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Because you demanded it, a Richard Kelly-less Donnie Darko sequel!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. I was out most of the day catching up on some end of the week errands and I return to the computer to find the email inbox flooded with readers sending links to Screen Daily who have a story up about a sales company called Velvet Octopus who will be shopping a sequel to DONNIE DARKO at Cannes.
It will be called S. DARKO and follow Donnie Darko's little sister (Daviegh Chase will come back to play Samantha Darko) who is now an 18 year old on a road trip with her best friend, headed for Los Angeles... of course she starts having visions and we get going all over again.
The more distance I get from Richard Kelly's DONNIE DARKO, the more I appreciate how it really captured lightning in a bottle. It had a great central performance by pre-super star Jake Gyllenhaal, it had a mind-bending premise just as audiences were hungry for one (post FIGHT CLUB) and the storytelling is masterful. I'm not as big of a fan of the Director's Cut, but it's still not a bad version to have out there.
Richard Kelly will not return to write or direct this sequel. Instead they got a guy named Chris Fisher, whose previous credits include NIGHTSTALKER and RAMPAGE: THE HILL SIDE STRANGER MURDERS... not exactly comforting.
They're aiming for a $10 million budget... I don't know what the intention is, but this feels like a direct to video cash in to me. I wouldn't be as opposed to it if Kelly were coming back to do it, but even then I'd say it's needless. The first movie stands well enough on its own. It's certainly one that I felt cried out for a sequel. You?
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terrible idea.
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...and to quote those two from In Living Color......"hated it"...BTW, check out the picture of Josh Brolin as Bush on EW's website. Brolin is looking spooky old.
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I heard it sucked major ass seven different ways. But this sounds like a dumb idea too. It's a good thing Hollywood peoples are so damned good-looking cuz otherwise there'd be no use for them at all.
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Listen, I know a lot of people love the first Darko movie, and I've definitely spent a good amount of time analyzing it myself, but I'm still not sure that the original is all that great. Yeah, it's creative and trippy, blahblahblah, but I'm still not sure that it really makes any sense. As for a sequel? No way. Bad idea, even for straight to DVD.
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Is that what they call actors who take it up the ass?
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May 09, 2008 4:52:06 PM CDT
Just another UK knockoff movie, like "Boogie Nights 2"
by flim springfield
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With that chick from That 70s Show? It had nothing whatsoever to do with the previous film or Ellis' novel
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It's nothing but a pseudo-deep movie for people who don't really love film to get all "into" and serious about.
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is one of the most awful movies I have EVER seen. He seems to think 1/4 second quick cut editing = filmmaking. I honestly had a pounding headache after watching 30 minutes of his "movie".
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Or it was a new and interesting take on the time travel genre, as well as an entertaining 80s period piece, touching on themes like education and psychology that were big in that decade.
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...and it sucked. Unlike Darko which was radiant. Darko sequel.... Bad Idea.
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watching this.
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It's not a bad movie by any means, but it's nowhere near as good as many people want to claim.
And I'm still convinced that Kelly doesn't have a damn clue what the hell he was actually trying to "say". -
didn't see the George Bush Post earlier. Duuuhhhhhh
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May 09, 2008 5:11:52 PM CDT
Just like letting your hampster play on your testicles....
by rezourceman
...This is a really really bad idea.
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Blechhh -
He did, and Southland Tales proves it. Even on the making-of of Donnie Darko, the cast say that he wasn't much of director. He's an interesting writer at most!
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Sorry Sailor Rip, but that was too funny to be left on the Dances with Wolves sequel TB.
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Dude, you're fulla shit. Why the FUCK would you make a sequel to DD? COMPLETELY UN-NEEDED! Leave it alone - the director's cut was bad enough. DON'T FUCK with brilliance.
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...I agree 100%...kelly had no idea...a unique premise, good performances and a cool soundtrack, but WTF???
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I'm sorry, but anyone who claims the movie is "incomprehensible" is an idiot, or has ADD or something. At least the version that came out on DVD, anyway. If you're actually paying fucking attention, it all makes sense just fine. But yes, it does require you to actually pay attention and use your freaking brain during the movie. It's certainly pretentious, but the comedy aspect helps balance that out a little, and otherwise it's just a really interesting retelling of Revelations. It's not my favorite film by any means. Not even in my top 10. But it was just *good*. I honestly don't understand the hate it gets. I really think people were just unwilling to really pay attention to the movie, assuming right from the beginning that it wouldn't make any sense, and so not bothering to try to make any sense out of it. I personally preferred it to Donnie Darko, which didn't make sense unless you went to sources outside of the freaking movie... which in my opinion is a much more pretentious and shitty way to tell a story. Not *everything* in Southland Tales is explained in the movie too, but at least like 90-95% of it is.
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May 09, 2008 5:24:51 PM CDT
The first movie stands well enough on its own. It's certainly on
by quin the eskimo
Huh?
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The first movie stands well enough on its own. It's certainly one that I felt cried out for a sequel. You?
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May 09, 2008 5:26:23 PM CDT
While I had a bunch of problems with Southland Tales...
by danielkurland
There were some moments that were the closest I've seen another director come in terms of matching what Lynch is doing, which is very cool.
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On the theatrical cut kinda ruined Donnie Darko for me. I felt my interpretation of everything that had happened was much better than his own take, and since he's the writer director I felt a little cheated. I never saw the movie with the same eyes again... And from what I've read, the director's cut sucks as well...
Anyway, I have to agree with those saying it was a fluke, or that the kid didn't know what he was doing. Shame on you, Kelly. -
I took it as a joke
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damn return key. Anyway. Donnie Darko is not one of those movies that if they come out with a terrible sequel it ruins the original for me. Not like Star Wars or *gulp* Indiana Jones. If they come up with something cool all the better. If it's utter shit, who cares?
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Was really enjoyable. It wasn't incomprehensible at all; the story held together pretty well. Wasn't perfect, but better than most movies I've seen lately.
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Mr Quint meet Word Processor. You'll get on fine, trust me. He'll help you read your stuff over before you let a few million people across the globe read it.
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Gee thanks for the heads up, I couldn't tell..except for the pretentious "chapter" announcements made throughout the movie. I didn't HATE Southland in a "God that was dumb" sort of way, more in a "that was over two hours of my life I won't get back" sort of way.
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Forget this crap. "Donnie Darko" is an amazing movie, but I can't understand the need for this nonsense.
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I like the original cut alot better because it's ambiguous. I like the idea of it being like this weird schizoid kid whose hallucinations register as prophecy, not actual time travel. Its a spookier and stronger story without when its left vague.
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Sometimes a movie is a movie and there is no need for a continuation. DD had a clear solid end and left no unanswered questions or doors open to explore. Okay sure... writers can make up a story about Donnie's little sister getting visions and so forth but as much as I loike Daveigh Chase, the premise sounds like "Species III"...
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That's some nice understatement. Try watching this jackoff's "Nighstalker" or "The Hill Side Stranglers"... within 5 minutes you'll be wishing you were watching Uwe Boll instead.
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Nobody remembers that he was in Donnie Darko, too. He had like two lines. "Don't move, don't fucking move!"
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Donnie Darko is the greatest superhero movie ever made. At least that's how I view it, since his superpower is the ability to time travel. And Southland Tales was the second-worst movie of last year. Richard is brilliant and I pray that The Box is a return to form.
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May 09, 2008 5:48:17 PM CDT
I wonder what other films can be unecessarily sequeled...
by troutmaskreplicant
It does make you ask serious questions about copyright law and studio contracts.
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For Gears of War that the closest we need to get to a Donnie Darko Sequel.
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No need. Definitely a money-grab. Couldn't care less about it, although my mind was rightfully blown when I read about it this morning... on TMZ no less.
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He sends out a lot of mixed messages. Is he a cliquey Hollywood jock or is he more of a David Lynch style character. Or can you be both and still make sense as a person?
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...and get this bad idea of a movie not having get made.
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The special edition doesn't work for me, sequel not needed at all. Great little flick though, with killer soundtrack, especially Tears for Fears' Head Over Heels.
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But please, and I don't say this in a ny conceited way: Can some of the TBs explain what the fuck happened at the end of the movie.
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all i could think was "that is really, really dumb."
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i just... didn't really like it that much. much preferred the original cut.
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it will suck a fuck
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That's what it will be, crap.
Leave well enough alone. Donnie Darko is a classic. -
wait, WHAT?!?
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This time, it's personal!
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nope, aint 1st of April.
therefor,
WHAT
THE
FRAK?!? -
The plane engine crashed into his house and Donnie died.
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It's too on the nose -- it actually made me like DD less, and now I never even think about the film. It's like if they released a Director's Cut of MULHOLLAND DRIVE, where David Lynch spells out how/why/when exactly Naomi Watts went bonkers. That's no fun!
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Damn You Michael Bay
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... should be crucified and never aloud to work in movies again.
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May 09, 2008 6:41:21 PM CDT
This Darko guy had a Pee Pee in his rear end while on a mountain
by annie the pod racer
This would never happen in Star Wars. Thumbs down on the sequel!
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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0342835
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Kidding, of course.
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I have to give you credit, you are pretty consistent with damning Michael Bay. It's one of those jokes that is getting funnier now after seeing it about 500 times.
