Review of Blue Velvet (1986) by J K — 06 Aug 2010

If you don't understand David Lynch you will find his films puzzling bordering on confusing and most of all...incredibly weird. Hell, I understand him, for the most part, (with the exception of Mulholland Drive.

I still don't get that film) and I find him confusing and weird, but he's also one hell of a filmmaker and one of the few directorial artists out there. His visualization and artistry with the camera and relentless use of baffling random shots that only become relevant at the end of his films are compared to none.

Not even Tim Burton who owns the closest style that I know of compared to Lynch. Blue Velvet, filmed in 1986, set the tone for the rest of Lynch?s career following his production of Dune and The Elephant Man.

The overall look, feel and cinematography of this film are classic Lynch. Surreal bordering on insane. Blue Velvet?s story is a mix of Leave it to Beaver, a BDSM porno and a classic whodunit mystery with a nice dosage of WTF?! The story is set off by the discovery of a human ear in a field.

Kyle MacLachan and Laura Dern (who looks like the oldest 18-year old high school senior since Harry Potter) try to piece together the myster y of the ear. With wacked out encounters with Isabella Rossellini, Dean Stockwell and perhaps the most demented role ever done by the late, great Dennis Hopper, the two protagoinists work toward finding the answers that seemed to be wrapped in a conundrum burrito.

The moral of the story appears, at least to me, that no matter how tranquil and pure the setting is, a dark underbelly is always present. As Dern says at the end ?The world?s a strange place isn?t it?? This is definitely up Strange Alley.

P.S. What in the HELL was Hopper snorting in that breathing mask????