Review of Mulholland Dr. (1999) by Allan C — 26 Jun 2012

It's gotten nearly impossible to tell if David Lynch films are artistic or just trying to be weird. I think this film was a bit of both, but overall I enjoyed it greatly. Most critics seemed to revile the film, which was originally shot as a TV pilot that was never picked up and was then reshot to make it into a feature.

That fact probably accounts for a lot of elements that never seem to go anywhere, like the mysterious "cowboy", the dwarf in the curtained room or the very fast appearance by Robert Forester.

There's also parts that seem to be done only for style or off beat humor, rather than belonging to the greater whole of the film. However, despite all this, if you simply let the film was over you and take it in as a hallucinatory experience about Hollywood, it's a lot of fun and probably the best thing Lynch has done sine his "Blue Velvet" "Twin Peaks" days.

And it's easy to say it now, but I do remember seeing this in the theater and being impressed with Naomi Watts, who this was her first major film role, and is terrific in the film.