Kelly s ambitions for the films cinematography would require much technical ingenuity, especially given the relatively small budget. Donnie darko why director richard kelly hasnt made a movie in 7. Back in 2001, writerdirector richard kelly unleashed both his first feature film and what most still regard as his best work. James richard kelly born march 28, 1975 is an american film director and writer, who wrote and directed the cult classic donnie darko in 2001. The donnie darko book includes the films screenplay, an indepth interview with writerdirector richard kelly, facsimile pages from the philosophy of time travel book that donnie uses to go back in time, as well as photos and drawings from the film and the artwork it inspired. Mar 25, 2017 15 years ago, richard kellys film donnie darko was unleashed on an unassuming sundance audience. On its 15th anniversary, donnie darko director richard kelly talks about the films success and address some of the weirdest fan theories. He grew up in midlothian, virginia, where he attended midlothian high school and graduated in 1993.
He was a big part of the process and the reason why we were able to pull this stuff off, said kelly. Richard kelly isnt often spoken of as a political filmmaker, despite the vein of social satire that runs through the three features he has released to date. Richard kelly on making a cult film and taking a sevenyear break the writerdirector of donnie darko talks about revisiting the cult classic and shares details. What happened to the writerdirector of donnie darko. Richard kellys 2001 darkly humored scifi film donnie darko came and went out of movie theaters, but through its unexpected ability to unsettle. Exclusive interview with donnie darko writerdirector richard.
I mean, you pull up netflix these days and youll see all kinds of weird titles that youve never heard of. Finally opening up on november 9th is southland tales, the new film from writerdirector richard kelly. Sometimes films need time to marinate dave schilling. Interview richard kelly, director of the film donnie darko youtube. May 27, 2017 richard kelly speaks about donnie darko at the roxie theater in san francisco, sunday april 2nd. Sometimes a film comes along that becomes part of you, and so it was when i. Following its reissue from arrow, the director of donnie darko, richard kelly, talks to ian schultz about 80s nostalgia, fan interpretation and whatever happened to gretchens mom. The director of the cult favorite donnie darko was once hailed as the next david lynch. The film follows the adventures of the troubled titular character as he seeks to find the. Donnie darko is a remarkable achievement for any director, much less one for someone who had just graduated from film school. Richard kelly may be putting together a directors cut of donnie darko, which would be released in theaters during the first half of 2004. Though many critics panned the film, kellys idiosyncratic work had its defenders, including future dark knight director christopher nolan. Like every selfrespecting and preternaturally moody preteen at the turn of the millennium, i fell in love with donnie darko the directorial debut of 20something wunderkind richard kelly. Exclusive interview with donnie darko writerdirector.
On monday the 21st october 2002 the future movies team had the rare and exclusive opportunity to interview richard kelly, writer and director of the movie donnie darko. Writer and director richard kelly talks about his acclaimed new indie drama, donnie darko. Donnie darko, his cult paean to teenage doom, was set shortly before the 1988 election in a virginia suburb, against a cultural backdrop of vapid selfhelp seminars, psychotherapy, and midnight movies. Donnie darko opens in uk cinemas on friday 25th october 2002. James richard kelly born march 28, 1975, better known as richard kelly, is an american film director and writer, known for writing and directing the cult classic donnie darko in. We met richard kelly, cursed director of one of the cult films of the 2000s. Eric bayandersen sat down with writerdirector richard kelly to discuss the films production, impact and enduring appeal. Donnie darko director richard kelly debunks fan theories.
An 80sset comingofage tale crossed with a scifi thriller, darko starred a young jake gyllenhaal as the titular character, a quirky teenager with few friends and a desire to mostly be left alone. James richard kelly born march 28, 1975, better known as richard kelly, is an american film director and writer, known for writing and directing the cult classic donnie darko in 2001. In a phone interview with 41year old richard kelly, i asked him to talk about the process of writing the movie. W riterdirector richard kellys debut feature, the lynchian donnie darko, is a tale of adolescent angst ripe with enigmatic scifi underpinnings. The first half of my interview was strictly spoiler free and we talked about developing the. Donnie darko why director richard kelly hasnt made a.
Director richard kelly on building his own sandbox. Ten years ago today, richard kelly released a directors cut of donnie darko in theaters, adding 20 minutes of extra footage that provided further depth on some of the films mysterious content. A critical success but a commercial failure when first released in 2001, donnie darko grew in popularity through wordofmouth due to strong dvd sales and regular midnight screenings across the united states. That is until he meets gretchen ross, a sort of kindred.
Now, as fans rediscover his 2007 flop southland tales. Apr 04, 2017 hiring poster was one of the best decisions kelly made for donnie darko. Richard kelly speaks about donnie darko at the roxie theater in san francisco, sunday april 2nd. Apr 17, 2017 donnie darko is a remarkable achievement for any director, much less one for someone who had just graduated from film school. To celebrate donnie darkos 15th birthday, richard kelly has overseen. This year marks the 15th anniversary of cult classic donnie darko.
Richard kelly director interview filmmaking future movies. When richard kelly s donnie darko came out in 2002, it was closer in spirit to its 1988 setting than the actual release date. Much as donnie darko claimed widespread fame by defying both convention and expectation, kelly is fighting to bring the mainstream to him on his own terms. The directors cut is a 2004 extended version of richard kellys directorial debut, donnie darko. Interview with richard kelly, director of donnie darko.
