Donnie Darko

2001

Director: Richard Kelly

Distributors: Newmarket Films

Key Elements: Concept – Visuals – Symbolism

My Review:

Wow, where to start? This is one of the most interesting movies I’ve ever seen. After multiple watches, I’m still not sure what’s happening in it. But that doesn’t detract from it at all. Watching this movie is like watching someone’s dream.

It seems that Donnie is going to die. A plane engine falls through the roof and crushes him in his bed. Somehow, Donnie is sent back to a month previous to say his goodbyes and set a few things right. But this post-mortem time travel leaves him confused and disturbed. Anyway, that’s my best guess. I’ll have to watch it a few more times (but no complaints.)

There’s only one thing that really bothered me about the movie. An inspirational speaker presents a perspective on life that sees all human action as being motivated by love or by fear. To me, this idea is compelling. But the character who delivers it is opposed by Donnie and later exposed as a pedophile. I wish such an interesting idea hadn’t been given such a negative association.

But, overall, the movie is great – both thoughtful and poetic.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• 28 days... 6 hours... 42 minutes... 12 seconds. That... is when the world... will end.
• I can do anything I want. And so can you.
• You're weird.
  - Sorry
  No, that was a compliment.
• She said, "Every living creature on earth dies alone."
• If the sky were to suddenly open up, there would be no law, there would be no rule. There would only be you and your memories.
• They just want to see what happens when they tear the world apart. They want to change things.
• I have to obey him – he saved my life.
• A storm is coming, Frank says… A storm that will swallow the children… And I will deliver them from the kingdom of pain… I will deliver the children back to their doorsteps… And send the monsters back to the underground… I'll send them back to a place where no-one else can see them… Except for me… Because I am Donnie Darko.
• This famous linguist once said that of all the phrases in the English language, of all the endless combinations of words in all of history, that ‘Cellar Door’ is the most beautiful.
• If this world were to end, there would only be you... and him... and no one else.
• What if you could go back in time, and take all those hours of pain and darkness and replace them with something better?
• I promise, that one day, everything's going to be better for you.
• Wake up, Donnie.
• The children have to save themselves these days because the parents have no clue.

Stills: