Movie Review: S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale (2009)

Before going any further, I’m going to plug Netflix (I’m not getting paid for this).  It is rare that a DVD/Blu-Ray is released that I want to see right away, but I’m not going to buy it.  If I loved it, I probably saw it in theaters and I’ll buy it.  If I didn’t see it I’ll just rent it.  I couldn’t bring myself to buy this without seeing it.  I love Donnie Darko and Richard Kelly, and I was hesitant.  But it’s that love that made me want to see it.  This movie was released on DVD on Tuesday and Netflix had it in my mailbox on Thursday afternoon.  Thank you Netflix for your years of service.

As for the movie itself, I’m conflicted.  I have to admit, I am still dealing with the LOST season finale rolling around my brain and that may cloud my views, but I’m not sure I would be any surer about this if it had been released another time of year.  I’m not a professional critic, so my reviews are not going to rehash the movie, if you want to know the plot—well, I presume you’re familiar with this thing called the Internet.

As I said, I love the original film, but unlike many people I was not mad about this movie being made.  I have fallen in love with enough direct to DVD sequels and cheap sci-fi movies to give it a chance.  Did I go in expecting it to change my life the way Donnie did?  No, but I wasn’t afraid of it either. 

For one, I love Southland Tales.  I patiently waited and theorized and waited and discussed and waited and practically gave up on it all together.  And ultimately, where most people who have seen Donnie Darko at least respect it, if not love it, Southland Tales gets a different reaction.  It’s usually, “I don’t get it.”  I know you don’t, but I can’t explain it either.  It’s not for everyone. 

One beloved movie in DD does not give fans the right to be jerks.  This movie is not for everyone.  Surprisingly, I don’t feel like you need to have seen or understand DD to enjoy this movie.  This movie should never have given the marketing line of “A Donnie Darko Tale”.  Having finally watched S. Darko, I get why they made it now.  It was even clearer when I watched the DVD special feature, “The Making of S. Darko.”  With the exception of one person, these people are fans.  They knew people were frustrated and understood why, but they still wanted to tell this story. 

This movie is not a remake of the original, though it’s easy to draw analogies.  And I like the way many of the filmmakers put, it’s not a sequel, it’s a continuation.  This is Sam’s story.  And there’s even a reason for the “return” of Frank. 

Unfortunately, the one person who didn’t get it, well, he was the director of S. Darko.  Chris Fisher may be a good filmmaker, and nice person in real life, but the interviews made it clear to me that he’s sort of a dick.  He was the one person who didn’t seem to get DD when he spoke of it, and he didn’t seem to have respect for Richard Kelly.  The writer, Nate Atkins, clearly is a fan and respects Kelly.  He sounded like he went out of the way to make this movie not be a burden to the original.  Yet, I kept expecting Chris Fisher to turn to the cameraman and say “Screw Richard Kelly, screw Donnie Darko, and screw the fans.”  I’ll except he may not really be this way, but his comments and attitude sure came off that way.  Maybe he’s just fed up with everyone not giving the movie a chance.

The acting in this movie was actually great.  All around great.  You may not like a character here or there, but it’s because the actor did their job well.  Daveigh Chase, who plays Samantha Darko (here and in the original Donnie Darko), is a breakout star waiting to happen.  Whether you remember her as the little Sparkle Motion dancer in DD, the voice of Lilo in the Disney cartoon Lilo & Stitch, or for her work on HBO’s Big Love, you will be shocked at how she continues to grow her craft.  She is the focus when she’s on screen, and this is a movie where that was important as the character is quiet and speaks with her eyes.  From creepy little girl in The Ring to the young hot lead in a movie that people are talking about.  I expect horror movies and rom-coms very soon.

And she wasn’t the only one.  Matthew Davis portrays a young preacher trying to help, Gossip Girl’s Ed Wistwick broods perfectly as Randy, and as always, the great John Hawkes.  If you haven’t seen Deadwood, you should give it a chance.  He continues to amaze me with his performances, and no matter the character, I always like him.  If you rent/buy the DVD, check out the special feature “Utah So Much”. 

We all know how important music was to DD.  It’s the main difference between the first DVD cut and the Director’s Cut.  The movie was set in 1988 and the music was beyond perfect.  The score in S. Darko was great.  The songs picked for 1995, well, I didn’t recognize many of them and it made them less important to the scenes.  If these are songs from 1995, they’re not in my collection. Sure there was Chemical Brothers and Cocteau Twins.  But it didn't feel right.  

