Wednesday, March 17, 2010

#74 Donnie Darko: 28:06:12:42

2001. dir Richard Kelly, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Holmes Osborne, Mary McDonnell, Beth Grant.

Seen it before? Yes.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays the titular Donnie Darko, who gets visited by a guy in a scary rabbit costume who tells him the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 12 minutes, and 42 seconds. Then a jet engine mysteriously crashes into his bedroom, and all sorts of strange things start happening. I've seen this movie so many times that it's hard to think of anything to say about it...

OK, so first of all, if you were like me and totally baffled the first time you saw this, read this article. It does a good job explaining everything. Apparently a lot of the time travel stuff in the movie only really makes sense if you read the supplemental material or watch the Director's Cut. Which I refuse to do. I liked it better before I understood it.

This is one of my favorite movies. The script is oddly nonsensical, but makes sense in a dream-logic sort of way. The conversations Donnie has with Noah Wyle's character are all pure nonsense, but delivered with such conviction. The score and music are great - lots of lost 80's music and creepy theremin music. The movie is set in 1988 and really captures the feel of the era. Loved the cast, especially Beth Grant ("Sometimes, I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion!") Also Donnie's father is pretty hilarious.

Position on the list: 124
Hey! It's That Guy!: Seth Rogen plays a bully

No comments:

Post a Comment