I'm not the most subtle of guys. I'm the guy who can memorize songs without ever really understanding what the song is about. So imagine my surprise when I came across a set of articles -- one on RogerEbert.com and one on Salon.com -- that decode the 2001 cult favorite; I had only somewhat vaguely been aware of the rather elaborate back story surrounding this movie.
Both articles are worth a read, but I prefer the Salon article. The article on RogerEbert.com -- written not by Roger Ebert but by Jim Emerson, Editor of RogerEbert.com -- focuses perhaps too much on the sexual tension between Donnie and his older sister. It's an interesting and probably somewhat accurate theory, but examining the story on this level didn't greatly enhance my enjoyment of the film. The Salon article, on the other hand, use the director's cut of the film, the director's commentary, and the amazingly full-featured but cryptic donniedarko.com website to unravel the sci-fi time travel elements of the story. There's a rather involved back story there that I enjoyed reading about. However, if you've seen the movie, skip to page four of the Salon article. The first few pages are just a plot synopsis. Also bear in mind that Salon non-subscribers will need to watch an ad before reading the article.
[Both links found via metafilter.]
Posted by david at October 28, 2004 11:45 AM