Bit to Do

I always loved movies. Yet, growing up in an incredibly religious household, options were somewhat limited. I had to make do with mostly family-friendly fare, as no rating higher than PG was acceptable viewing for much of my home life. What “darker” films I did manage to see were often shown on television, edited down to a suitable content level.

Everything changed when I went to college. Free from my parents’ restraints, I discovered a whole new world of movies – films showcasing ideas, moods, methods I’d never imagined. “American Beauty,” “Fight Club,” “Vanilla Sky” – to most these are merely just other movies, but for me they are special; they indicate the formative years of my current film obsession. And chief among these is the mind-blowing “Donnie Darko.”

Who among us has not seen this incredible movie several times? It is dark and bizarre – a giant demon-looking bunny named Frank appears to a troubled teen and informs him that the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. What follows is a heady exploration of themes of fate and destiny and time travel and free will and sacrifice, all set to a soundtrack of actually good eighties music by artists such as Tears for Fears, Joy Division, and Echo & the Bunnymen. (Also this.)

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 17, Baxter Avenue Theater presents a midnight screening of “Donnie Darko.” If you have not yet seen this film, I am deeply envious – the idea of being able to see this movie for the first time on the big screen makes me weak in the knees. (After seeing it, try not to feel tempted to view the 2009 straight-to-video sequel, “S. Darko.” While visually interesting at times, it is ultimately crap. Just crap.)

Baxter Avenue Theater is located at 1250 Bardstown Road. More information can be found at the theater’s website.

Image: Internet Movie Database.