Review of Blue Velvet (1986) by Nate W — 14 Aug 2010

The gumption of David Lynch's perverse and kinky art picture "Blue Velvet" provoked immediate and divisive controversy upon its release. Kyle MacLachlan takes on a rather passive observer role as a young man who discovers a nasty world lurking beneath the veneer of his pretty-as-a-postcard American town.

Lynch makes that point quite clear in the memorable opening scene, where his camera probes deep down into a perfect green lawn, eventually exposing the hordes of insects crawling below. The wheels are in motion when MacLachlan uncovers a human ear in a field, and some sleuthing brings him into the life of a cabaret singer (Isabella Rossellini) whose husband and son are being held captive by nutso oxygen-addict (Dennis Hopper) who has made her his sex slave.

It is the scenes between those two that are the most shocking, but also present the picture's weakness; Hopper's performance is nothing if not committed, and he certainly plays crazy with conviction, but after a while, his barking madness begins to lose effect.

Isabella Rossellini gives a finer performance as the victim of his sick whims, but again, after a while, one begins to feel like Lynch is exploiting her. Another problem his that he can't fix on a tone for his story.

Is it a perverted satire, or a heavy thriller? Perhaps he intended to leave that up to the viewer. It's his audacity as an artist that's really on display in "Blue Velvet", more so than a carefully prepared and compelling narrative.