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Donnie Darko
: I left the theater a bit puzzled and disconcerted by Donnie Darko's twisted, turning, time-bending plot and soon decided that I would just enjoy the film's intriguing story and fantastic acting rather than try to figure it all out. Reviewers here and there have complained that the film's stunning ending left too many loose ends, with unanswered questions and unpleasant results. Perhaps, but I think that very thing may be one of the central messages of this very unsual little movie -- that we don't always understand or like how the loose ends in our lives get resolved, but they ARE resolved, there ARE answers. Donnie Darko may appeal most to people 30 or younger but it has something for anyone who appreciates social satire and delicate examinations of human fears and frailties. There is creative brilliance at work here, and the acting is first-class. Mary McDonnell is wonderful, as always. Here's hoping this film gets broad distribution and a chance to be seen by millions.
 Summary:
Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) appears to be a delusional schizophrenic with a number of other problems, including a potentially anti-social personality disorder. He is being visited, usually in daydreams or hallucinogenic states, by a disfigured rabbit named Frank (James Duval). Frank, who describes himself as a messenger from the future, tells Donnie to do certain things, including flooding and defacing his high school and burning down a local, motivational speaker's house (Patrick Swayze). While experiencing these visits, Donnie is seeing a therapist (Katharine Ross), has fallen in love with the new girl in school (Jenna Malone), is having trouble with his parents (Eddie Darko - Holmes Osborne; Rose Darko - Mary McDonnell), and is having trouble at school. What all of these people surrounding Donnie don't know is that Frank has informed Donnie when the world is going to end. Donnie, meanwhile, begins exploring conceptual understandings about God and time travel in hopes of understanding what is happening to him. The movie ends with Donnie realizing that he wasn't delusional, but that realization comes with a steep price. Comments:
Several friends highly recommended this movie, describing it as a dark 'mind trip' (though they used a slightly different word, if you get my drift). In some ways I would agree that this movie is, for the most part, a mind trip, but I think it would be more accurate to describe it as a film that has the potential to be a 'mind trip'. Though this movie is about as close as a movie can get to being a mind trip, I don't think it quite pulls it off. But the reason why is not because the story didn't have all the essential elements, but because the elements that would have given the story the necessary additional information to solidify the intrigue are cut from the final version of film. The result is a movie far more open to interpretation than I believe was originally intended. The movie is supposed to contrast divinity and insanity, but it doesn't quite get there without the deleted scenes and director's commentary. I don't understand why, in the DVD edition, a director's cut version is not an option. If it was offered, I don't think I could complain about this movie. As far as the acting goes, Jake Gyllenhall is tremendous. Most of the rest of the cast is okay, but I found myself not caring that the supporting cast wasn't outstanding because Gyllenhall was so good. Generally I also comment about the fluency and logic of the story, but my only concern with this film is that too much of the story was cut (see above). Overall, I enjoyed the film, but I have a tendency to be critical of films that require additional commentary in order to be understood. I understand that some films are designed to be interpreted, but I don't think the degree of openness to interpretation in this film was intended. Sure, the issues of God and time travel are left unresolved, but the I believe the writer/director had intentions to clarify the issues that were being raised but was forced to cut some of the scenes that would have done this. I think a good example of a movie that has enough substance to clearly raise an issue but not offer any answers is 'Eyes Wide Shut' (or pretty much any Kubrick film), though Kubrick was generally able to take as much time as was necessary to tell his story. Thus, my critique of the film is more of a disappointment; it had what was necessary to be a great film, but, sadly, elements that were necessary for achieving that end were cut when they shouldn't have been. Though those elements are offered as special features on the DVD, they should have been reincorporated into the movie on the DVD - then the writer/director wouldn't be able to complain.
I was first interested in this movie when I saw the trailer to "Waking Life". I had only seen the movie a week before I saw this one. The trailer is intriguing, I must admit. But it gives you a false sense of the movie. From this ad we get the impression that this movie is about darkness and some type of evil that is lurking somewhere in his mind. This is not necessarily true. I won't spoil anything, but that's just not fun, but I will say that it is not what one would expect. There were some elements of seriousness, of course, but there was also comedy and some type of weird undertone that made the movie a little less polished than it should be. Surprisingly enough this movie takes place in the late 1980s, ('88 to be exact). It is mentioned in some of the style and certainly the ongoing Bush Vs. Dukaukis (sp?) election. In all this movie was well made for a starting out director, but it does need a little more work. There is a little too much being crammed all at once into this movie. There's love, fear, overemphasis on characterization, stereotypes, and a strange twist that just doesn't quite add up. The special effects were not overdone however, and this really saved the movie. What impressed me was the character design on Frank, the twisted rabbit that is shown in the trailer. The calm voice really gave me a kick. This movie is really about character development and a sense for a certain type of atmosphere, but as far as everything else it might be a little skimpy. I am not quite sure of the underlying message, if there was one, but I will say that this director is certainly a promising figure for the future and I hope to see more of his movies.
This movie is perfect. It obviously doesnt use traditional plots and such. Donnie goes throught october being guided by his hallucinations. He is 'coached' on what to do and is told the day when everything will end. He obeys his instructions which set up everything to go wrong (people die) but yet he can die for them. Its like everything happens just so he can make a choice. Very philosophical. Will definantly make you think.
Bloody brilliant! Everyone was FANTASTIC in this movie. Drew Barrymore seemed more important than she was to the plot though...that was just a little strange. Otherwise, just see this movie. One of the best I've seen in maybe years.
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