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)
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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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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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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Very strong 4*. An excellent psychedelic trip that does not lead the viewer by the hand, cleverly inviting many interpretations, but you don’t need to understand it, just to enjoy it sensually; and you’ll watch it in one breath. What a relieving feeling compared to Kelly's follow-up Southland Tales, where in retrospect one realises how he repeats himself in an embarrassingly awkward way, and where the most you can learn from the dialogues is who has beaten who, or would like to beat who, and who has a big cock and who has a small one. Kelly, get your feet back on the ground or you'll go down in film history as someone who never crossed the shadow of its powerful debut.
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