Writer-director Richard Kelly's bold debut film is a social satire, a dark comedy, a science fiction time-traveling fantasy, and a suburban nightmare about an extremely intelligent, depressive, self-destructive, narcoleptic, gun-toting, sex-crazed, teenaged arsonist: Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal). DONNIE DARKO is not your typical teen comedy. But, like GHOST WORLD and RUSHMORE, it uses the trappings of the teen comedy as the entry point for a subversive and trenchant (and also wonderfully entertaining) look at American life. The difference between those films and DONNIE DARKO is that Donnie is an unlikely hero who just might save the world.
It's October 1988, in the Virginia suburb of Middlesex. When Frank, a grotesque giant bunny (possibly imaginary), leads Donnie out of his house minutes before a plane smashes through his roof, he not only saves Donnie's life but also warns Donnie that the world is about to end. Over the next few weeks, Donnie falls in love with Gretchen (Jena Malone) and tries to figure out what his life means. Kelly's film perfectly captures the unease that is quietly scratching under the surface of suburban late 1980s life. Gyllenhaal leads an exceptional cast, bringing Kelly's twisted but humane vision to life. An exceptional performance is given by Mary McDonnell (PASSION FISH) as Donnie's mother.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35
Single Side - Dual Layer
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Surround - English, French
Subtitles - Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Alternate Scenes - Deleted Scenes
Audio Commentary - 1. Richard Kelly - Writer/Director; Jake Gyllenhaal - Star
2. Additional Cast and Crew
Featurette - 1. ANATOMY OF A SCENE (IFC)
Interviews
Music Video - "Mad World"
Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer
2. TV Spots
3. Previews (2)
Interactive Features:
Hidden Features - Easter Eggs
Interactive Menus
Scene Selection
Text/Photo Galleries:
Additional Text - Website Gallery
Biographies - 1. Cast
2. Crew
Galleries - Production Art
Stills/Photos - Behind the Scenes - Production Photos
Additional Products:
Book - PHILOSOPHY OF TIME TRAVEL
Executive Producer
Casey LaScala: Executive Producer, DONNIE DARKO (2001)
Executive Producer
Drew Barrymore: American actress and producer
Executive Producer
Hunt Lowry: Producer
Director of Photography
Steven B. Poster: AMERICAN DOP
Review 1:
"...A remarkably accomplished piece of filmmaking by a 26-year-old Richard Kelly..."
Source: Movieline's Hollywood Life
p.48 11/01/2001
Review 2:
"...Excitingly original..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.84 11/09/2001
Review 3:
"...Richard Kelly, the first-time writer-director, is obviously talented....He sees his characters freshly and clearly, and never reduces them to formulas. In Jake Gyllenhaal, he finds an actor able to suggest an intriguing kind of disturbance..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.35 10/26/2001
Review 4:
"...A fine film, even an astounding one....DONNIE DARKO has a texture and tang all its own....Haunting and altogether exquisite..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.35-9 10/01/2002
Review 5:
"...This is startling filmmaking -- end of story..."
Source: Total Film
p.104 11/01/2002
Review 6:
"...This home life/high school satire set in someone's twilight zone grabs you and doesn't let go. It's also one of the best cast films of the last decade..."
Source: USA Today
p.5E 03/22/2002
Review 7:
"One of the most original debuts of the past 20 years..."
Source: Uncut
p.158 11/01/2004
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