Film Review Donnie Darko
Johannes Oster
3/5/13
English 2 Assignment III
Film Review: Donnie Darko
Richard Kelly’s 2001 film, Donnie Darko, boasts an utterly complex plot that challenges the concept of free will and redefines the superhero genre. Though on the surface the film imparts social commentary on adolescent behavior and the treatment of mental illness in contemporary society, Donnie Darko’s real genius lies in its use of a mixture of science and spirituality to create a picture both thought provoking and unique. Donnie Darko, the film’s protagonist, undergoes a guided quest to save the existence of his universe, placing in question the establishment of free will. Despite his lack of understanding of the magnitude of his actions, Donnie’s actions reflect those of a superhero, as he works to protect an existing function of human society, despite his reservations with the culture he protects. The film throws a troubled high school student named Donnie, played by an outstanding Jake Gyllenhaal, into an alternate reality after unexplained circumstances cause a jet engine to travel through space-time and create an unstable parallel universe. The engine itself lands in Donnie’s room, which he had vacated on orders of his imaginary friend Frank, a mysterious figment of Donnie’s imagination who appears dressed as a rabbit throughout the film. Donnie’s evasion of death makes him “chosen” to end the existence of the unstable parallel universe, which he is told by Frank will end 28 days from the night of the accident. The rest of the film follows Donnie as he is guided through his quest by Frank, his teachers, his love interest (Gretchen), and Grandma Death (a nun turned science teacher with knowledge about the intricacies of time travel), leading him down a path which ends 28 days later in the very place the film began. Donnie’s return to his own world is made possible by recreating the event that plunged him into the alternate universe, leaving Donnie content in his room as the jet
3/5/13
English 2 Assignment III
Film Review: Donnie Darko
Richard Kelly’s 2001 film, Donnie Darko, boasts an utterly complex plot that challenges the concept of free will and redefines the superhero genre. Though on the surface the film imparts social commentary on adolescent behavior and the treatment of mental illness in contemporary society, Donnie Darko’s real genius lies in its use of a mixture of science and spirituality to create a picture both thought provoking and unique. Donnie Darko, the film’s protagonist, undergoes a guided quest to save the existence of his universe, placing in question the establishment of free will. Despite his lack of understanding of the magnitude of his actions, Donnie’s actions reflect those of a superhero, as he works to protect an existing function of human society, despite his reservations with the culture he protects. The film throws a troubled high school student named Donnie, played by an outstanding Jake Gyllenhaal, into an alternate reality after unexplained circumstances cause a jet engine to travel through space-time and create an unstable parallel universe. The engine itself lands in Donnie’s room, which he had vacated on orders of his imaginary friend Frank, a mysterious figment of Donnie’s imagination who appears dressed as a rabbit throughout the film. Donnie’s evasion of death makes him “chosen” to end the existence of the unstable parallel universe, which he is told by Frank will end 28 days from the night of the accident. The rest of the film follows Donnie as he is guided through his quest by Frank, his teachers, his love interest (Gretchen), and Grandma Death (a nun turned science teacher with knowledge about the intricacies of time travel), leading him down a path which ends 28 days later in the very place the film began. Donnie’s return to his own world is made possible by recreating the event that plunged him into the alternate universe, leaving Donnie content in his room as the jet