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You know, I thought it was pretty bad for the most part, but it was just kind of ill-advised, not the work of an incapable fool. And really I gotta admit it's pretty memorable. I thought the ending was pretty cool. In some ways I'd rather have overly-ambitious borderline-pretentious movies like that than a safe, successful movie. At least he tried. Making a kitchen sink movie like Southland Tales is 90% likely to fail, and if he succeeded it probably would have been fantastic. Oh that devilish 10%
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Please make this
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Im sorry but weird doesnt not equal entertiament. Whether its comprehensible or incomprehensible that doesnt explain why I should about a lot of badly written character and half skether plot ideas. Thats why the movie sucks.
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totally ruined my day.
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A perfectly good ....FUck that...An astounding movie like DD is not even safe from these hounds of shit. Fuck these predatory vultures in Hollywood.
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Donnie Darko was a great movie, but this is not a good idea
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I mean, it'll suck, but I can't imagine it being anything other than DTV. I don't know if it's insulting or just confounding. There is absolutely nowhere else to go after the end of the first one and it's really a cult film. What I'd love to see is someone take one of these throwaway DTV sequels and really knock it out of the park. It'll never happen, but what would the studio do if "Goonies 2" was better than the original?
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And I must admit that I have some confusion about what exactly happens myself, you have to admit that it's one funny fucking movie. I recently had the pleasure of re-watching it, and I realized just how cynically funny it is. Patrick Swayze's motivational video is hysterical, with his timed for dramatic effect turns to the camera to simulate how dynamic his whole sad 'philosophy', and the awkward acting of the child actor testimonials: "I'M NOT AFRAID ANYMORE!!"
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The script is fine. Not a DTV rehash at all, although that's what it sounds like in print like this. The script takes a different route, but (a few things withstanding) it's a continuation of the universe. Not just scenes that worked well in the first one redone with a dude who looks like Ashton Kutcher. (Wait, wrong direct to video sequel).
And besides, after Southland Tales and the DD director's cut, I'm starting to believe that Richard Kelly has no effin clue what he's doing at all. -
Any time I ever start to grow a little less jaded about American film, some ass-hattery like this drops, and the swell of hatred in my chest swells in a violent crescendo.
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is good solely to see the chick from Sweet Valley High nekkid. Damn that chick is fine.
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Yeah see cause the main character is fucking DEAD and all, yeah, a sequel makes total sense! Geez, is that little girl 18 already? Shit, I owe death to the filmmakers for making me aware of that alone!
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the worst sounding idea I've ever heard.
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It's an emo teen movie, a fantasy time travel movie, a satirical comedy, a character study, a period movie (helped by the fantastic '80s soundtrack, plus the emo version of Mad World that went on to make UK Christmas no.1). There really isn't anything else like it. The important thing is the mystery element, how it leaves people with different interpretations of what happened and why it happened. Kelly's stroke of genius was cutting all his own bullshit explanation out of the movie (something he put back in to poor effect in the Director's Cut). My take on it is that because Donnie wasn't at peace with himself he was 'saved' by the rabbit and given the chance to see why he needed to die when the jet engine fell on him. At the end he's laughing in complete acceptance of his fate. I think it's the laughing that throws a lot of people. At that point they are like 'what? What's happening? Why is he laughing??' then time moves back and he's hit by the jet engine as he should have been all along.
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http://www.geektyrant.com/2008/05/unnecessary-sequel-alert-donnie-darko-2/ It goes right along with what the crappy movie description is. Pretty funny.
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why does it have to involve the same family? It's not like they're gonna have Jake come back so why even bother? Why not just make it about some other time travel tangent thingy happening to some other non-related kid? What is it gonna be the Curse of Michael Myers?
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The Rage!What the fuck was Donnie Darko about anyway!?
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and i am there...she is legal now...right??? my god, have you watched her in big love?? what a fucking hotty....i am such a dirty old man...but seriously, dont the suits see how this sequel gets the entire point of the original wrong?? this is just like the poltergeist sequels...which also had absolutely no point
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bring on all the upskirt pics...just like we now have of emma watson...the little minx...
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It is genius sci-fi, every scene in it has something really smart and/or hilarious going on. People who think it is "pretentious" need to stop being so fucking self-conscious. A movie is "pretentious" and incomprehensible now if it has CHAPTER TITLES?
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When is Fargo 2 coming out?
The story of what happens 5 years later to the Asian guy she meets in the restaurant. -
What idea sucks?
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thank you for reminding me of Sweet Valley High....i was madly in love with that chick...and now that i think about it that's the chick from joe dirt....no wonder she looked so familiarly hot....
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May 09, 2008 9:30:25 PM CDT
I, odddly enough didn't care for Darko, but DUG Southland Tales
by beastie
and, yeah, I do remember American Psycho 2. I didn't until about 20 seconds ago, but thanks alot for drudging up bad memories, asshole.
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Please stop making sequals that don't have to be made. I have 3 original scripts for sale that are lower in production cost. I'll be waiting for your call...
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havent watched it yet, whats the dif?
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I still think they should have never made the Director's Cut. Leave it alone, the strength of the movie is in the ambiguities, it allowed the movie to kind of exist on it's own. The best we can hope for is that they don't ruin anything from the 1st one with this cash-in.
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in a significant-enough percentage of the public is going to get sequelized until it's run deep into the ground. They're still making American Pie Presents flicks and more Bring It On's. They'll still be making High School Musical movies long after school has been replaced knowledge/experience/reasoning gel-based deep-cranial mega-synaptic pound-ins.
Still, I'm just not feeling a Darko sequel.... -
basically, they turned donnie darko into the new "final destination"?
someone please kill me.
please.
and OK, let's pretend for just a minute that it could work. samara is gonna carry a sequel to ddarko on her own? no maggie g., holmes osborne and prez roslin?
but if one thing's certain after this, it's that ANY movie can have a sequel.
say hello to "The Third Man 2: 4th m4n", "More Usual Suspects: Keyser's Revenge" and "Son of the Citizen Kane", to name just a few. -
It was very self contained.
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...is the focal point of this sequel. I hope.
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HAMLET 2.
someone needs to make a comedy about making of donnie darko 2. -
it wasn't as earth shateringly good as people make it out to be. Highly overrated. But still enjoyable.
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I think Southland Tales was a really cool idea, with lots of potential, that just got too big and got away from him. There are little bits of the movie that seem to tap into what it could have been, but it's a big tangled mess as a whole.
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Made more appealing due to repeated viewings on DVD
SouthLand Tales had a lot of the same themes as DD time travel, fate, destiny, but unfortunatley lost cohesion as was as MxG pointed out a tangled mess - shame cause Kelly almost got it (almost)
S Darko is just a cash grab why not write a similar themed movie with original charecters? It would probably be better recieved. -
The bad David Lynch where you didn't get it and didn't like it. As opposed to good David Lynch where you didn't get it and liked it?
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I have some issues with the movie, but the fact that I felt compelled to watch it more than once made me realize that there was something in there that made me want to come back. I think its biggest flaw was the pacing and the amount of info he throws at you at the very beginning of the film. I see that alot of people get labelled as ADD for not liking the movie, but I think that if you actually were ADD then you would have enjoyed the movie alot more because that is the only way to catch all the information he's throwing at you all at once during the beginning of the film. As weird as it may sound, I actually enjoyed the movie alot more the second time I saw it. Yes. There are some clunkers in there and he wears his influences on his sleeve, but I was still engaged. I was also thinking about how I would have loved to be at the pitch meeting in which he had to tell the backers what the movie was about. I still can't believe that the movie was greenlit. I can't wait to see a longer cut of the movie. I want to know if length makes a difference in the pacing.
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I keep hearing about this David Lynch thing, but I honestly don't see it. Southland Tales reminds me more of him trying to do Gilliam/Phillip K. Dick/ and Strangelove Kubrick more than any type of David Lynch. There can only be one person that can give you that "David Lynch Feeling", and that's David Lynch.
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get a sequel out of ANYTHING. They are fucking clueless.
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I got the feeling that I would have liked the film more if it was just funnier. Someone needs to tell Kelley that just because something is a non-sequitur does not make it funny.
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Darko 2: Electric Boogaloo?
Would that be a cooler movie?
Pimps don't commit suicide. -
May 10, 2008 12:05:21 AM CDT
Tagline: You Will Commit To... Sparkle Motion (Picture)
by moviemaniac-7
Never saw the DC of DD and never will. The movie is good in its own way. A sequel might be a bad idea, but I just rate it under the 8mm 2 and afore mentioned sequels category: a waste of time.
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was trying for more Philip K Dick and Kurt Vonnegut than David Lynch. When I saw it I thought to myself it was either the stupidest fucking movie ever or one of last year's best. A movie that polarizes my own singular opinion of it so drastically in the moment right after I saw it has to have something special going for it. And while the longer cut on Darko killed it, I'd actually love to see a longer Southland Tales - even if it proves to be torturous and/or brilliant. Kelly's not the bonafide genius wunderkind people wanted him to be after Darko, but between his divisive and batshit work on Domino and ST and then The Box coming up looking like another departure, I like this guy's vibe. Too bad so many folks adopted Darko as their own personal cinematic anthem of angst.
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Come to think of it, it wasn't that bad, actually.
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And without Kelly, this will most definitely suck. Stupid idea.
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I just woke up on the 15th green of the local golf course. And that's kinda strange. Who's the dude in the bunny suit?
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SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW. SOUTHLAND TALES IS FUCKING INSANE. BUY IT NOW.
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i've got a better idea - reMAKE the original, but with different actors and better special effects!!!! and also awesome: the number of people on this TB whining about the fact that the original "didn't make sense" hahahahaa i mean please
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May 10, 2008 1:40:29 AM CDT
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by thedark0knight
why oh fucking why....Im boycotting, seriously this is fucking ridiculous. I actually just puked in my mouth a little bit. This isnt goddamn Butterfly Effect or Final Destination you cant make a goddamn sequel to this it just does not make sense. I am seriously hiring a hitman to take out these fucks
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Except for Swayze, the movie is shit. Its pretty good as a litmus test though, if you ask someone for their favorite movies/good movies, and all they can come up with is this and Oldboy they are idiots and/or douchebags. I have no why this test is as accurate as it is, but I've had good results every time it was administered.
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Then again, I do not hold the original as sacred in any way. In fact, I honestly think Richard Kelly is the worst director currently working in film. I would rather be forced to sit through the entire Uwe Boll catalog Clockwork-Orange-style than ever watch Donnie Darko or Southland Tales again. Kelly is pretty much what you would get if Ed Wood mistook himself for David Lynch.
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Seriously!
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Kelly´s made some shit, but Darko is a good movie.
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I like Darko and Oldboy, but you are right about the litmus test. I should add two more movies: Amelie and A Clockwork Orange.
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leamon pledge
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Gonna post it on a blog I just started (stripnudeforyourkiller.blogspot. com) tomorrow morning but here it is. I'm going to put it in the post following this one. Forgive me, I don't know how to do paragraph breaks, so it's going to be one big long block.
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Worst reviewed film of the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, booed off the screen. $367,000 worldwide theatrical gross. Dumped in just 63 theaters for a “wide release”. 35% fresh rating on RottenTomatoes.com at the time of this review. Labeled as worst movie of 2007 by more than one critic (admittedly, named among the best by respected critics like J. Hoberman and Manohla Dargis.) How is this the fate of indie maverick Richard Kelly’s follow-up to 2001’s cult favorite Donnie Darko? I had to watch Southland Tales twice to try and figure out the answer to this question. My first viewing left me vexed, but not because I thought the film was terrible. The truth is that I couldn’t figure out why I enjoyed something so indecipherable. I wanted to confirm that the movie was a failure, but how could I dismiss something so insanely ambitious when I couldn’t even follow what was going on? So I re-watched it in an attempt to decipher it (without the help of all the graphic novels and supplementary materials that Kelly likes to release with/make mandatory to understand his movies) and found it not so nonsensical after all. Southland Tales is a mess, but what a spectacular mess it is.
I generally try to avoid wholesale plot summaries in reviews, but I’m going to have to at least give you a bit of context on this one. For those of you who were stumped by the movie, you may find this informative. For those of you that haven’t seen the movie, I wouldn’t worry about spoilers because you’re going to need all the help you can get on your first viewing. Southland Tales takes place in an alternate timeline where Abilene, Texas was nuked in 2005. America has ramped up the war plan, targeting Syria and North Korea in response to the attack. German scientists have invented Liquid Karma, a new fuel source (and potent narcotic) in the face of an oil crisis. The government has initiated a Big Brother style surveillance wing called USIdent. An election looms, and the campaign of Republican vice presidential candidate Bobby Frost is threatened when his daughter’s husband, Boxer Santaros, (The Rock… er, Dwayne Johnson) contracts a sudden case of amnesia and shacks up with porn star Krysta Now (Sarah Michelle Gellar.) They write a screenplay together that seems to be the movie we are watching, and presumably have lots of sex. Rollerblading Leftist hippie “Neo-Marxists” seem to be behind the scandal, and attempt to exploit the situation by blackmailing Bobby Frost with incriminating videotapes. To this end they employ disgruntled cop Roland Taverner (Seann William Scott) in their plan to bamboozle Santaros. Taverner’s twin brother, an Iraq veteran, seems to have something spoilery to do with everything, but spends most of the movie passed out in Christopher Lambert’s ice cream truck. Disfigured Iraq veteran Pilot Abilene (Justin Timberlake) guards the offshore Liquid Karma plant with a huge rifle, provides welcome expository narration from time to time, and pours beer all over himself while lip-synching “All These Things That I’ve Done” by The Killers in lieu of an intermission. Oh yeah, and somewhere in there prior to the amnesia, Boxer Santaros was abducted and whisked out to the Nevada desert in an SUV. That’s important. All of these players (and many more that I can’t fit in an already long paragraph) hurtle headlong towards a climax in the skies over a war-torn Los Angeles at a Republican gala on a Liquid Karma fuelled mega-zeppelin, where the world just might end with whimpering bang. Phew. I try and try to imagine the pitch meeting where Richard Kelly explained his movie to the studio but can’t manage to do it.
I’m not surprised that this film pissed a lot of people off. I had to really focus to piece together the plot I described above, and I still maintain that Richard Kelly was attempting to tell a story that was way too big for a reasonable running time. The film opens with a dizzying barrage of back-story (part of which I went over in the last paragraph) presented in a manner similar to the news briefings from Starship Troopers or Robocop. Everywhere you look there are references to pop culture, literature, film, TV, and the Book of Revelations; anything from T.S. Eliot to Girls Gone Wild is part of the milieu. Characters are introduced but not explained, and just when you think you have some key peripheral character’s role in the story pegged they switch teams or die in a hail of gunfire. Even more frustrating: rather than helping us to understand what’s going on, the characters (and filmmaker) spend a good deal of time engaged in irrelevant (frequently scatological) dialog. Among other topics, characters burn up screen time discussing whether or not animals enjoy shitting, and why Krysta Now doesn’t do anal. One scene features a Liquid Karma fuelled CGI SUV doing another SUV in the tailpipe. As with Donnie Darko, the plot does evolve into something circular and resolves itself by the climax. But with all the time travel, hallucination, worm-holes and rifts in the space-time continuum Kelly seems to like to play ambiguous. A word like incoherent doesn’t really do Southland Tales justice, I truly mean it when I say this film is a mess. But there’s something to it, because it doesn’t get this messy with just anyone at the helm. I’m not saying the film is particularly deep, even though it really really tries to be. All I know is that by the end of the film, I was watching Rebekah Del Rio sing The Star Stangled Banner and enjoying myself.
The everything-and-the-kitchen-sink strategy carries over to the casting, which I can only describe as bizarre. Surprisingly, most of the leads turn in career high performances. Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Justin Timberlake, and Sarah Michelle Gellar all surpassed my perceived notions of their acting abilities. This is coming from a guy who wouldn’t go near The Rundown with protective goggles on, so take that for what you will. The supporting cast is all over the place, and I found the presence of SNL/Mad TV alum to be a bit overbearing. Amy Poehler, Will Sasso, Cheri Oteri and Jon Lovitz don’t seem comfortable in serious roles and come off either too shrill or too restrained. Bai Ling slinks around with the creepy Germans, Mandy Moore barely registers as Boxer Santaros’ wife, John Larroquette appears in his most serious role since the Texas Chainsaw Massacre voiceover, and Janeane Garofalo was apparently left on the cutting room floor. I almost left out schlockmaster Eli Roth, who appears for a split second getting shot on the toilet. I’m pretty sure you can find Waldo somewhere in there as well, probably standing close to Curtis “Booger” Armstrong. Southland Tales is satirical but not funny, so the presence of all the comedians doesn’t make a great deal of sense to me. I briefly entertained the idea that Kelly was trying to say something about pop culture with his casting of the Rock, Stifler, Justin Timberlake and Buffy, but gave up. My best guess at this point is that he was going for that Jim Carrey in Truman Show effect (a comedian is doing drama? Do we have any awards we can give this man?) about twenty times over. Has it gotten to the point that the most mainstream casting possible is now an iconoclastic move?
You probably have a pretty good idea of whether or not this film is for you this deep in the review. For me, Southland Tales is a spectacular mess the likes of which we don’t get very often. Of all the influences (you can probably toss Philip K. Dick, Kurt Vonnegut, and Bud Lite in the same pile) the strongest one seems to be David Lynch. I am particularly reminded of Dune, (and not just because the German scientists and Baron Harkonen share similar eyebrows) a colossal story that didn’t quite fit in the plot that Lynch provided for it. And I love the hell out of Dune, despite its weird and convoluted nature. Somewhere in his frantic assemblage of the story, Richard Kelly forgot that impatient and completely unprepared eyes were going to be watching this thing. Or maybe he didn’t, maybe he really wants you to work in order to understand what he’s saying. Some people might call that pretentious, but I admire the audacity. I understand what he’s saying. The problem is that he’s trying to say so much, and seems to get so distracted while saying it, that a lot of it is underdeveloped or lost in translation. Thankfully, a spectacular mess is a lot more interesting than a straight up dud. Richard Kelly remains a filmmaker to watch. -
I think I subconsciously swiped your line about the pitch meeting, but it's so true.
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and then I got stoned and watched it again. And it was a confusing, badly acted mess. I couldn't decide if Dwayne Johnson was delivering a really mannered performance as a preening asshole, or if he was a preening asshole who really couldn't act at all. Only Stiffler managed to do anything. They got Justin Timberlake in to deliver a pointless voiceover (is there any other kind?) and then he.....DANCED. Agh! I'm getting the fear! JT...The Rock....Stiffler...That little woman from Poltergeist....
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you chinese-loving bastard, line breaks are done like this
but of course without the spaces -
... especially his reaction to when the cop REALLY does kill that couple on camera. Fucking brilliant. Yeh, curiously ST feels like a movie you SHOULD hate... but when you are watching it you kinda feel grateful that SOMEBODY has made such an ambitious but messy film. It feels a bit like a student film (sorry Richard, I don't mean to insult you personally - that was harsh I know), but you can certainly armire someone for sitting down and trying to construct a screenplay out of those ideas. The Rock remains the best reason to watch this film... along with Miranda Richardson of course.
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Hopefully by Q1 of 2009. And NOT the Directors Cut. That was simply a cash grab. And to people that haven't seen the Directors Cut, DON'T. It will ruin your opinion of the movie.
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Lose the pretense, put on some protective goggles, and watch The Rundown. It's a lot more fun than Southland Tales was.
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Sounds like Lost Boys 2.
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I really liked Donnie Darko on first viewing, but watching it with the director's commentary ruined the whole thing. It became clear very quickly that he'd failed to communicate most of the ideas in his head and that any enjoyment I had of the film was based on my own interpretation of the ideas he was clumsily throwing around. I've yet to get around to Southland Tales, but every review I've read confirms my fear - that he's a guy with a fertile imagination but without the discipline to wrangle it all into a coherent film.As to this sequel, chances are it'll only be entertaining if it's preposterously bad. I mean, it's a film with no need for a sequel. The story is told. Where can they go other than to repeat the original with a girl?
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May 10, 2008 8:05:28 AM CDT
I feel no animosity towards Richard Kelley because he made...
by rbatty024
Southland Tales. Don't get me wrong, the movie is terrible, but at least he was trying something different even if he failed miserably. However, The Rock put in a fine performance.
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Really?
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I get what people mean when they say they admire Kelly for his ambition, but shouldn't he actually have to make good on his intentions to be worthy of praise? Being ambitious doesn't seem like enough to me. After all, any one of us can be ambitious, but we respect talented people (especially artists) because they successfully communicate their ideas. This guy - bless him for trying - seems to just throw a bunch of stuff around with no idea of what it means or how it might be used in a compelling and well-structured story. I don't know is I should like him for that.
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I don't know if I should I should like him for that.P.S. Does anyone else remember that horrible idea for a Seven sequel that was floating around a few years ago? Talk about a film that doesn't need to become a series. It had something to do with, I think, Morgan Freeman developing psychic powers or somesuch. It sounded so bad I almost wish they had made it.
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This should not be made. It sounds like a straight to DVD project. And everyone is also in agreement that the director's cut ruined a good movie, which should have been their first clue that a sequel could never work. Hollywood is pathetic for not being able to see this on their own. It's like they're a bunch of robots trying to guess what humans like in their movies. They're completely disconnected from the human race, which is why I've all but given up on movies.
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was so overstuffed it bordered on shit sandwich-ness. and sorry but as far as comedy went there were only a few laughs that worked. if it had focused on the time thing more and cut out all that other bullshit i could have enjoyed it more.
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Something about how sending a "message" to Hollywood about what makes a good film and how to avoid making shlock is a nearly impossible task.
Movie Fan: "Look, just take a look at 'Donnie Darko,' see how it has interesting camera angles and cinematogrophy, stand-out performances, clever dialogue, compelling ideas at play and a dark, ambiguous ending that doesn't pander to the audience or talk down to us. It rewards you on repeat viewings and forces you to use your brain. THAT'S what we want to see more of. Something ORIGINAL!"
Studio Exec (while fingering his blackberry): "Uh huh ... uh huh ... uh huh ... uh huh ... ... ... gotcha. (rings his secretary) Get me a screenwriter. The kids liked 'Donnie Darko,' so let's greenlight 'Donnie Darko 2.' ... Yep, just like the first one, but uh, with a hot young lady in the lead. You know the kind. Something leggy for the frat boys. Oh, and let's get some blood in the film this time - I'm thinking killer bunny with a machete. Eli Roth available?"
Movie Fan: "Oh for the love of ..." -
Because that works so well. Hollywood is a stupid place, full of greedy people who want to make more money. That's why we're gonna be saddled with a PG-13 Terminator "franchise". Remember when "Hollywood" listened and gave us the R-rated Snakes on the plane? Hollywood stopped listening to us after that.
Donnie Darko, the original cut, is a damn fine movie, though flawed, but it presented a great world on screen. And it's a world that could be further explored, with or without Donnie.
While it may seem like a cash in, (and to a degree it certainly is) I can tell you that, at least at script level, this one is a lot more ambitious than your typical DTV cash-in. It follows rules set out from the first movie. It doesn't rehash scenes because they were in the first one. It's not a shot for shot remake with blander actors. And it has a lot of respect for the original. Like I said, this is in the script. The finished product may indeed turn into an abomination. And if it does, then at least you won't have to worry about Darko 3-D coming your way. -
how can that universe be further explored? it was self contained...and with a sequel, gone is the 80s commentary...gone is the parody of teen dramedies...its only being made cuz chase grew up hot, and she is being used to sell the movie...producers are all old pervs...just like me
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And I just like seeing young flesh paraded before me.
But are you serious? You're asking "So what if the script is good" in a talkback where everyone is saying this is such a crap idea? Gone is the 80s commentary, and in with the 90s commentary, the Kurt Cobain disaffected youth movement, when Clinton was in office. Remember those days?
