Product Description

Based on four best-selling non-fiction books of over 700 Darwin Award cases, The Darwin Awards takes a darkly comic view at the people who risk their lives pursuing a crazy idea, only to end up improving the human race by removing themselves from the gene pool and thus earning a "Darwin" award. Winona Ryder stars as an insurance claims investigator, along with Joseph Fiennes as a forensic detective, who team up to investigate potential Darwin Award winners.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20468 in DVD
• Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
• Released on: 2007-07-31
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 94 minutes

Amazon.com
Loosely based on the book series of the same name, The Darwin Awards is a wry indie film that deals with the premise that some people will live long and prosperous lives, while the weaker will weed themselves out by committing unbelievably stupid acts (such as smashing into a high-rise window to prove it's shatterproof, or using dynamite as a means to make a small hole for ice fishing). The film stars Joseph Fiennes as Michael, a brilliant profiler for the San Francisco police department who has an unusual quirk: When he sees blood, he faints. This trait proves to be his undoing when he catches a serial killer who happens to have a bloody nose. As the newspaper headline screams the following day, "Officer Faints; Killer Runs Free." Kicked off the police force, Michael redefines himself as a risk management assessor for an insurance company. Paired with fellow investigator Siri (Winona Ryder), the two traipse across the country to determine whether their company should pay out premiums to the victims of unnecessarily idiotic acts, like the vacationing British couple whose understanding of a RV's "cruise control" has little to do with reality; or the two stoned Metallica fans literally dying to see the band in concert. Injecting just enough hinky characteristics into his role to make Michael truly weird, Fiennes is excellent in his role. And while Ryder is as lovely as ever, she is still too coltish to be completely believable as a foul-mouthed, seen-it-all, done-it-all ballbuster. Featuring appearances by David Arquette, Lukas Haas, Metallica, beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage (both from the Discovery Channel's MythBusters), and Chris Penn in his last role before his 2006 death, The Darwin Awards has its share of disjointed moments. And it's not the scratch-your-head antics that are unbelievable so much as some of the minor plot points, such as a film grad student (Wilmer Valderrama) having complete access to film Michael and his investigations (and the money to fly off wherever Michael and Siri do). Still, the film offers fine performances (especially by Arquette as a small-town man trying to impress his wife, played by Juliette Lewis) and an unusual premise. --Jae-Ha Kim

Customer Reviews

The Darwin Awards - Dark Humor, Great Writing and an All-Star Cast!!!
The Darwin Awards is about an eccentric investigator obsessed with the Darwin Award deaths - awards for those who die in such stupid ways their death raises humanity's IQ.

This movie is not a traditional comedy and will not appeal to everybody. However, if you enjoy dark humor, sharp wit and reading between the lines, you will find a LOT to enjoy in this movie. The script is expertly written, and the cast will make you wonder why you never heard of this movie.

Joe Feinnes plays the detective, and he switches to being an insurance claims investigator when he loses his job at the San Francisco Police Department. He is paired with Winona Ryder, a cynical claims agent slow to accept his psychological theories. In time they grow closer, and eventually she helps him catch the one crook who escaped him as a cop.

The story is filmed from the perspective of a documentary film maker played by Wilmer Valderama. There are also cameo appearances by John Doe (from the L.A. punk band X), beat poet Lawrence Ferlingetti, writer Josh Kornbluth, and Metallica. Add to that an all-star cast that includes:
David Arquette, Juliette Lewis, Julianna Margulies, Robin Tunney, Nora Dunn, Tom Hollander, Alessandro Nivola and the late Chris Penn in his final role. The list goes on.

The dialogue is subtle so I can understand why some might not find this to be their cup of tea. Some of the death stories could have been executed better. The romantic climax of the film also seems forced. Still, the good far outweighs the bad here. If you give this movie a second chance you might be surprised.

Overall, this is a fun movie that will make you laugh. If you are a fan of "Six Feet Under," you will find yourself wondering why there wasn't a mass market for this film. Enjoy!

Can't make up its mind
Althought the premise is good, the cast fabulous (chuck full of cameo performances), and the production values above average, this film doesn't know whether it wants to be a Rom-Com, straight comedy, or mystery. So it's all three. The staging of the various "Darwin Awards" is usually VERY funny, and Fiennes does a great job as the lead (he's genuinely funny doing both slapstick and some more 'high-brow' stuff);but Ryder's 'tough-girl' is just too cliched, and you never really get to feel that she is capable of becoming involved with Fiennes. If you are looking for a little mindless fun(and I do mean mindless, as in people doing some really absurd stunts)then you will like this film.

Why do I like this movie?
Goofy. Tragic. But why am I laughing? Joseph Fiennes is a Sherlock/ genius in his own world that can't fit into ours. He can't handle the sight of blood, afraid of women, guilty over a botched police collar of a serial killer, and fastidious about safety. Winona Ryder is his foible picking Watson. Two depressed misfits on a journey trying to solve stupid and often fatal insurance claims.

If you like dark, quirky comedies, e.g., The Big Lebowski, or if you like road trip movies, you'll like this. The leads work wonderfully together. Both Ryder and Fiennes need more comedy and less drama in their lives, and they're good at it. The 'cases' are hilarious, but I really enjoyed the 'Odd Couple' leads duking it out as their personalities grate on each other in a tortured, sex-tensed, romantic sort of way.

The other story involving the search for a serial killer is put in there to promote the big climax, and the Peeping-Tom, worthless, documentary student is silly but provides humorous asides.
It's a night of escapism at other people's, who are not at our level of evolutionary development, expense.