This edition gathers richard kelly s interview, the official script of the movie and the fictional book the philosophy of time travel by roberta sparrow. Richard kelly talks donnie darko and southland tales. The film plumbed the depths of kelly s 80s adolescence and. Writerdirector richard kelly talks about donnie darko, the directors cut, frank doll, casting the film, the soundtrack, and what frank the bunny. He joked that it took him 23 years to write, then 28 days to type. Donnie darko, southland tales, and the greatly underrated the box are all marked by a fascinating aura of frustrated earnestness. Theres a certain experience from reading the screenplay of a movie you like, and that experience is hard to explain. The film plumbed the depths of kellys 80s adolescence and. Director richard kelly talks 80s nostalgia, tears for fears, and the possibility of a sequel over 15 years later, the.
Kelly was born james richard kelly in newport news, virginia, the son of lane and ennis kelly. In an interview with indiewire, poster said its criminal that kelly. The directors cut is a 2004 extended version of richard kelly s directorial debut, donnie darko. In my interview with kelly, surrounding the 15th anniversary theatrical rerelease of the fully restored. Its funny you say that because it feels like, nowadays, it would be so much easier for donnie darko to kind of get in front of an audience with video on demand and netflix. It contains an interview with richard kelly writerdirector of donnie darko, the entire screenplay, and excerpts from the philosophy of time travel. Donnie darko comes back today on sceens in restored version and. Donnie darko why director richard kelly hasnt made a movie. Regardless of whether kellys titular protagonist jake gyllenhaal is seemingly deranged or merely on the brink of saving humanity from itself, his timewarping fantasies become startling metaphors for confused teenage male development. Director richard kelly reveals francis ford coppolas hidden hand in shaping the movie by tatiana siegel march 31, 2017, 6. Donnie darko 3 planned with original director richard kelly. Donnie darko is a 2001 american science fiction psychological thriller film written and directed by richard kelly.
Just last week i interviewed richard kelly, director of donnie darko and the recently released the box. Along with larry clarks kids and darren aronofskys requiem for a dream, i remember kelly s film being shared on home video like the holy grail, a movie viewed over and over again in sheer shock. Aug 23, 2018 in our latest video we are joined by filmmaker richard kelly donnie darko, southland tales, the box to find out what he thinks makes a cult film. As a result of this growth, kelly was approached by bob. Kellys ambitions for the films cinematography would require much technical ingenuity, especially given the relatively small budget. A midnight movie for those not old enough to stay up past midnight, richard kellys donnie darko was, for a great number of millennial teens and college students, the ultimate cult classic. In my interview with kelly, surrounding the 15th anniversary theatrical rerelease of the fully restored film, the artist.
Hiring poster was one of the best decisions kelly made for donnie darko. Regardless of whether kellys titular protagonist jake gyllenhaal is seemingly deranged or merely on the brink of saving humanity from itself, his timewarping fantasies become startling metaphors for confused teenage male. Director richard kelly talks 80s nostalgia, tears for fears, and the possibility of a sequel over 15 years later, the cult scifi classic still leaves fans head over heels. Appropriately, then, kelly was similarly earnest when we spoke last week about arrow videos two new. Time out london interviews donnie darko director richard. Interview with richard kelly, director of donnie darko by cw contributor on 312017 we interview director richard kelly about his offthewall 2001 masterpiece, which stars jake gyllenhaal, maggie gyllenhaal, drew barrymore, and patrick swayze. To celebrate donnie darkos 15th birthday, richard kelly has overseen a 4k restoration of both the theatrical and directors cuts. Richard kelly already a modern classic, donnie darko gets even better with the directors cut, out this week on dvd. Jonathan crocker speaks to donnie darko director richard kelly and discovers how he spent the last year lost in southland tales. Donnie darko director wants to make a sequel screen rant. It stars jake gyllenhaal, jena malone, maggie gyllenhaal, drew barrymore, mary mcdonnell, katharine ross, patrick swayze, noah wyle, stu stone, daveigh chase and james duval. During that time period he has made just two feature films. Donnie darko 2001,richard kelly is set in america during a election time for michael s. In our latest video we are joined by filmmaker richard kelly donnie darko, southland tales, the box to find out what he thinks makes a cult film.
If you dont know donnie darko, i recommend to watch the original movie from 2001, then read this book. Dec 12, 2019 like every selfrespecting and preternaturally moody preteen at the turn of the millennium, i fell in love with donnie darko the directorial debut of 20something wunderkind richard kelly. Sometimes a film comes along that becomes part of you, and so it was when i hit play on a rented dvd of donnie darko. Watch more at richard kelly sits down with makingof to talk about first feature donnie darko. Donnie darko director richard kelly on the box, trauma and. Dec 19, 2016 15 years have passed since donnie darko opened in cinemas, however, and richard kelly is far from a household name. Donnie darko rerelease 4k interview with director richard kelly. When richard kellys donnie darko came out in 2002, it was closer in spirit to its 1988 setting than the actual release date. Along with larry clarks kids and darren aronofskys requiem for a dream, i remember kellys film being shared on home video like the holy grail, a movie viewed over and over again in sheer shock. How ever that isnt really what the films about even though its mentioned a couple of times, the film is about donnie darko jake gyllenhall a troubled boy with mental issues despite him being very bright for his age. Dec 16, 2016 this year marks the 15th anniversary of cult classic donnie darko. Kelly says the directors cut will contain at least seven minutes of new material some from deleted scenes available on the dvd, some scenes that have so far gone unseen. Add to that the fact that richard kelly, writer and director of donnie darko opening friday, is a 26yearold film school grad usc class of 1997 who has directed only one previous short. Donnie darko and other times directors cuts messed up.