It feels like everything that can be said about "Mulholland Drive" has already been said. If you're reading this, you've either already seen the film and love it, or maybe you've watched the movie and are unsure how to feel. This review won't be an explanation of the film, but instead will simply be a somewhat rambling compilation of my thoughts about the film - and to start off, I need to say that "Mulholland Drive" is undoubtably one of my favorite films, if not my favorite.
Arguably Lynch's best film, "Mulholland Drive" is a sprawling adventure filled with intrigue, conspiracy, and romance, all set in La La Land - Los Angeles, California. Most know that the Hollywood machine chews people up and spits them out, but few movies show the seedy underbelly of L. A. as convincingly as "Mulholland Drive" does. The plot follows Laura Harring as Rita, a woman who finds herself suffering with amnesia after a car accident. Sneaking into a random apartment to sleep and get some rest, the next day Rita wakes up and finds herself face to face with Betty, played by Naomi Watts. Together, they embark on a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality (thanks to IMDb for this apt description) where they attempt to unearth Rita's true identity.
Admittedly, the plot for "Mulholland Drive" sounds generic. And if it also sounds generic to you, then I can only assume you haven't seen this movie yet. The beauty of this film is in the way its story is told; Lynch decides to tell a mostly straightforward tale in a very unique and unpredictable way, utilizing surreal imagery and dreamlike scenarios. There are many, and varied, scenes that, while seemingly random, all make sense and piece together by the end. And unlike "Lost Highway" that can be somewhat obtuse to decipher, with "Mulholland Drive," Lynch does telegraph and spell out what happened - all it takes is a little attention from the viewer.
There's so much that's good about this movie that I literally don't even know what to say. Lynch really directed this movie with masterful precision, to the point where he's almost tricking the viewer at times. For example, at first glance, you may find yourself taken aback by the stilted, wooden, borderline bad, performances - I definitely was at my first viewing. However, as the film goes on, you'll realize that this was a purposeful directorial decision that was specifically intended to blindside viewers; what is at first perplexing is by the end purposeful.
With marvelous performances from Naomi and Laura, "Mulholland Drive" is truly a special film, and one that I've watched more times that I can count, and enjoy each and every time. Filled with scenes that I think about on a weekly basis, scenes that I have ever forgotten since first watching this movie back in high school, "Mulholland Drive" is the first movie I watched that showed me film is more than just entertainment, but also art. Undeniably one of the best movies of all time, this is a film that I encourage everyone to watch at least once. You may love it, or you may hate it, but by the end you won't be able to deny that you watched something unlike anything you've ever seen before.
Arguably Lynch's best film, "Mulholland Drive" is a sprawling adventure filled with intrigue, conspiracy, and romance, all set in La La Land - Los Angeles, California. Most know that the Hollywood machine chews people up and spits them out, but few movies show the seedy underbelly of L. A. as convincingly as "Mulholland Drive" does. The plot follows Laura Harring as Rita, a woman who finds herself suffering with amnesia after a car accident. Sneaking into a random apartment to sleep and get some rest, the next day Rita wakes up and finds herself face to face with Betty, played by Naomi Watts. Together, they embark on a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality (thanks to IMDb for this apt description) where they attempt to unearth Rita's true identity.
Admittedly, the plot for "Mulholland Drive" sounds generic. And if it also sounds generic to you, then I can only assume you haven't seen this movie yet. The beauty of this film is in the way its story is told; Lynch decides to tell a mostly straightforward tale in a very unique and unpredictable way, utilizing surreal imagery and dreamlike scenarios. There are many, and varied, scenes that, while seemingly random, all make sense and piece together by the end. And unlike "Lost Highway" that can be somewhat obtuse to decipher, with "Mulholland Drive," Lynch does telegraph and spell out what happened - all it takes is a little attention from the viewer.
There's so much that's good about this movie that I literally don't even know what to say. Lynch really directed this movie with masterful precision, to the point where he's almost tricking the viewer at times. For example, at first glance, you may find yourself taken aback by the stilted, wooden, borderline bad, performances - I definitely was at my first viewing. However, as the film goes on, you'll realize that this was a purposeful directorial decision that was specifically intended to blindside viewers; what is at first perplexing is by the end purposeful.
With marvelous performances from Naomi and Laura, "Mulholland Drive" is truly a special film, and one that I've watched more times that I can count, and enjoy each and every time. Filled with scenes that I think about on a weekly basis, scenes that I have ever forgotten since first watching this movie back in high school, "Mulholland Drive" is the first movie I watched that showed me film is more than just entertainment, but also art. Undeniably one of the best movies of all time, this is a film that I encourage everyone to watch at least once. You may love it, or you may hate it, but by the end you won't be able to deny that you watched something unlike anything you've ever seen before.