Revealing mistake: When Gretchen gets run over, you can tell that a dummy was used as the car's wheels pass over her. The position of her head changes between shots and her body seems a little too still for a living person who's just been run over. She should have been tossed a few feet or maybe even gotten caught under the car's wheels.
Donnie Darko (2001)
1 revealing mistake - chronological order
Directed by: Richard Kelly
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Jake Gyllenhaal, Patrick Swayze, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary McDonnell, Daveigh Chase, James Duval, Holmes Osborne
Continuity mistake: When Cherita makes her mark on the lifeline blackboard, there are some smudges on the broad chalk line. In the next shot, the line is perfect again. (00:41:30)
Dr. Lilian Thurman: Donnie, an atheist is someone who denies altogether the existence of God. You're an agnostic. An agnostic is someone who believes that there can be no proof of the existence of God, but does not deny the possibility that God exists.
Trivia: When Donnie is about to enter the car with Gretchen near the end of the film, he clutches at his stomach as if in pain, and we see Frank touch his eye after Donnie dies. Both these moments foreshadow pain: a deleted scene of Donnie's death shows a pole impaling his stomach right where he clutched it. And Donnie shoots Frank in the eye.
Question: In the part of the movie when the science teacher and Drew Barrymore are sitting in the staff room, what does their conversation mean? Science teacher says, "Donnie Darko." and Drew Barrymore says, "I know." What significant plot does this have?
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Answer: According to the audio commentary, "they're being manipulated and they are aware that something is going on with this kid and are laughing about it." Director's commentary is very interesting.
Nikki