Donnie Darko 2001

      Donnie Darko doesn’t get along very well with his family, his teachers and his classmates.  He does manage to find a sympathetic friend in Gretchen and she agrees to date him.  He also has a compassionate psychiatrist.  The doctor discovers hypnosis is the means to unlock hidden secrets.  Donnie his a friend named Frank but he may not be a true ally?  Frank is a large bunny and Donnie is the only who can see him?  An engine falls off a plane and destroys Danny’s bedroom?  Fortunately, Donnie was not there at the time!!  The engine falling and Donnie’s escape seem to have been caused by supernatural events?

     There are disturbing undercurrents in this film.  Donnie receives bulletins about the future from the large and demonic rabbit Frank?  None of the airlines have reported that an engine is missing from one of the jets?  Donnie begins to see time lines in front of his family.  A series of semi-transparent liquid arrows seem to lead into the future?  Donnie becomes fascinated by the theory of worm holes and he discovers that a key book, The Philosophy of Time Travel was written by a neighbor woman?  Donnie has a skewed state of mind and he says, “The dreams where I’m dying are the best I’ve every had?” 3* (This movie is OK)

     This is a dark thriller with a cult like following.  There is frequent swearing from teens, adults and a young child.  Frequent sex talk, an angry and possibly mentally ill teen?  Classroom vandalism, disrespect of teachers and authority figure adults.  References to pornography and violence plus a death at the end.  3* (This movie is OK)

     
113 min, Drama directed and written by Richard Kelly with Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell, Daveigh Chase, James Duval, Arthur Taxier, Patrick Swayze, Mark Hoffman, David St. James, Tom Tangen, Jazzie Mahannah, Jolene Purdy, Stuart Stone, Gary Lundy.

Note:  Imdb 8* out of 731,539 reviews, Rotten tomatoes, 86% with 117 critics 80% with 30,984,568 audience scores (this may be the highest number I have seen?), Roger Ebert 2 1/2*, empire online 5* Alan Morrison, The Guardian 5* Peter Bradshaw, Metacritic 71 out of 100 with 21 critics (16 positive 4 mixed 1 negative) 7.8 out of 10  user reviews (365 positive 31 mixed 51 negative) Common Sense Media, Charles Cassady Jr., 4* out of 5*, age 17+,  5* violence, 3* sex, 3* language #* consumerism 3* drinking, drugs & smoking.

Special Note:  At the wrap party for this film, Seth Rogen and Jake Gyllenhaal agreed that they had no idea what this movie was about?  When Jake Gyllenhaal is driven by Frank, he uses the strategy of rarely blinking to enhance his psychotic creepiness??  Drew Barrymore and Richard Kelly agreed that Flower Films, Drew’s production company would produce this film for 4.5 million and Barrymore would play Miss Pomeroy.  If Barrymore had not stepped in, the movie could have gone straight to video or cable television?  The black and white poster in Donnie’s room of an eye reflecting a skull is a reproduction of an etching by M.C. Escher.