The General Story: Really? You want me to try and explain
the story of this film to you? Not even the director and writer could tell you
what it’s really about, so I’ll do my best. Troubled teen Donnie Darko, leads a
seemingly normal existence with his family, in a fairly affluent suburb. He
drifts through life, attends school, and ponders the meaning of life and
everything in between. Until, he is “visited” by a giant rabbit called Frank,
who tells Donnie the world will end in exactly 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and
12 seconds. Firstly thinking it was all just a dream, more strange appearances
of Frank and events around Donnie start to occur, all matching the predictions
of the giant bunny. Donnie enters a dark descent, under the guidance of Frank,
to expose the secrets of those around him, and either save the world or be
ready for when it ends. Geez… summing the movie up like that was tough, so excuse
me if I’ve left lots out. These reviews are meant to be short and snappy after
all.
What influenced the movie: Donnie Darko is a film that is
almost impossible to categorise. It easily slips in between genres, styles and
tones, starting with Donnie’s journey, then branching out into a variety of other
stories featuring various complex characters. When it was released in 2001, it confused
most people who saw it the first time, and warranted a second viewing, which helped
it to make a little more sense. As word of mouth spread, Donnie Darko found its
life in the years after it was released, becoming a cult classic and entering
the Top 10 Most Loved Movies by popular vote,; the first time a film had really
done so since the 1980’s. In terms of what influenced it? It was clearly the
brainchild of its writer and director, Richard Kelly.
How the movie influenced the 00's: Donnie Darko has
continued to grow and grow in its popularity and reach since 2001, and the 2004
released directors cut added more fuel to the fire of discussion and debate
over the true meaning of the movie. However many times it has been viewed by
more avid moviegoers, no one individual can tell you exactly what is it about
this film that makes it so unique and special. The film is shot and presented
in something of a lucid dream-like quality, drawing you into its original
premise, unique characters, and dark psychological undertones. As with any film
that garners a cult following, Donnie Darko is often discussed, recommended and
quoted by all types of audiences and across different mediums of art and
culture. It connects with you deeply, then leaves you with a lasting impression,
never giving you the answers you seek and leaving you wanting more. No movie really
dared try to copy Donnie Darko, as it’s a one of a kind film in a league of its own, and all respecting filmmakers
are probably studying and unpacking it just as much as the average moviegoer.
What makes it stand out as a film of the 00's: As the movie
going audience of the 00’s emerged, they were an audience that was savvy,
intelligent and well-educated in the world of film. We watched movies through
the lens of having seen a lot of other movies, which were the by-product of writers
and directors who had also seen a lot of movies. This was purely the case with
Donnie Darko’s creator Richard Kelly, who tapped into his inspiration of 1980’s
music and culture and blending genres and filmmaking styles to excellent
effect. As films became more relevant in terms of escapism and understanding
people and the world at large, Donnie Darko became a film you could watch to experience the many facets of the human
condition; we’re both good and bad, dark and light, together and alone, happy and
sad, and often all those things and more in a lifetime, or even a day. The character
of Donnie Darko (played brilliantly by Jake Gyllenhaal) embodies all of these
emotions and states of mind, to resonate with audiences the world over and
connect us to his journey into the unknown. This has only added to the universal
appeal and deep appreciation and respect for this film, which continues to grow
today.
Impact of the movie still felt today: At the time of it’s release,
Jake Gyllenhaal had done a handful of films, but it was his star turn here that
shot him straight to the top of the Hollywood A-List of young actors on the
rise, following this with blockbuster “The Day After Tomorrow” and of course, “Brokeback
Mountain”. As Donnie Darko pushed its way into the lists of modern movie goers
favourite films, as well as the Top 50 and Top 100 lists such as “Most
Influential / Important / Impacting…” films you must watch in your life time,
the movie has turned into a bottle of wine; getting better and better with age.
Revisiting the film to write this review, was about the fifth time I’ve watched
it, and I noticed new things I hadn’t picked up before. The film is a pop
culture phenomenon, surely the topic of a semester at film school, and the
ambition of every aspiring script writer and director, hoping to break into the
movie scene with an original idea that takes off, and continues to inspire audiences
and creative types alike.
No comments:
Post a Comment