You may remember what song Sparkle Motion danced to.  It was “Notorious” by Duran Duran.  Guess what ironically is one of the trailers on the DVD before the movie?  Notorious.  The story of Biggie Smalls.  Featuring his posthumous hit single that sampled the same Duran Duran song.  The real question is, why didn’t they use a little “Big Poppa” or something from an album I was listening to in 1995.  For the budget this movie probably had, as well as the stigma I know it had, I can’t fault the filmmakers for not getting big name songs.  If DD didn’t have any of the songs we know and love in it, it would not be as good of a movie. 

The only real frustration I have is what happens when the clock runs down.  There is an event that feels like it couldn’t be changed by a little time travel.  I won’t spoil it, but it’s not exactly a plane engine falling from the sky this time around.  This is not the movie that answers the questions that Donnie Darko left us with.  This is the movie that asks a few more. 

Maybe I just have a different opinion than other critics because I didn’t sit down and watch this with a chip on my shoulder, but bluntly put, I enjoyed it.  Give this movie a chance.  You may not like it, but don’t judge it before you see it.  As someone who saw Donnie in a beat up indie theater before it got that second release due to word of mouth, I seem to remember a lot of people not giving that movie a chance either.  I seem to remember it was like pulling teeth to get anyone to go see it with me.  And now everyone loves it. 

I’m not saying run out and buy it, because even I’m hesitant to buy movies before seeing them.  Having seen this and it was good without ruining Donnie Darko, I will add this to my collection.  

Jacob revealed in the LOST Season 5 finale

Jacob revealed in the Season 5 finale.  Or was he?

I am not about to say that Jacob is good or evil.  Bluntly put, I think the evidence is that he is good, but an argument could be made that he is not.  And that argument may be that we shouldn’t discount the twists and turns and red herrings the writers/producers throw at LOST fans.

What I would like to look at is his encounters off-island in the finale. 

Many are mentioning the importance of him having to touch each person, Nik at Nite, but there is something else.

They have to accept or receive something.  It could be said that they are receiving Him, if Jacob is good, or specifically a God-like character.  Christians have to receive Christ into their hearts.

Sometimes it’s a gift.  Sayid must be willing to help.  Kate must learn to be good.  James needs to express himself.  Jin and Sun want to believe in each other.  John must accept that everything will be fine (which he does-and he is fine, for a while).  Hurley needs to be told he’s not cursed.  Jack just wants a damn Apollo bar.  He wants a fathers love.  He wants to be filled.

But what is the cost of accepting these gifts?  If Jacob is bad, maybe they are making a deal with devil.  They are all seduced by the forked in the outlet tongue of Satan.  He paid Kate’s debt, so what is her debt to him now?  If Sayid had ignored him, he and Nadia would have safely crossed the street.

And each encounter had an item.  Not every item was the gift, but each had a purpose.

For John, Jacob brought reading material.

For Hurley, Jacob brought a guitar.

For Jack, Jacob had a different Apollo bar.

For Kate, Jacob had money.

For James, Jacob brought a pen with ink.

For Sayid, Jacob had a map, but did not know the way.

For Jin and Sun, Jacob wore a suit and learned the language.  Respect for both of them.  It’s easy to discount the suit, but they have been generally important to our characters over the years. 

Don’t take candy from a stranger Jack, you will not be filled.

Kate, you will always be telling little boys what to do and getting them in trouble.

James, “What’s done is done.”

Sayid, don’t ever let go.

You can not live forever, John.

Jin and Sun , you may have to be separated, but don’t give up.

Hurley, you’re not cursed dude.

I am not saying Jacob is evil and seducing them into giving up their souls.  Nor am I fully convinced that he is good and offering salvation.  But either way he sidestepping free will, and leading them so they may serve him in some fashion.  I hope Season 6 reveals Jacob calling all his servants.  I can not find it to cite, but someone on a board mentioned the similarities to Jesus calling his Apostles. 

I know I have not mentioned Juliet.  Frankly, until I can rewatch the episode, I don’t want to.  She’s the only childhood we saw in the finale who wasn’t on Oceanic 815, which is just as important as the fact that Sayid and Hurley were visited after they returned as part of the Oceanic 6. 

So, this is my first blog type posting anywhere in years.  Just felt like I had some things to say.  This is not a LOST only blog, and I’m not getting into blogging again to make money or anything, so please don’t be too critical at this point.  If you read this far on my first post, thank you and namaste.