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Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko (2004)

June. 02,2004
|
8
|
R
| Fantasy Drama Mystery

After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.

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Reviews

simonthenixon
2004/06/02

I think my favorite thing about this movie is that I don't actually know everything going on. I feel like every time I watch it I see something different, or think something different. That's the strongest thing about the movie: it keeps you coming back to try and figure it out. I'm sure some people have figured it out enough, at least for themselves, but I really like the wonder.

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Evan Wessman (CinematicInceptions)
2004/06/03

There should be a genre for movies like this that are so complicated that they are almost impossible to grasp on their first viewing but can be understood with the help of a textbook on them. Maybe there aren't enough of those and those that exist are too different from each other to make it be considered a genre. After reading through most of the FAQ page, I feel like I understand it a little better, but I don't find the story compelling enough to learn more. I don't think this would be regarded as a great movie if it hadn't gotten the cult following that it did, but I suppose that's what a cult following is for. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if in an alternate universe Donnie Darko was viewed in the same vein as movies like Cloud Atlas: ambitious and cool in concept, but not actually that well thought out. However, Donnie Darko does have enough substance and thought out world behind it to make it's cult status warranted.I didn't particularly enjoy it, but it is sort of cool that it was able to get so many people interested in it. There's something to be said for your movie when it has a 36 question FAQ page, a special features part of the DVD that people actually watch, and an entire book within the movie that people wish they could read. Also, its success sort of paved the way to some degree for Christopher Nolan's movies The Prestige, Inception, and Interstellar. And it boosted Jake Gyllenhaal's career, and he's since become one of my favorite actors. Even though I don't understand the way that time travel works in the movie, it seems like a cool variation of time travel that is less hacky than the time travel seen in most movies. If you haven't seen this, it wouldn't hurt to watch it. Definitely it's a weird movie, and you might hate it as I've heard at least one person say they do, but you could just as easily love it and revere it as a masterclass in light sci-fi. At the very least, it will give you a break from the standard plots that you've probably gotten at least a little bored of. I would be willing to see it again multiple times, but I doubt I will ever like it that much. Overall Rating: 7.3/10.

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juanoyhanarte
2004/06/04

The questions that are raised are what makes it considered a 'cult movie', I guess, because it certainly makes you think a lot.

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The Movie Diorama
2004/06/05

I remember watching this for the first time a few years back, and my mind was completely blown. It was so complicated and hallucinogenic that I couldn't quite grasp the intricacies of the plot. Having just watched it again, with an older and hopefully wiser brain, I fully realised the concept and beauty that this film provides. Extremely difficult to describe the story, but essentially a disenchanted teenager miraculously cheats death and is subliminally informed that the world ends in a months time. We then join him on this mind bending journey that, at its core, is a coming-of-age drama. There is so much stuffed into the narrative that director Richard Kelly just couldn't quite pull off everything in spectacular fashion. Slightly over ambitious. We've got but not limited to: parallel universes, time travel, fate, destiny, love, religion, beliefs, depression, coincidental occurrences, hypnosis, dreams, reality, love...it's so huge. But beneath the science fiction facade is a story about love and family and how it transcends both time and space. The Darko's are an unusual family, their banter and sarcasm makes for some witty satire. Donnie himself is a social outcast, he tries to prove that society cannot be classified into set groups and that other factors must be taken into consideration such as human emotions. The narrative is satirical about suburban society and the juxtaposition that the Darko's present makes for some thought provoking scenes. One scene in particular where the "perfect" teacher can't go to a dance competition and so asks Donnie's mother instead. Her initial refusal prevents opportunities for their daughters but the intelligent approach makes it seem like fate. Does God dictate our destiny and set out our path in life? Is the freedom of choice diminished? So many questions raised and the film doesn't answer them, because it wants you to the reflect on them instead. It works beautifully. Not for everybody, but Gyllenhaal's performance and intriguing themes will entice many.

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