Mulholland Drive (Mulholland Drive (DVD))

Member Name: sharktrager

Product:	Mulholland Drive (DVD)
Date:	12/01/02 (92 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's by David Lynch

Disadvantages: none

A fifty-mile round trip to the cinema may sound like a bit of an extravagance (especially when there's a multiplex not five minutes away from where I live) but when it is to see the latest David Lynch movie it's worth it. Especially when the film is unlikely to be shown at the local multiplex.

So, did the film reward the effort? Without a doubt. This isn't Lynch's best, but it is definately up there amongst the top of the class. The storyline follows the investigation by two beautiful ladies, Betty and Rita, into the cause of Rita's amnesia, and their efforts to find out who she really is. Set in Hollywood, this allows Lynch to take some of the staples of Hollywood life (such as auditions for films) and show us what he thinks of them (not a lot!).

Betty and Rita are played by Naomi Watts and Laura Harring respectively, and they are great in their roles. In some scenes Watts comes across as a 'bad' actress, but I think this is part of Lynch's design, for in the aforementioned audition scene she acts everyone else of the screen. The audition is filmed in one long take, and the emotion which she portrays is fantastic.

The film had a convoluted production history. Originally it was made as a TV pilot, but it was rejected by the network for which it was made. It appeared that it was going to disappear into the ether, until a film company put up some money for more scenes to be added and then to be released in theatres. The final 30 minutes of the film comprise these extra scenes, and it is here where the mystery is resolved. Or at least, resolved as much as mysteries ever are in a Lynch film.

This production history is similar to that of Lynch's late '80s/early '90s TV show TWIN PEAKS. When the pilot episode was released on videocassette in Europe, Lynch was required to shoot an ending which tied up the loose ends. These final scenes make little sense, either as regards what has come before i
t in the episode, or what comes later in the series, although they do provide a certain sense of closure. The scenes are referred to later in the series, but simply as a dream dreamt by one of the main characters. This is where MULHOLLAND DRIVE is similar. Yes, these final 30 minutes do provide an ending of sorts, but rather than tie up loose ends, it simply provides more that will never be tied up. It ties your brain in knots trying to work it out, and I don't think that anyone ever can. That's the great thing about Lynch's movies - they are open to interpretation. No two people are likely to get the same thing out of the film (and that is true of most art). Personally, I think that the entire film is a dream, but as to who is having the dream, I've no idea. It could be Betty or Rita, or it could be Camilla or Diane. Or maybe ALL of them are the same person. I've just got no idea.

So, do I recommend the movie? Undoubtedly. But only if you like your movies to be challenging. If you only like popcorn fluff then go see something else instead.

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