Donnie Darko (2001)

28 days 6 hours 12 minutes and 42 seconds from now the world will end

To me it's brilliant. To me it's beautiful. To me ... it could be me. But it's not for everyone.

The story isn't really like anything you've seen but then again not *that* revolutionary. Young distressed man starts seeing an imaginary 6 feet bunny - Frank. When starting to take instructions from said rabbit he does some violent acts and it all gets a bit twisted as the mentioned time of the world's end draws near.

The black humour of it is wonderfully brilliant. Sharp and crisp and interesting dialogue.

My step dad has emotional problems (Gretchen)
Oh - so do I, what kind of problems does he have (Donnie)
He stabbed my mum four times in the chest (G.)

Another passage on the history of Smurfette is interesting as well

First of all Papa Smurf didn't create her, Gargamel did
She was sent in to the village as Gargemels evil spy
But the overwelming goodness of the smurf way transformed her

Unless I am overinterpreting it has a slight twist of existentialism in it too.

Every living creature dies alone

And if we die alone can there be a God?

It also touches themes like - "If you know this was your last day, what would you do differently". And of course the normality - abnormality dualism
Donnie to Frank - in his giant bunny suit:

Why are you wearing that stupid bunny suit? (D.D)
Why are you wearing that stupid man suit? (Frank)

There's also a tour into the themes of education - about the liberal English teacher teaching the student's about Graham Greene and his "The Destructors". This is all in contrast to the gym teacher and her traditional schooling / creation of model citizens with the help of Patrick Swayze's pedophilic life style coach.


Grading it - as a theatrical experience and a movie experience it can't be more than a 6. Nothing breaks new ground, but the theme and story appeals me so I'll give it an 8.

You're weird (G)
Sorry (D.D)
That was a compliment (G)