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| Mulholland Drive |
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| 1/2 |
| Rating: Mixed Distributor: Universal Focus Running Length: 2 hours, 26 minutes Release Date: October 12, 2001 (limited), wider progressively in the following weeks Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Weird MPAA Rating: R Director: David Lynch Cast: Naomi Watts, Laura Elena Harring, Justin Theroux, Ann Miller, Robert Forster, Dan Hedaya, Billy Ray Cyrus, Michael J. Anderson. |
| Plot: (Understand that it's tempting for me to write something sarcastic here, but I won't.) A young Canadian woman (Naomi Watts) comes to Hollywood to become an actress. She finds a woman suffering from amnesia in her relative's apartment, an apartment that she is temporarily staying at. Although the Canadian woman should tell the amnesiac woman to get out of her house she instead finds the mystery of the visitor intriguing. The Canadian girl then helps the amnesiac discover her history. However, as reality moves in and out of fantasy in seems it's not the Canadian girl who has a history to discover. |
| Critique: Mulholland Drive is a muddled mess, a hollow film that never contains spirit or emotion. The film is initially engrossing, and early on it provides twisted entertainment. However, the end result is merely unpleasant, and unrewarding. Director David Lynch definitely has his fare share of ego trips in the course of the film, but it's hard to deny that some of the film's inventions are likable. Some quirky, well acted supporting actors perform well in some hilarious or knowingly unreal scenes. Sadly the film has a terrible taste as a whole because of its lack of soul. Additionally, there is no emotional impact. However, the film boasts some delightfully seriocomic scenes that are slightly memorable. The item of curiosity of the film however, is the film's final segment. Lynch pulls bizarre into high gear for a visually animated, but otherwise rarely affecting ride. Indeed, the director's decision to hide information toward the latter part of the film is not necessarily a mark of high artistry. Its interesting that once a filmmaker pulls the information on a film at a key point, the film isually gains ardent admirers. People always find things in vague storyline that appeals to them. If the films also happens to have a soaking mood due to a talented cinematographer, and a talented composer critics will usually join the supportive boat. The latter two cases apply to this film. Its difficult to tell whether or not Mulholland Drive is an honest effort by David Lynch, or merely an incomprehensive exercise of pretentious ideas. Either way it came up short. Although many find what is confusing to be brilliant by default, its important for those to temper what is declared brilliant. I am by no means insulting everyone who enjoyed the film, however I question a portion of that population's intentions. Certainly, Mulholland Drive can be riveting, and often humorous. However, it is hollow, and as a whole ugly and unredeeming. I do not recommend Mulholland Drive, even though it has good qualities. review by supernothingman |