Donnie Darko

Comments:

This movie made me think, and that's always a good thing in my book. Richard Kelly doesn't dumb things down and assumes his audience is intelligent and is looking to think. I watched it on a Friday afternoon, and it is still with me as I write this on a Tuesday. Donnie Darko is an excellent film. I've placed it in my Horror section, but it could have just as easily been placed in a Drama or a Sci-Fi area. It has elements of all three. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Donnie Darko, the eponymous troubled teen who starts seeing a scary-looking large talking bunny. Oh, by the way, the bunny's name is Frank, and he says the world is coming to an end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. If that isn't weird enough, just after talking to Frank, a large jet engine hits Donnie's house and crashes through his room right where he would have been sleeping if Frank the Bunny hadn't called him outside. In the early going we get to see Donnie in his natural environment, among his family and friends. We learn he is going to a therapist for emotional problems, and that sets up the rest of the movie and the questions that inevitably follow as you watch. Is this real? Is Donnie hallucinating? Dreaming? He does manages to pick up a girlfriend despite his troubles, and he also has several other good friends. I'm going to purposely keep things vague and leave you here, as this movie is best seen without too much prior knowledge. The end makes you think, and invites more than one interpretation. Watching with the director's commentary turned on during a second viewing wouldn't hurt. Despite my high rating of 8/10, I don't think this one is for everybody. I definitely recommend renting this. I know I'll remember this movie and its message for a long time to come.

IMDB RATING: 8.3 as of: 6/14/05	Donnie Darko	MY RATING: 8 out of 10
Director: Richard Kelly		Actors: Jake Gyllenhaal .... Donnie Darko Holmes Osborne .... Eddie Darko Maggie Gyllenhaal .... Elizabeth Darko Daveigh Chase .... Samantha Darko Mary McDonnell .... Mrs. Rose Darko James Duval .... Frank Arthur Taxier .... Dr. Fisher Patrick Swayze .... Jim Cunningham Mark Hoffman .... Police Officer David St. James .... Bob Garland Tom Tangen .... Man in Red Jogging Suit Jazzie Mahannah .... Joanie James Jolene Purdy .... Cherita Chen Stuart Stone .... Ronald Fisher Gary Lundy .... Sean Smith Alex Greenwald .... Seth Devlin Beth Grant .... Kitty Farmer Jena Malone .... Gretchen Ross Seth Rogen .... Ricky Danforth David Moreland .... Principal Cole Noah Wyle .... Prof. Kenneth Monnitoff Drew Barrymore .... Karen Pomeroy Kristina Malota .... Susie Bates Marina Malota .... Emily Bates Carly Naples .... Suzy Bailey Tiler Peck .... Beth Farmer Patience Cleveland .... Roberta Sparrow/Grandma Death
Comments: This movie made me think, and that's always a good thing in my book. Richard Kelly doesn't dumb things down and assumes his audience is intelligent and is looking to think. I watched it on a Friday afternoon, and it is still with me as I write this on a Tuesday. Donnie Darko is an excellent film. I've placed it in my Horror section, but it could have just as easily been placed in a Drama or a Sci-Fi area. It has elements of all three. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Donnie Darko, the eponymous troubled teen who starts seeing a scary-looking large talking bunny. Oh, by the way, the bunny's name is Frank, and he says the world is coming to an end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. If that isn't weird enough, just after talking to Frank, a large jet engine hits Donnie's house and crashes through his room right where he would have been sleeping if Frank the Bunny hadn't called him outside. In the early going we get to see Donnie in his natural environment, among his family and friends. We learn he is going to a therapist for emotional problems, and that sets up the rest of the movie and the questions that inevitably follow as you watch. Is this real? Is Donnie hallucinating? Dreaming? He does manages to pick up a girlfriend despite his troubles, and he also has several other good friends. I'm going to purposely keep things vague and leave you here, as this movie is best seen without too much prior knowledge. The end makes you think, and invites more than one interpretation. Watching with the director's commentary turned on during a second viewing wouldn't hurt. Despite my high rating of 8/10, I don't think this one is for everybody. I definitely recommend renting this. I know I'll remember this movie and its message for a long time to come.