In the city of dreams (Mulholland Drive (DVD))

Member Name: mmintfresh

Product:	Mulholland Drive (DVD)
Date:	06/10/02 (309 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everything about the film

Disadvantages: None

A black limo drives along Mulholland Drive. In the back there is a woman (Laura Harring). The car stops and the driver points a gun at her. However there are joyriders on the road and they smash into the limo killing everyone except the woman. She stumbles out of the wreck and wanders down to the town below. She ends up asleep in someones front yard. When she wakes she manages to sneak into an empty house and sleeps again. Meanwhile Betty (Naomi Watts) has just arrived in Los Angeles, the city of dreams. She wants to become an actress and is staying at her aunts house while she goes to auditions etc. She is surprised when she arrives to find someone in the shower. It is the woman from the wreck. Betty assumes that she is just a friend of her aunts. At first the woman plays along telling her that she is called Rita but she eventually tells the truth. She was in an accident and has got amnesia. She doesn't even know her name. Betty looks in her bag and finds that she has loads of money and a mysterious blue box. Betty decides to help 'Rita' find out who she really is. Their investigation leads them to dead bodies. A director (Justin Theroux) being forced by the mafia to cast a certain girl in the lead and a weird club called Silencio

Lynch's most recent film brings him back to familiar territory after the surprisingly normal, The Straight Story. It is also one of his best films to date. The plot itself is quite hard to explain because whilst the first two thirds of the film are easy to follow but maybe a bit weird the last section totally destroys what we just saw. People have different names, identities and personalities. Relationships that were seen in the first section are broken and formed with different people and will leave anyone scratching their head. I am a fan of Lynch's work and even though I'm used to his twisting and confusing narratives nothing prepared me for this. However I think I have worked out what the film is about


now thanks to the clues that were inside the dvd box and reading about it on the net. I won't say what my explanation of the film is here because it would ruin it for those who haven't seen it, all I'll say is that dreams are the key to solving the mystery and also to watch very carefully.

There are a lot of factors in this film that not only make this one of Lynch's best but also one of the best of the year. Firstly the plot. It draws the audience in and also gives the audience a chance to think and work things out for themselves. Another stand out feature is the superb acting by everyone especially the two main characters Laura Harring and Naomi Watts. The fact that they both play two roles that are both polar opposites of each other is a feat in itself but they both make their characters convincing. Naomi Watts puts in a stunning performance as Betty, she captures her happy go luckiness without being annoying and as Diane she is both vulnerable and shows her descent into madness well. She manages to appeal to the audience in both characters. Laura Harring is also good firstly as the confused and scared Rita and then as the detestable Camilla.

There are a lot of David Lynch's trademarks in this film. Firstly the plot which refuses to obey conventional narrative structure and knowingly confuses the audience whilst still keeping them hooked. Themes that are often present in David Lynch's films are here, secrets, dreams and mystery. Also Betty's eagerness to solve the mystery echoes Jeffery in Blue Velvet and the creepy Cowboy character is like the mystery man in Lost Highway.

David Lynch's direction is also one of the reasons to see the film. Firstly the look of the film is brilliant and makes the film a joy to watch. One scene that comes to mind is the Club Silencio which is absolutely beautiful and bathed in colours. He has also added humour into the film and kept the film moving at a perfect
pace
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lowing the audience to take in every detail, enjoy and appreciate the film and also be drawn into the story. He has also teamed up with Angelo Badalamenti again who's composition compliments the story. It also helps the create an unsettling atmosphere which is in almost all Lynch's films.

Overall this is a must see for all Lynch fans and also those willing to see something a little different. However those who like their plots easy to follow and who didn't like Lynch's other films should stay away.

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