Donnie Darko

Carol and I just watched the director’s cut of Donnie Darko the other night. I had seen the theatrical release a couple of times, but this cut made a great film even greater. Wow! I’ve watched it twice already in the past few days. Once just the film and once with director’s commentary with Richard Kelly and his pal, the acerbic director of Clerks and Dogma Kevin Smith (who has his own blog). There’s so much here I’ll have to watch it some more.

Donnie Darko is either a story about a boy with schizophrenia, “possibilities” (as the director said), that of a time travelling superhero who makes the ultimate sacrifice to save his loved ones or a combination of all three. You’ll have to watch it to find out for yourself. If it doesn’t make sense to you upon first watching watch it again. Check out the Cellar Door website after you watch the film.

It didn’t do so well upon it’s original release which was about a month after September 11, 2001 most likely because its not the lightest of stories and is a real thinking person’s film. No one was ready to think about anything else heavy at that time. Now, almost five years later, people like myself are rediscovering this film with enthusiasm.

Director Richard Kelly expanded on the Donnie Darko story adding some brilliant visual and sound design elements as well as a few extra moments of scenes that didn’t make the theatrical cut. Well worth a watch. I now count it as one of my favourite all time films.