Review of Mulholland Drive (2001) by Aldanyh + — 31 Jan 2014

After finishing all of Twin Peaks and watching the mesmerising Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, I was in desperate need of more David Lynch. And since the concept of a surreal Neo-noir sounded so original, it seemed like the ideal choice.

I can honestly say that although some of the surrealism proved a little too mesmerising for me, I did enjoy Mulholland Drive for many of the same reasons I had enjoyed Twin Peaks, mainly for its dark and glamourous atmosphere.

Although I can honestly say that I have so many questions from Mulholland Drive that I am annoyed not to have answered since I didn't connect to the characters as well as I did to the characters in Twin Peaks, and that it was a little too much of an experience in certain parts which made it difficult to remember what story aspect went in what chronologically appropriate place. And part of the is because the complicated production behind the film, since it was intended to be a TV series but ended up as a film. So Mulholland Drive has a lot of questions that it may or may not have intended to answer if it was turned into a TV series, but people who can't stand not knowing will find it to be too awkward or senseless to understand. To a certain extent I felt that, but bot enough to prevent me from enjoying the film.

Mulholland Drive is some of David Lynch's finest work since Twin Peaks, because while the story has no guarantee of being sensible to viewers, it's what you'd have to expect from David Lynch, so fans of his will appreciate the glamourous intensity and utter darkness draped around the story in Mulholland Drive and his great directional work.

Frankly, Mulolland Drive is an example of a film that you will never understand but that you will like. If not for its surrealism, then for its excellent film style which benefits from an eerily intense atmosphere thanks to a darkly musical score, as well as haunting cinematography and grim lighting which all pay influence to the excellent visual style of the film. Mulholland Drive is an unforgettably haunting visual experience, and David Lynch proves that his talent continued on Ito the 2000's.

And Naomi Watts proves what makes her a talented actress in Mholland Drive, combining the image of her sexual innocence with her character's intellectual innocence, both of which are broken as she delves into the darkness of the Hollywood outskirts and she begins to experience the life of luxury and pleasure. She works well as a symbol of a human changing into a Hollywood person in Mulholland Drive, and combined with the surrealism of the film it assists in showing the darkness that a person becomes embalmed by when giving their lives over to materialism and pleasure. She manages to show off everything she has as an actress and as a woman, and as an Australian it gives me pride to see an Australian actress like her making such an ambitious move.

Laura Elena Herring also does a great job because she casts a strong sense of mystery over the entire film and assists in shrouding it into mystery and darkness, as well as sharing a strong chemistry with Naomi Watts which is an interesting blend of dramatic and erotic. She gives that haunting yet hypnotic presence that is common in David Lynch works, and every time she graces the screen, things instantly become mysterious, and so she works to ensure the dark exhilaration of Mulholland Drive is all in tact.

Justin Theroux also manages to make an impact, considering that even though his character doesn't get much time on screen he still manages to show off how acting stoic can also prove to be a strong form of physical acting, more specifically in his facial expressions than anything.

And lastly, Michael J. Anderson's mostly unseen presence is nostalgic and so twisted yet so great for a David Lynch film.

So Mulholland Drive is a creepy and mysterious surreal piece from David Lynch at some of his most recent best, even if it's sometimes too mesmerising for viewers.