Donnie Darko - The Director's Cut
October 27th 2008 23:51
Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko (2001) is indeed a rare Hollywood beast; a dark psychological sf thriller that appears on the surface to be a high school drama; a cosmic puzzle that gets thematically deeper and more complex the more you try to piece it together. It’s a thoroughly enlightening piece of cinema designed as a mind toy that plays on your primal fears and the wonder of existence.
The original version left me confused, but I enjoyed the ride. I wasn’t the only person who had found the plot mechanics of Donnie Darko a little on the bewildering side. Just what the fuck was going on? Not that I don’t find the concept of Tangent Universes and the fourth dimension essentially fascinating and enthralling. But just as the exceptional Primer (2004) was as mind-boggling as it was brilliant, Donnie Darko threatened to alienate more viewers than ingratiate them to the philosophy of time travel.
Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) knockin' on the Tangent Universe's door
Mary McDonnell and Holmes Osbourne as Donnie's parents Rose and Eddie
Frank, the Messenger from the future
Donnie is fascinated by Grandma Death (Patience Cleveland)
Although many of the film’s purist fans will argue the Director’s Cut simplifies the movie too much and reduces the interpretive elements, others will champion Kelly’s decision to include imagery he’d wanted to use from the beginning; such as the descriptions and explanations from Roberta Sparrow’s Philosophy of Time Travel. There is also more depth to the characters, especially the Darko family, but also Donnie’s English teacher Ms. Pomeroy (Drew Barrymore, who, rather curiously, was also executive producer) and his psychiatrist Dr. Thurman (Katharine Ross).
Moment of truth: Donnie is given The Philosophy of Time Travel from Prof. Monnitof (Noah Wyle)
Frank joins Donnie and Gretchen (Jena Malone) for a little horror viewing
Donnie, Gretchen and friends arrive at Grandma Death's cellar door
Donnie Darko and the new dawn
“Eventually [the Tangent Universe] will collapse upon itself, forming a black hole within the Primary Universe capable of destroying all existence.”
Here's the Director's Cut teaser trailer:
Donnie Darko - The Director's Cut DVD (a 2-disc special edition with a plethora of extras including new audio commentary with director Richard Kelly in conversation with buddy Kevin Smith), courtesy of Madman Entertainment, many thanks!
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Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
Comment by Damo
I think your made a good effort at nailing this jelly to a wall .
I absolutely love this film.
The vagueness of the story adds to it more than anything.
Donny finding the wallet just cracked me up.
I am very skeptical about a directors cut of this film.
I saw the out takes from the DVD and firmly believe that they were better left out.
So I guess what I am saying is that less is more and vagueness leave open the cellar door to interpretation.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
therein lies the paradox Rub. It's an itch impossible to scratch.
Damo,
cheers ... I couldn't remember the original version well enough, so watching the Dir's Cut was almost like watching it for the first time. Generally I'm all for vagueness, but there were elements surrounding the story that Kelly put in that I appreciated. I suppose the biggest concession is the inclusion of the pages from the Time Travel book, which both illuminates, but also de-mystifies.
Tough nut to crack.
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile