Wondering if anyone else has seen this glorious mess.   It was never actually boring, it just seemed that Kelly was desperately throwing everything against the wall, hoping it would stick. Unlike Donnie Darko, I didn't particularly believe or care about any of the characters. Something I would need to guarantee a second viewing. For Lynch fans, Miss Rebekkah del Rio does sing (introduced as herself) the National Anthem, backed by a Kronos-like string quartet.  Plotwise, the film would lose nothing if she was missing--- but it was great seeing her again.

Never having been swept up in the Donnie Darko frenzy, this latest has not stirred my curiosity too much.  What has been riotous has been reading the reviews since the booing session at Cannes.  About a week or so ago, the LA Times had both a review (poor) and an interview with Richard Kelly.  I kinda felt sorry for him after reading it.  Eventually I will see this film but not until DVD time.  It's unlikely it can be any worse than I already imagine it to be.  The Rock?  Mandy Moore?  Tee hee!

Susan 

Never having been swept up in the Donnie Darko frenzy, this latest has not stirred my curiosity too much.  What has been riotous has been reading the reviews since the booing session at Cannes.  About a week or so ago, the LA Times had both a review (poor) and an interview with Richard Kelly.  I kinda felt sorry for him after reading it.  Eventually I will see this film but not until DVD time.  It's unlikely it can be any worse than I already imagine it to be.  The Rock?  Mandy Moore?  Tee hee!

Susan 

Suze,  I don't expect you to brave a theater viewing for a film, unless it involves a family member (by the by, does Dark Reel have a distributor? When ARE we likely gonna be able to see it?), but this does feature your one time daughter-in-law-to-be... Okay, I'll stop. Most of the reviews I've read have been fairly mixed. As for the Cannes booing, recall that TP Fest fave Fire Walk With Me, received a similar response back in '92...
 

For Lynch fans, Miss Rebekkah del Rio does sing (introduced as herself) the National Anthem, backed by a Kronos-like string quartet.

Is this all it takes for a "Lynch fan" to see a movie? I could see that happening if Lynch sang the anthem.
Otherwise it's just here's an actor that was in a Lynch movie, but here they are in a completely unrelated project.
Not too exciting.

Donnie Darko didn't grab me, and this seems to be more of the same of Kelly trying to make the "ultimate movie", cramming material for 3 movies into one.
The highest praise Kelly is hoping for is probably "CUT CINEMA HERE!! RICHARD KELLY WINS!"

Though I am a bit interested in his next movie, taking place against a backdrop of the 2028 election.

[Deleted because I'm so nice.]

Dark Reel had its first theater screening -- cast and crew -- a week and a half ago. Things are moving along at a nice clip and I do expect distribution news before the end of the year. My head is spinning with excitement but I am trying to stay occupied with pecan pies and Maytag repairs appointments. Show biz seems to be a wild roller coaster ride of extreme highs and lows. It's exciting but nerve jangling. When the good news is revealed, I'll be letting the TPG know simultaneously. And yes, we are hoping for the Big Kahuna -- theatrical. It's a crazy long shot but about once a year something similar happens.

Booth, you have fine taste! Not just in film but in art and architecture! How's about your fashion sense? Etes vous une gourmet?

Here's that excellent Carina Chocano (pretty good LAT critic) review and here's the Richard Kelly interview for those who are interested in his excuse explanation.

Susan

How's about your fashion sense?

Hmm, I don't think I have one of those.

Etes vous une gourmet?

No, my palate is unfortunately limited, but I'll try anything once.
There are so many combinations that inevitably something I don't like will creep in.
Regular carrots - a okay. Boiled carrots -

This cake looks good... oh, theres a layer of marzipan in there somewhere? Barf.
Awful. And then there's the stigma of the picky eater.
But I like watching Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. The UK version, not the US.

Kelly's next film is an adaptation of Richard Matheson's short story "The Box", starring Frank Langella... and Cameron Diaz. Oh well.

I want to see this, though.

I read an interview with him from the introduction to the screenplay book of Donnie Darko, and was amused to find the following gem:

"I fear what I might do when I get too much money. I'll probably make something awful."

I read an interview with him from the introduction to the screenplay book of Donnie Darko, and was amused to find the following gem:

"I fear what I might do when I get too much money. I'll probably make something awful."

Wow, a self-fulfilling prophecy!  I might get too much money and think I should cast the Rock and Mandy Moore as a husband and wife team in a post-apocalyptic LA.  If that were a generic filmmaker's phobia, what would you call it?

Fiduciaphobia? 

Susan 

If that were a generic filmmaker's phobia, what would you call it?

Fiduciaphobia?

Plutonashophobia.

I love Donnie Darko (though I have started to see the giant storytelling flaws), but this seems to be Kelly's Dune... I don't think I'll go out of my way to see this one in theaters, since it's release is very limited here, but I'll definitely catch it on DVD. After all Domino was actually pretty decent; this can't be too horrible.

I was hoping for someone who actually had seen the movie to respond here, but... ya gets what ya pays for, I guess.

I was hoping for someone who actually had seen the movie to respond here, but... ya gets what ya pays for, I guess.

And someone who had did post there. Lucky you.

I wanna see it.... if it ever  makes it to Italy.

I liked Donnie Darko.

Don't shoot me.

I loved Donnie Darko.

I did see it before I got into Lynch though. I read that when Richard Kelly saw Mulholland Dr. he said that he'd made the Bambi version. Anyway, the actors were all great and Kelly really seemed to be on top of the story. I haven't seen Southland Tales and the reviews haven't exactly inspired me but he doesn't seem to be sure of himself on the plot so maybe he needs some strong acting. The Rock? Sarah Michelle Gellar? Justin Timberlake? And I don't know who Mandy Moore is but she sounds terrible judging on this thread's posts.

I loved Donnie Darko.

I did see it before I got into Lynch though. I read that when Richard Kelly saw Mulholland Dr. he said that he'd made the Bambi version. Anyway, the actors were all great and Kelly really seemed to be on top of the story. I haven't seen Southland Tales and the reviews haven't exactly inspired me but he doesn't seem to be sure of himself on the plot so maybe he needs some strong acting. The Rock? Sarah Michelle Gellar? Justin Timberlake? And I don't know who Mandy Moore is but she sounds terrible judging on this thread's posts.

  Mandy Moore is a young singer/actress who's fine in Saved & American Dreamz (sic) & in S.T.  The problem with this film is NOT the acting. It's Kelly's cartoonish plot & general tone. D.D. was focused & I believed & cared about the Darko clan.  These folks, not so much...
 

I loved Donnie Darko.

I did see it before I got into Lynch though. I read that when Richard Kelly saw Mulholland Dr. he said that he'd made the Bambi version. Anyway, the actors were all great and Kelly really seemed to be on top of the story. I haven't seen Southland Tales and the reviews haven't exactly inspired me but he doesn't seem to be sure of himself on the plot so maybe he needs some strong acting. The Rock? Sarah Michelle Gellar? Justin Timberlake? And I don't know who Mandy Moore is but she sounds terrible judging on this thread's posts.

  Mandy Moore is a young singer/actress who's fine in Saved & American Dreamz (sic) & in S.T.  The problem with this film is NOT the acting. It's Kelly's cartoonish plot & general tone. D.D. was focused & I believed & cared about the Darko clan.  These folks, not so much...
 As I said I haven't seen S.T. but when I looked at the cast list I just saw celebrities instead of people that I would enjoy to see playing a part. That's not to say that they can't act though.
 

It was nice to see Rebekah. She's looking quite... voluptuous, like a true diva.

Otherwise, the movie (was it supposed to be funny? serious?) was boring as anything. What was going on? Should we care? Why were the characters so poorly drawn? I was also suspicious of the hip, quirky facade as a vehicle for Kelly's (not-so-subtle this time around) Christian agenda.

p.s. This is not Donnie Darko. Not even close. Not once was I not able to look away. 

ST didn't quite work, but I appreciate it for what Kelly was reaching for. The last 20 minutes, however much nothing they signify, is some spectacular sound and fury. I'd watch it again before a surreal-lite dud like The Jacket or The Machinist.