Hello my lovelies,
Still working through this long list of suggested films I've got and
adding to it nearly everyday so lots to come. Donnie Darko is up
today. As usual I'll try to avoid spoilers but it can't always be
helped.
Written and directed by Richard Kelly in 2001, Donnie Darko is an
American sci-fi, psychological drama film based on a schizophrenic
teenager in 1988 living with his family and trying to figure out what
his illusions mean. Starring a very young Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie,
the film follows him day to day through his home life and school,
with the interruptions of his illusion Frank. Frank is a giant creepy
looking bunny rabbit that tells Donnie what to do, and stupidly
Donnie obeys him scared that he'll be alone otherwise.
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| (Image found through Google) |
We're first made aware of this strange rabbit figure quite close to
the beginning of the film when Donnie wakes up to a strange voice and
appears to be sleep walking towards it. At this point the soundtrack
gets a bit eerie so we know this thing is going to be creepy. Outside
the figure introduces himself as Frank and explains to Donnie that
the world will end soon, in precisely 28 days 6 hours 42 minutes and
12 seconds. When Donnie properly wakes up he is in a golf course with
a countdown to when the world is supposed to end written on his arm.
As he arrives home he is greeted by a large crowd, fire engines and a
police officer trying to stop him entering the house, during the
night a jet engine had almost appeared out of no where and crashed
into their house, right into Donnie's bedroom. During this time
although its bright because its daytime, it is also almost as if the
colours are brighter because he is himself now, not seeing or hearing
things that are affecting his behaviour.
Throughout the film I noticed that when this character Frank appears
it is either during the night or the colours in these scenes are
almost all washed out, as if to say that Franks taken over now and
Donnie isn't himself for the time being. There are scenes when Donnie
is with his psychotherapist, Dr Thurman, who has a brown office and
when he is there its almost as if because its not dark but its also
not completely light so he can be himself but also allow himself to
comfortable talk about Frank and how he makes Donnie feel, and if he
appears in that room he is safe from being controlled by him whilst
he's there.
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| (Image found through Google) |
The whole time I was watching this film I kept thinking that although
Donnie Darko is an odd and awkward character he is also interesting
which makes him seem cool in a weird way. Although we see his life
and what he goes through with Frank, there is still a bit of mystery
to Donnie's character. Jake Gyllenhaal I feel played this role
perfectly. From the way he talks to the facial expressions he makes
when talking to different people, Gyllenhaal found a great way to
play Donnie and just seemed to add a little something that makes him
that little more different to the other teenagers within the film.
I feel like this is another film that almost makes you think more
about things in life. For example there is a scene in which they are
in a lesson watching a video on controlling fear, and later the man
in that video, Jim Cunningham played by Patrick Swayze, comes into
the school to discuss it. He talks about being afraid of fear and
letting it control your actions and how you live your life, but if
you are able to overcome it then you are able to live it however you
please and will be able to be happy with the actions you take. I
suppose in a way this could be true as if you're too scared to do
something then you'll be controlled by that until the day that you
decide you can do it and stop being worried or afraid about it. This
made me think because there are actually things I think I could apply
this to in my own life, so its definitely a film with some kind of
message.
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| (Image found through Google) |
*Spoiler alert – if you don't want to know the ending then stop
reading now*
Due to the countdown to the end of the world that Frank mentioned to
Donnie, he starts thinking about time travel and whether or not its
possible. There is a line in the film that mentions being able to go
back and undo all the wrong that you've done, somehow Donnie figures
this out and after Frank has made him do multiple things he didn't
want to, and events resulting in he girlfriend being run over, Donnie
and everyone is taken back in time to the night of the jet engine
crashing into Donnie's room. Previously Donnie had been saved from
this by following the voice he heard, but sadly this time was
different. We see the same crowd but this time Donnie doesn't just
turn up, his family are outside crying whilst across the street
Gretchen turns up and gets told that Donnie had died, however this
time around she hadn't met him yet.
I'm not sure what I was expecting but wasn't expecting that ending,
and although I'd gotten a little attached to Donnie's character
throughout the film, I didn't cry surprisingly for me. I can
definitely understand why this gets referred to as a cult classic and
I'd recommend it to anyone that hasn't seen it. It was actually voted
in as Film4's no. 9 in a list of 50 films to see before you die and
came in at no. 5 in Australia's 10 favourite movies. I can understand
why, and I'd watch it again.
With some humour here and there, and a great soundtrack to feature
alongside its intriguing plot, Donnie Darko is definitely one to
watch but don't expect to just kick back and zone out to it. Although
it isn't difficult to follow its definitely worth paying attention
to.
Until next time, thanks for reading :) x
(This week the video didn't want to attach but simply follow the link below if you wish to view the official trailer)
