Donnie Darko

[Phosphene]

Donnie Darko is also one of my favorites as well. I've heard the director claim his "correct" interpretation was all time-space-sci-fi-ish though I still have friends who prefer the nothing-more-then-teenage-angst interpretation of the film. The fact that either seems completely valid is part of what makes it a great film in my mind.

Any of you folks seen one of the director's other films, Southland Tales? Disclaimer: it's definitely no Donnie Darko (Not by a long shot!) though I enjoyed it, even with its numerous flaws.

Anyway, I realize I'm a bit late to the party but I wanted to interject my two (give or take) cents!

 

[skycsil]

"Why are you wearing this stupid human costume?" I love this movie.

 

[Maat]

I can only chime here, this one is definitely on my top list too.

A very great movie that talks about more topics that one can think at first

 

[Gwenllian]

I watched this film with my eldest son (16). Thanks, Jason!, for the suggestion. :)

I did not get it the first time. Then I watched it again last night and I could see that perhaps Donnie Darko wasn't schizophrenic after all.
My son and I looked up some information on the internet, because we still didn't get it. ;) We read this thread and now I understand it a bit better. I will probably watch it again tonight.

What I love about his character is that he stands up for the fat girl that is severely bullied (even during a school performance she is ordered to leave the stage). She is told to go back to China and he tells the bully to leave her alone. You can see during the whole film that she more than appeciates him. And when he walks up to her to tell her that things will get better she backs away, screaming and runs out of the building.
We see the girl perform a dance act (dressed in a beautiful white dress) quite gracefully, but on her own. Next act you have five skinny girls that are (surprise, surprise) cheered on and applauded. We then see the big girl in her beautiful dress sitting on the statue looking very sad and again on her own.

Donnie Darko is an indepent-minded young man who asks his teachers critical questions and at one point when he asks a psycho-babble coach some difficult questions the principle (?) intervenes and takes him outside.

This reminds me of the quote I found in the 'The hidden curriculum of compulsory schooling' thread.
Someone posted a list compiled by John Taylor Gatto what to do when one wants empty children.

12. Honor the highly graded. Keep grading and real world accomplishment as strictly
separate as possible so that a false meritocracy, dependent on the support of authority to
continue, is created. Push the most independent kids to the margin; do not tolerate real
argument.

This is what happens to Dannie Darko. He is marginalized. And real argument is squashed. What also happens to his English teacher(, who says when she is fired: we are losing these kids to apathy). And almost to his science teacher, but this teacher abruptly ends his conversation (about time travel and such) with Donnie when Donnie D. starts asking questions about god, explaining to him that he could lose his job over this.

 

[Faith]

This is also one of my favorite films. But I am talking about the original version, not the director's cut. I was very disappointed, when I watched the new version. After 15 minutes I had to switch to the original. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'd say the director repaired it to pieces when he edited it a second round and I wonder why. To me the original is just fine. There was nothing I complained about. Even the somehow limited SFX could perfectly convince me, since it is meant to be an 80ies-retro-piece.

 

[Gary]

What a great film! I watched it last night, for the second time, and saw alot more - aided by having read some interesting reviews here.

The quality of the script, acting, filming and soundtrack - together with the subject matter (psychosis, alterate realities, social conditioning etc) make it one of my favourite films.

(Spoiler alert)

To begin at the end. Donnie has the enigmatic smile, of perhaps a Higher Soul who has completed his mission, as he awaits his fate from above (aircraft engine/5D). His empathy, intelligence and passion for questioning the 'system' and rationally exposing thereby its contradictory, STS nature makes him an obvious target.

By conscious struggling and eventually overcoming bulling, feelings of isolation, self doubts - attempts at vectoring in different guises - Donnie seems to be doing the Work.

Frank / rabbit may be symbolic of Donnie glimpsing an aspect of his Higher Self. Him being shown one potential reality or timeline - with the ensuing consequences (him killing Frank, his girlfriend dying, but yet exposing a pedo ring etc) and knowing he has the choice to avoid this, by essentially giving his own life.

Very close to the end, we see some of the main characters with their 'masks' removed. The pyschologist, pedo-criminal Jim Cunningham and New Agey Frances Farmer. Their nocturnal, private worlds reveal expressions of anxiety/doubt; guilt/ maybe remorse and deep fear respectively.

Also the character Frank drawing the rabbit, the inference perhaps of seeds of awakening being shared by creative acts within a group or network. One seemingly mediocre act being deeply significant in the life of someone else - if they SEE it.

This film, like others, give us the opportunity to observe and learn lessons about the human condition. But for me, the overriding message from Donnie Darko is one of how our thoughts, words and actions can or do create alternate situations / paths / realities and the responsibilty of their creation and consequences thereof ultimately rest with us. We reap what we sow.

 

[Gwenllian]

What a great film! I watched it last night, for the second time, and saw alot more - aided by having read some interesting reviews here.

The quality of the script, acting, filming and soundtrack - together with the subject matter (psychosis, alterate realities, social conditioning etc) make it one of my favourite films.

(Spoiler alert)

To begin at the end. Donnie has the enigmatic smile, of perhaps a Higher Soul who has completed his mission, as he awaits his fate from above (aircraft engine/5D). His empathy, intelligence and passion for questioning the 'system' and rationally exposing thereby its contradictory, STS nature makes him an obvious target.

By conscious struggling and eventually overcoming bulling, feelings of isolation, self doubts - attempts at vectoring in different guises - Donnie seems to be doing the Work.

Frank / rabbit may be symbolic of Donnie glimpsing an aspect of his Higher Self. Him being shown one potential reality or timeline - with the ensuing consequences (him killing Frank, his girlfriend dying, but yet exposing a pedo ring etc) and knowing he has the choice to avoid this, by essentially giving his own life.

Very close to the end, we see some of the main characters with their 'masks' removed. The pyschologist, pedo-criminal Jim Cunningham and New Agey Frances Farmer. Their nocturnal, private worlds reveal expressions of anxiety/doubt; guilt/ maybe remorse and deep fear respectively.

Also the character Frank drawing the rabbit, the inference perhaps of seeds of awakening being shared by creative acts within a group or network. One seemingly mediocre act being deeply significant in the life of someone else - if they SEE it.

This film, like others, give us the opportunity to observe and learn lessons about the human condition. But for me, the overriding message from Donnie Darko is one of how our thoughts, words and actions can or do create alternate situations / paths / realities and the responsibilty of their creation and consequences thereof ultimately rest with us. We reap what we sow.

Great review, dreamrider, thanks.

I do wonder whether pedo-criminals express anxiety, guilt and remorse, when they are on their own. Maybe the non-psychopathic ones do, I don't know.

 

[3DStudent]

Great review, dreamrider, thanks.

I do wonder whether pedo-criminals express anxiety, guilt and remorse, when they are on their own. Maybe the non-psychopathic ones do, I don't know.

Yeah, that was a good summary of the movie in relation to the Work. Thanks dreamrider.

Mariama, have you read Caricature of Love, by Cleckley? He said that psychopatic pedophiles use children as a kind of object of domination. You might want to look at that thread for more information.