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Director Richard Kelly's had a wild ride in Hollywood. His debut film "Donnie Darko" didn't survive long at the box office, but found renewed life and hordes of fans after its release on DVD. The high-concept Jake Gyllenhaal-led pic was breathtakingly original, a dark sci-fi thriller that brought together tangent universes and an evil-looking man in a rabbit costume. But for Kelly, the true measure of his career would be whether the freshman filmmaker could follow up "Darko" with something just as clever and unique.

Five years later we got "Southland Tales," an ambitious, pre-apocalyptic, musical-tinged film narrated by Justin Timberlake and starring everyone from Dwayne Johnson to Mandy Moore. While it opened to dour critical reviews, it showed there was nonetheless still promise buried within the then-32-year-old Kelly. So what would come next? Our answer came with "The Box," Kelly's most mainstream project to date and an expansion of a short story by "I Am Legend" author Richard Matheson. Starring James Marsden and Cameron Diaz, the film begs the question: Would you take a million dollars in return for pressing a button that will kill someone you've never met? Read more...

Tags cameron diaz, james marsden, matt damon, richard kelly, The Box, The Informant!

1. "A Christmas Carol" ($31 million)
2. "Michael Jackson's This Is It" ($14 million)
3. "The Men Who Stare At Goats" ($13.3 million)
2. "The Fourth Kind" ($12.5 million)
5. "Paranormal Activity" ($8.6 million)

Did Ebenezer Scrooge learn his lesson at the box office this weekend? It's difficult to say, as the Jim Carrey-starring "A Christmas Carol" certainly took the top prize with a $31 million weekend, though the result is considered relatively disappointing given the film's potential draw to family crowds and its hefty budget of $200 million. The odds of the holiday movie recouping that number anytime soon are rather small, though we've certainly seen stranger box office occurrences lately. Read more...

Tags a christmas carol, Michael Jackson's This Is It, Paranormal Activity, Precious, The Box, The Fourth Kind, The Men Who Stare At Goats

Today, the latest effort from "Donnie Darko" director Richard Kelly -- recent MTV Movies Blog guest editor -- hits theaters: "The Box." It's a creepy flick, following a married couple who receive a mysterious package in the mail containing an ornate box with a big, red button set into it. They learn that pressing the button will earn them $1 million, but at the cost of the life of someone they don't know. Sort of a Sophie's Choice: poor and guilt-free vs. wealthy and burdened.

Now that the movie's out, it's time for Kelly to start thinking about what's next. The subject actually came up during a recent interview he gave to Ain't It Cool News. Since "Twilight" is all the rage these days, the conversation inevitably turned in that direction. There's one movie left without a director, and Kelly's keeping his options open. Read more...

Tags breaking dawn, richard kelly, The Box, Twilight

Richard Kelly is the man. Not just because he'll be here all this week, posting as a guest editor for MTV Movies Blog. It helps, sure, but we're talking about the guy who made "Donnie Darko" here. And "Southland Tales." Isn't that enough? Not for Kelly it isn't. His latest brain-twisting tale, "The Box," hits theaters on November 6. And he has a dynamite week of content planned for y'all, so sit back and enjoy!

October 30, 2009

LORD LANGELLA

What do you do with an Oscar-nominated actor for his follow-up role? If you’re me – you convince him to remove half of his face. Read more...

Tags richard kelly, The Box

Richard Kelly is the man. Not just because he'll be here all this week, posting as a guest editor for MTV Movies Blog. It helps, sure, but we're talking about the guy who made "Donnie Darko" here. And "Southland Tales." Isn't that enough? Not for Kelly it isn't. His latest brain-twisting tale, "The Box," hits theaters on November 6. And he has a dynamite week of content planned for y'all, so sit back and enjoy!

October 30, 2009

PRINCE MARSDEN

Most people know James Marsden as Cyclops from the "X-Men" movies. This is obviously his most high profile role, and it certainly brought him a lot of great opportunities. But the bummer about playing Cyclops is that the audience can’t see your eyes.