Basically what I'm saying is that while yes, this is a misguided idea to begin with, there's no stopping it at this point. AND, it could have been a hell of a lot worse.
For fans of Richard Kelly who are offended, I understand, but even he confesses that he doesn't know what's going on all the time in his films. But, they are ambitious and actually trying something, even if not entirely successful. If a Darko sequel is inevitable wouldn't you rather someone actually trying to make something decent? -
Who??? I ask you, who??? And when you find them ask them why???
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Bad bad bad idea. If only Kelly were back....
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Still, this sequel sounds daft.
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It's Lynch with normal people; as in, people who aren't rat-shit insane. No mimes, creepy old guys or midgets or crazy naked women.
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... no Naomi Watts lesbo scene. Every movie needs a Naomi Watts lesbo scene.
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He's Ed Wood, with Uwe Boll's ego, trying to imitate David Lynch.
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I have to first admit that i've never watched the directors cut so whether this is what Richard Kelly was trying to get across or not I don't know. But the way I see it there wasn't any actual "Time Travel" involved in this movie. A lot of people believe it to be a time travel movie which I think is a misconception. I think the biggest clue in the movie as to what was going on was when Donnie and his date went to the movies. The theatre was playing a double feature of "The evil Dead" and "The last temptation of Christ". Now if you know anything about that second movie then this is pretty much what Donnie Darko is immulating. It's basically the same story idea. Donnie's fate is inevitable. He is going to die no matter what. But he is given a chance to make peace with himself and possibly god in the last few seconds of his life. I think that everything that took place in the movie from the point that Donnie went to bed and the jet engine fell for the first time until the end of the movie when it fell the second time and killed him all took place in is head. None of what happened in between those two points was actually real. Just like what happened to Jesus in "The last Temptation of Christ" Donnie got to see what life for him and others could have possibly been like had he been allowed to live. He was just given a chance to make peace with himself and accept his fate before the end came. At least that is how I interpreted the movie. I haven't watched it in awhile so i'll have to do that again to clarify my memory of it. Someone in the feedback up above posted a very similiar review of it so i'm glad i'm not the only one who looked at it this way.
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Just don't do it. Seriously, I mean I loved Donnie Darko, but I completely hated Southland Tales. I don't want anymore disappointment.
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kudos gwai lo, you hit the nail on the head reguarding southland tales. but zelda rubenstien, booger, and kevin smith in a pei mei beard, that has to be a sign of the apacolypse. and reguarding the litmus test: the only movie that needs to be on there is boondock saints. if you loved that movie, you are a douchebag, and you should stop talking right...now. but to everyone else shitting on the DD: director's cut, what kind of crack are you smoking??? i saw the first version on cable, but it wasn't until i saw the director's cut in the theater, that i was completely blown away and then became obsessed with it. the original version is great, but the DC is a much much much more complete film and vastly superior. its become so fashionable to say that the original version is better because its "ambiguous"(sp) and "left open for interpretation" thats horseshit! 98% of the new material added to the DC is on the OG version dvd anyways. the deleted scenes and the time travel book pages are all there. all that stuff just adds to the depth and mystery, especially the new FX shots that almost make it seem like donnie's being watched over by some unseen omnicient force. by no means does the DC spell anything out to the viewer, if anything, it makes it more mysterious and head scratching. the film was never meant to be open to interpretation as far as "is he schizophrenic or is he time traveling". it is a sci-fi fantasy about a teenage time traveling superhero. period. and the DC has the original theatrical soundtrack, which the OG dvd doesn't. and the commentary on the OG dvd is pretty insightful and thought provoking, but i'd skip the one on the DC dvd, the one with kevin smith, he's pretty annoying on it. the two best films ever made about time travel are donnie darko and primer, one is a fantasy and the other is hyper realistic, but both are two of the most thought-provoking films i've ever seen. and the sequel is a pretty bad idea, i too thought of the absurd american psycho 2. and also, DD is under rated for how fucking hilarious it is. it really is just masterfully made, funny, heartbraking, terrifying, thought-provoking, trippy, well acted(probably the only thing i can tolerate barrymore in) and just fucking cool. i really can't imagine why kelly would let a sequel happen but if they put swayze in it, i just might have to see it.
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Kudos for putting Boondock Saints in its place. Horrible film. Regarding Donnie Darko, I have to admit that I still prefer the theatrical cut. It just feels far more intimate and personal (and therefore, more affecting). The Director's Cut seems to turn Donnie into some kind of "Chosen One" who ends up saving the universe. Not my cup of tea, sorry.
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I shudder to think of what they might do with this. Not that Southland Tales was anything less than the absolute worst movie of 2007... still, this will not end well.
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HOLY SHIT!!!
she is freaking hottt -
This will be horrible a stand alone cult classic ruined.
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