Flipside Movie Emporium

[Digigenic]

Ladies and Gentlemen: Richard Kelly

I?m sure you know of his work, if not, then I feel obligated to do my best James Lipton impersonation to honor this particular writer/director who is on the verge of gaining long overdue recognition as a truly gifted filmmaker for the re-release of a movie he made only 3 years ago at the age of 26.

If you don?t know which movie I?m talking about, allow me to refresh your memory. Richard Kelly wrote and directed a beautiful movie entitled Donnie Darko, originally released in 2001.

It?s been speculated that Donnie Darko had the potential to gain more success had the timing of its release been just a little earlier or much later, like now. Primarily, because of its original release date falling not too far from 9/11 and the airplane incidents that occurred within the movie creating parallelism that if you all remember, caused quite a few other movies with similar tones to bite the dust or be totally re-shot before release. After being released to an unsuspecting audience in a period of hysteria; it only earned $500,000 at the box office. BUT, the film went onto home video and DVD to earn 10 Million dollars. As you know, those kinds of figures tend to have a cult following attached.

Prestigious Film Festivals, like Sundance took immediate recognition of his work, giving the film and its creator the attention they deserved. This summer, Kelly will give audiences a second chance by releasing the director?s cut of Donnie Darko.

With a wonderful cast, beautiful score, great design and cinematography, and excellent directorial structure, it?s hard to believe Richard Kelly would want to make any adjustments, but we?ll all have to wait and see. Richard Kelly is also working on three other movies, Knowing, Southland Tales, and The Box.

?There?s already so much to look forward to
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-Jacob Mason-

[the night watchman]

Nice Lipton, Digigenic. You hit the correct pitch of sycophantism. :)

I've noticed younger audiences seem to be more impressed with Donnie Darko than older ones. I liked it, and I look forward to seeing the director's cut, but I also felt that the plethora of ideas introduced were never really resolved (or necessary) by the time the rather simplistic ending rolls around. The mood and sense of weirdness, and Jake Gyllenhaal's wonderful performance, carry the story a long way. But the conclusion topples any sense of wonder, and I found myself sort of shrugging my shoulders when it was all over. Good movie, but have to cock my eyebrow at its popularity.
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"If you're talking about censorship, and what things should be shown and what things shouldn't be shown, I've said that as an artist you have no social responsibility whatsoever."

-David Cronenberg

[beltmann]

[the night watchman]

It's possible that Donnie Darko is like Lost in Translation; i.e. it resonates with some audiences and leaves others wondering what the fuss is about. Any big Darko fans out there willing to explain what I and Eric might have missed?
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"If you're talking about censorship, and what things should be shown and what things shouldn't be shown, I've said that as an artist you have no social responsibility whatsoever."

-David Cronenberg

[Danny Baldwin]

I, for the most part, agree with you two, even though I do like the third act a bit more. I should get my die-hard Darnko friend on here. Maybe he can explain.
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Danny Baldwin

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[Michael Scrutchin]

Never seen Donnie Darko. Been meaning to, though.
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Michael Scrutchin
Flipside Movie Emporium
www.flipsidearchive.com

[Jim Harper]

Loved the film. Enjoyed it immensely and appreciated just about everything in it. Inventive story, interesting characters, good performances. Never thought I'd see Patrick Swayze in that role, and the casting of an 80s icon in a nostalgic film worked well. Thought the soundtrack was well-used too. I don't know, hard to say exactly why I liked the film, it just resonates with me, and doesn't lose its power over repeated viewings.