There is only so much you can do with a role in which the windows to the soul remain covered for the duration of the film. Read more...

Tags richard kelly, The Box

Richard Kelly is the man. Not just because he'll be here all this week, posting as a guest editor for MTV Movies Blog. It helps, sure, but we're talking about the guy who made "Donnie Darko" here. And "Southland Tales." Isn't that enough? Not for Kelly it isn't. His latest brain-twisting tale, "The Box," hits theaters on November 6. And he has a dynamite week of content planned for y'all, so sit back and enjoy!

October 30, 2009

LADY DIAZ

I first met Cameron Diaz on the set of "Charlie’s Angels" in the spring of 2000. I was being escorted into Drew Barrymore’s trailer by her producing partner Nancy Juvonen – at the time, I was there to convince Drew to play the English teacher in my crazy little script called "Donnie Darko."

Cut to October of 2001, at the premiere for "Donnie Darko" at the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles – guess who showed up? Cameron Diaz. Read more...

Tags richard kelly, The Box

Richard Kelly is the man. Not just because he'll be here all this week, posting as a guest editor for MTV Movies Blog. It helps, sure, but we're talking about the guy who made "Donnie Darko" here. And "Southland Tales." Isn't that enough? Not for Kelly it isn't. His latest brain-twisting tale, "The Box," hits theaters on November 6. And he has a dynamite week of content planned for y'all, so sit back and enjoy!

October 29, 2009

SKYWALKING TO SAN FRANCISCO

On Tuesday, I headed north . . . the good people of Skywalker Sound and Industrial Light & Magic hosted a screening of "The Box" an invited me to stay at the legendary Lucas ranch for the night and tour the facilities. Read more...

Tags richard kelly, The Box

Richard Kelly is the man. Not just because he'll be here all this week, posting as a guest editor for MTV Movies Blog. It helps, sure, but we're talking about the guy who made "Donnie Darko" here. And "Southland Tales." Isn't that enough? Not for Kelly it isn't. His latest brain-twisting tale, "The Box," hits theaters on November 6. And he has a dynamite week of content planned for y'all, so sit back and enjoy!

October 28, 2009

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE'S ARCADE FIRE

On the night of September 20, 2007 - my producing partner Sean McKittrick and I went to see the now legendary Arcade Fire show at the Hollywood Bowl. My assistant Jeff Culotta (who has since been promoted to a production executive at Darko Entertainment) had arranged a meeting backstage with the band. Read more...

Tags richard kelly, The Box

Richard Kelly is the man. Not just because he'll be here all this week, posting as a guest editor for MTV Movies Blog. It helps, sure, but we're talking about the guy who made "Donnie Darko" here. And "Southland Tales." Isn't that enough? Not for Kelly it isn't. His latest brain-twisting tale, "The Box," hits theaters on November 6. And he has a dynamite week of content planned for y'all, so sit back and enjoy!

October 27, 2009

BEST. HOLIDAY. EVER.

With all of the hectic press and preparation for "The Box" (opening November 6!) – I have completely neglected the most important decision of the year.

What the hell am I going to wear for Halloween? Read more...

Tags richard kelly, The Box

Richard Kelly is the man. Not just because he'll be here all this week, posting as a guest editor for MTV Movies Blog. It helps, sure, but we're talking about the guy who made "Donnie Darko" here. And "Southland Tales." Isn't that enough? Not for Kelly it isn't. His latest brain-twisting tale, "The Box," hits theaters on November 6. And he has a dynamite week of content planned for y'all, so sit back and enjoy!

October 27, 2009

TRYING TO ENJOY THE RIDE

I have a philosophy that I’d like to share with you all . . . It is a relatively simple piece of advice that was passed on by a friend’s mother.

It comes down to three simple words. Read more...

Tags richard kelly, The Box