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Donnie Darko |
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Reviewed by Vittorio J. Carli for Reel Movie Critic |
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H H H ½ |
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| Jason Gyllenhall | Donnie Darko |
| Mary McDonnell | Rose Darko |
| Jena Malone | Gretchen Ross |
| Directed and written by Richard Kelly. A surreal teen drama. Rated R (for language, some drug use, and violence). Pandora/Darko productions. Running time: 142 minutes. | |
"Donnie Darko" is an oddly compelling and Lynchesque film that combines elements of a teen drama, surrealism, science fiction, and mystery. It’s totally unique and highly influential, but the new director’s cut is not an improvement.
Donnie is an alienated adolescent who is either losing his mind or having a mystical experience. After Donnie stops taking his medication, a futuristic rabbit named Frank appears to him, and warns him that the world will soon end. The rabbit may be a sinister hallucination, a time traveler or an emissary from God depending on how you look at it.
The film has a fascinating history. It earned rave reviews at Sundance, but it had the misfortune of being released theatrically around the time of 9/11. It was the worst possible time to release a film with a protagonist that may be committing violent acts against a school.
The initial theatrical release received mixed reviews and had a quick box-office death. But the revival screenings drew increasing numbers, and it became a surprise hit on video. "Donnie Darko" is the first massive cult hit of the decade.
The director’s cut of "Donnie Darko" adds about 20 minutes of footage, which develops the characters and offers a theological explanation for some of the more irrational aspects of the story. Most of the footage was already available on the DVD. The new cut also reproduces blocks of text from the science book, "The Philosophy of Time Travel," which is available on the excellent Donnie Darko website at
http://www.donniedarko.com.Pop songs are masterfully used to reinforce the film’s tone and reflect its themes. Gary Jules’s "Mad World" reflects the protagonist’s unusual dilemma with the lyrics, "
And I find it kind of funny/I find it kind of sad/The dreams in which I'm dying/Are the best I've ever had."The worst change in the new cut is the omission of Echo and the Bunnymen’s excellent, brooding "The Killing Moon." The song perfectly sets up the ominous aura of malignant evil and potential violence early on in the film." The new cut replaces it with the INX’s far less evocative "Never Tear us Apart."
The performances are as mesmerizing as the story. Jake Gyllenhaal could almost pass for Norman Bates’s younger cousin in the title performance. Gyllenhaal’s masterful performance exudes psychosis, manic intensity, and barely contained sexual frustration. Drew Barrymore shines in her best role ever as a bold and unconventional English teacher. Patrick Swayze is also convincing as a shallow new age guru, and Jena Malone’s is credible as Donnie’s sensitive love interest.
Overall, the added material dilutes the film’s intensity a bit, and it does not really improve or "explain" the story better. Nonetheless, the new version is an interesting alternative. It should be seen in addition to the original but not as a replacement. The first cut of "Donnie Darko" is still the definitive one.
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Vittorio J. Carli © 2004 |
| vito@reelmoviecritic.com |