How to make the cult movie of the decade: 'Make a good movie and don't worry about the money' Donnie Darko Rules!

Please forgive a short post this evening - I have a good excuse. I have birthday presents to wrap, cake to bake, trifle to soak in rum, balloon animals to twist and a frock to iron. Yes, it's Jake Gyllenhaal's birthday tomorrow so make sure you get an early night tonight so that you have lots of energy for the party. We're still short of a DJ so all volunteers are appreciated. And if anyone wants to do the washing up...


Despite all the preparations, I just have time to post an article from the hot-off-the-presses February edition of Total Film (it might be worth pointing out that I appear to have missed the January issue because it probably came out in August). Total Film has been compiling its Noughty Lists and, while The Dark Knight gets the Blockbuster of the Decade gong, the Cult Movie of the Decade is - of course - Donnie Darko!


And as Drew Barrymore says: 'It's amazing! How could it not be? It proves my point that Hollywood has become so obsessed with the box-office numbers, just to such a fucked-up detriment, you know? If a film ends up at $35m, it doesn't make it a good movie. Donnie made two pennies at the box office... I just think that the importance is about making a film that people will enjoy when they come across it. Of course you want them to see it in the theatre, but Donnie Darko to me is a constant example of 'make a good movie and don't worry about the money'.'


While I'm posting scans, I may have seen Brothers a little bit more than three times last week - I had a week, I had to cram them in. The last time I went to see it I was supposed to see 2012 but that was solely to see a certain trailer for a certain medieval Persian romp. Once that mission was joyfully achieved, there was ample time to run round the corner and enjoy Brothers. But while buying my 2012 ticket I was presented with the first volume of the AMC mag and who should I find within its pages....



The Noughty Lists are going to flood us over the next two weeks. The Guardian's published bits of its top 100 2000s movies. I saw the feature and I was thrilled to see a frame from Zodiac. 'At last!' I thought, 'recognition for Jake's masterpiece'. And then I saw the list and it's at no. 100.

Nevertheless, at least it's there. Brokeback is at 57 and Donnie Darko is absent from this list running 100-11 so I'm hopeful for a top ten spot. Here is the list so far. On with the party preparations!


Includes scans from WDW and pictures from IHJ.