie Darko website, all in hopes of decoding Kelly's next move. I even sat through the film Domino hoping to see a trace of an artist's thumb print since Kelly penned the screenplay. When Southland Tales was announced I followed it through Canne's abismal screening, and now its indefinate postponement. But, I still had the Graphic Novels to look forward to.

Today I bought the first installment of the Southland Tales Graphics. I just finished reading it and let me tell you, I found it pretty amazing. Little is divulged in this volume, but the tone and the stage are set for one twisted Scifi/phylosophy film. Kelly is a strong voice for a new age of layered and textured science fiction. Its bold and original, something that is hard to find these days.

I know I've rambled a bit here, but after hearing the awful news from Canne I wish I could just see the film because if this Graphic does anything it makes me think that Kelly is on the same wave length I like to travel on and I want to see more of it. Let the nay-sayers say nay, I'll be happy to revel in high brow scifi. At least Richard Kelly is attempting to challenge his audience. I'd rather watch a failed attempt at something interesting and challenging than sit through another dismally shallow Pirates film.

Check out the Southland Tales graphic novels, especially if you liked Donnie Darko. It seems Kelly is looking to expand on the Phylosophy of Time Travel ideas. A worthy effort no doubt.

Originally posted in the Filmspotting forums 13 of August 2006.