Donnie Darko - Directors Cut

Starring: Holmes Osborne, Jake Gyllenhaal Director: Richard Kelly Original UK Premiere: 2002 Dvd Release: 4th October, 2004 Number Of Discs: 2 Format: Box set, Director's Cut, PAL, Region 2 Encoding

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Donnie Darko Donnie Darko is a 2001 film, the first by writer & director Richard Kelly. The movie is a noirish science fiction film & psychological thriller about a boy named Donnie Darko who, after narrowly escaping death, has visions of a giant bunny rabbit named Frank who predicts when the world will end. The title may be an intentional play on Donnie Brasco. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell & Patrick Swayze. Jakes real-life sister Maggie Gyllenhaal also appears as Donnies older sister. This film was released by Newmarket Films. It is one of the films which represent an era when Hollywood has turned toward new fresh talented filmmakers to introduce new ideas which break away from the old templates of Hollywood genre movies. Since its release on home video, Donnie Darko has become a cult film. In Britain the film sold moderately well on DVD but was then reissued in a budget edition, with no directors commentary or other extras, which sold for a fraction of the original price & shot to number 1 in the DVD sales chart. Posters Of Donnie Darko

A Directors cut is a specially edited version of a movie that is supposed to represent the director s own approved edit of the movie. It is often released some time after the original release of the film, where the original release was released in a version different from the directors approved edit. Cut is synonymous with edit in this context. Apocalypse Now, re-released as Apocalypse Now Redux. Another concept, recently popularized by director Peter Jackson, is that of an extended or special edition, which he used for special releases of his Lord of the Rings movies. While Jackson considers the theatrical releases of those films to be his final directors cut, the extended cut was made so that fans of the material could see nearly all of the scenes shot for the script, but that were cut for theatrical running time or other reasons. Other examples of extended/special editions include James Camerons lengthier cuts of Aliens & Terminator 2 & Luc Bessons Version Integrale cut of Léon. Less frequently, video games will receive rereleases with added material under a directors cut label. Posters Of Directors Cut

Donnie Darko is a thought-provoking, touching & distinctive offering from relative newcomer, Richard Kelly . Its 1988 in small-town America & Donnie, a disturbed teenager on medication & undergoing psychoanalysis for his blackouts & personality disorders, is being visited by a being in a rabbit suit whom he calls Frank. Its this anti-Harvey that saves Donnie from being crushed to death when an airplane engine falls from the sky onto his house. This is the beginning of their escalating relationship, which, as Donnie follows Franks instructions, becomes increasingly violent & destructive. Added to this is Franks warning of the impending apocalypse & Donnies realisation that he can manipulate time, leading to a startling denouement where nearly everything becomes clear.

Nearly everything, because Donnie Darko is a darkly comic, surreal journey in which themes of space, time & morality are interwoven with a classic coming-of-age story of a teenage boys struggle to understand the world around him. The film leaves the viewer with more questions than it answers, but then thats part of its charm. Performances are superb: Jake Gyllenhaal underplays the mixed-up kid role superbly & Donnies episodes of angst positively erupt out of the screen. There are also some starry cameos from Mary McDonnell as Donnies long-suffering mother, Patrick Swayze as Jim Cunningham, the personal-development guru with a terrible secret, & Noah Wyle & Drew Barrymore as Donnies progressive teachers. Undoubtedly too abstruse for some tastes, Donnie Darkos balance of outstanding performances with intelligent dialogue & a highly inventive story will reward those looking for something more highbrow than the average teenage romp.

Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal is an American film actor. Jake is the son of director Stephen Gyllenhaal & producer/screenwriter Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal & the brother of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, who also played his sister in Donnie Darko. Gyllenhaal made his film debut in City Slickers & began to establish himself as an up & coming actor in such films as October Sky before being cast in the title role in Donnie Darko, for which he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for best actor. Gyllenhaals performance as a troubled schizophrenic won him excellent reviews & the film quickly acquired cult status. He played opposite Jennifer Aniston in another Sundance favorite in 2002s The Good Girl & once again earned good reviews. Gyllenhall also starred in the Walt Disney romantic comedy, Bubble Boy. Loosely based on the story of David Vetter, the film portrays the title characters adventure outside the confines of his bubble as he goes after the woman he loves before she marries the wrong man. Posters Of Donnie Darko

Editors Choice: Donnie Darko, Brokeback Mountain, Jarhead, Bubble Boy, The Day After Tomorrow, October Sky, Moonlight Mile, Directors Cut, View DVDology

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