Donnie Darko
Directed by:
Richard KellyScreenplay:
Richard KellyCinematography:
Steven PosterComposer:
Michael AndrewsCast:
Jake Gyllenhaal, Holmes Osborne, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Daveigh Chase, Mary McDonnell, James Duval, Patrick Swayze, David St. James, Seth Rogen, Jena Malone (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
Donnie is a troubled high school student: in therapy, prone to sleepwalking and in possession of an imaginary friend, a six-foot rabbit named Frank, who tells him the world is going to end in 28 days, 06 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds. During that time he will navigate teenage life, narrowly avoid death in the form of a falling jet engine, follow Frank’s maladjusted instructions and try to maintain the space-time continuum. (Arrow Films)
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Reviews (14)
Hypnotic, captivating, and unclassifiable in genre. It contains sharp satire, elusive sci-fi, and playful originality, yet I cannot convey Donnie to an unfamiliar viewer. It completely deviates from the norm in scenes with the rabbit, excellently builds up the ending, and above all, shows for the first time that Jake Gyllenhaal truly has talent. An unforgettable, although far from flawless experience.
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Donnie Darko is probably one of those films that one appreciates fully (if at all) only on the second (or third) viewing. But what good does it do me if nothing entices me to watch it again? I can praise the actors, I can praise the direction and the choice of songs used, but the fact is that this "155th best film" with its boring and bloated "I'm something great, marvel at me" script blatantly disappointed me. A strange piece of work I let pass me by for years... And I was right to.
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This intellectually stupid trend never ceases to fascinate me. As soon as there is a movie with supernatural phenomena, told non-linearly, and, God forbid, with a conclusion without a rational explanation, the world falls into mass hysteria and this place is crawling with full-fledged ratings like ants in an anthill. If I were to see this crap again, they will probably have to take me to the hospital for boredom and lack of originality poisoning. Richard Kelly relies purely on bespectacled intellectuals, who latch on like wasps to candy, and he couldn't care less that this totally disjointed film offers absolutely no rational explanation or meaning (similarly to Lynch, for example). And it's no wonder when it feels that way. A first-class muddled mess without a point. Two stars for a well-portrayed family and Mary McDonnell's performance.
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Donnie Darko is an exceptionally good film. The story drew me in from the very beginning and it got me thinking about it for a while after it was over. The film has an unsettling atmosphere throughout, with things constantly tangling up and untangling and everything intertwined. The cast gave great performances. I was most surprised by Drew Barrymore – it wasn’t her usual role and I enjoyed how completely natural she was. Although the teacher was just a supporting role, she was quite striking to me. I really enjoyed the film. If I'd rated it less than five stars, I'd have to be ashamed of myself.
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Interesting film. Above all, Donnie Darko has a fascinating atmosphere and I don’t even mind that I didn’t quite get everything. I actually doubt it has only one right explanation, I think it’s one of those films that has to be experienced emotionally rather than understood rationally. For the time being, an uncertain 4 stars (I don’t know whether strong or weak), but I might change my opinion when I find time to rewatch it.
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