Starring DL fave Jake Gyllenhaal as well as Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, Mary McDonnell, Katharine Ross, Patrick Swayze (RIP), Noah Wyle, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Any fans of this film? What did you think of the "director' cut" version as compared the the original?

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by Anonymous

reply 20

November 4, 2018 1:10 PM

Love this movie. When I was younger I could relate to it. Cellar door.

by Anonymous

reply 1

August 8, 2017 1:47 AM

What was different in the directors cut?

by Anonymous

reply 2

August 8, 2017 1:52 AM

The director's cut practically ruined the original. The didn't need to over-explain it. It killed the mystery/mysticism. How the fuck did it help to say/suggest the science teacher had a government background?

The original had a dreamy paranoid quality that elevated it from its "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" origins. The director's cut slammed that right back down to being just another derivative copy.

One of the best if not the best performance by Jake Gyllenhaal . Mary MacDonald was great as was Jena Malone. I loved the discourse about dickless Smurfs, and the montage of his little sister's dance performance of "Notorious" contrasted with the burning down the child molester's house was hypnotic.

And Beth Grant was stellar.

by Anonymous

reply 3

August 8, 2017 1:52 AM

I listed to the director commentary of the DVD, and Richard Kelly talks so much about the Sci-Fi elements of the film, it's almost as though he doesn't realize what a great film he made and tries to cover it up with a lot of time travel philosophy. Agree that the Director's Cut tried to explain too much.

by Anonymous

reply 4

August 8, 2017 2:03 AM

Where's Donnie?

Thanks for the heads up--I will avoid the Director's Cut. I also loved the mystery and ability to fill in the blanks myself. It was my intro to Jake and I thought he was so great. Great performances all around. I love the mother so much, her scenes are so touching. Love the scene with the psychotherapist.

by Anonymous

reply 5

August 8, 2017 2:11 AM

Went in expecting to love it but hated it. No surprise Richard Kelly turned out to have zero cinematic nous. Jake Gyllenhaal and Jena Malone were so self-satisfied that I hated them each until Brokeback Mountain and Saved.

It was the worst offender in the post-Tarantino trend culture references. Drew Barrymore was abominable. Sit next to the cutest guy? Give me a fucking break. Maggie Gyllenhaal dressed as a minor character from Lolita for Halloween for no reason.

Beth Grant and Patrick Swayze were the saving graces.

by Anonymous

reply 6

August 8, 2017 2:21 AM

I'm surprised Richard Kelly doesn't work more. There's a few projects in development but nothing pending.

by Anonymous

reply 9

August 9, 2017 1:02 AM

I can see how someone might not like it as it is hard to make sense of it. But if you just jump in, lay back and go with the flow and soundtrack, it is great and haunting. You want to see it again. It has a large cult following and extensive commentary where it has been analyzed it to the extreme.

by Anonymous

reply 10

August 9, 2017 1:11 AM

A quote that's useful in many situations.

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by Anonymous

reply 12

August 9, 2017 4:30 AM

Totally agree with the posts in this thread re the terrible director's cut. It moved key songs around, took the mystery out of the movie, and added nothing interesting. If you'd told me that a genius editor made the cinematic release I'd believe you.

by Anonymous

reply 13

August 9, 2017 12:12 PM

I didn't get it. Maybe I should see the director's cut.

by Anonymous

reply 14

August 9, 2017 12:25 PM

Proud and committed member of Sparkle Motion!

by Anonymous

reply 15

August 9, 2017 12:31 PM

It's one of my favorite films. I own it on DVD. I've watched it dozens of times.

by Anonymous

reply 16

August 9, 2017 1:49 PM

Kitty, you do know who Graham Greene was?

I think we’ve all seen Bonaza.

by Anonymous

reply 17

November 4, 2018 6:31 AM

Watched it for the first time last year. I'd still like to check out the director's cut.

by Anonymous

reply 20

November 4, 2018 1:10 PM