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Review

Mulholland Dr.

Director

David Lynch

Year

2001

Rating

Reviewed by

Gon C Curiel a.k.a. Groucho

Review date

Wednesday, August 27, 2003

A young and hopeful actress wannabe (Naomi Watts) arrives in Hollywood from her Canada hometown to try luck. While installing herself in her new apartment, she discovers another woman—a very disturbed amnesiac (Laura Elena Harring) who happened to be in a terrible car wreck and now constitutes a huge mystery in herself. So the young actress decides to uncover the mystery and find out what is going on with this woman, whom she happens to like very much.

In the meantime, a hip, young film director (Justin Theroux) lives one hell of a terrible day when mobsters intimidate him to cast a certain woman (Melissa George) in his new movie; when he refuses, he gets all kinds of threatens, from the apparent disappearance of all his money, to a visit by a quietly menacing (and quite weird) cowboy (Lafayette Montgomery). More storylines include a man (Patrick Fischler) who suffers from a repetitious nightmare, which eventually comes true, and an extremely clumsy killer (Mark Pellegrino) who can’t do his work right.

OK, so that’s the story. Oh, but wait! Once you think Naomi and you have uncovered the mystery, something happens: It all turns upside down! Nothing is what it seemed to be! Nothing has logic anymore…! Or does it? Is it possible that the weird turn of events is in fact the true logical explanation of everything? But how could that be?

This intricate David Lynch mystery is a fantastic film that works on many levels, despite the fact that it’s very hard to understand. Nevertheless, it does have an explanation… or many. I have a theory of my own, which makes prefect logic to me, but the great thing is it plays with your mind, and allows you to play with it… just like dreams do.

Originally a rejected TV pilot, later completed by Lynch, it works as a jigsaw puzzle and makes the result a unique piece. But unlike most jigsaw puzzle-like movies, this one is a pleasant ride from beginning to end, thrilling and pretty, and sexy, too!

In fact, the experience is so enthralling, that you’ll find yourself in need of a second watch. Well, I would think so, since I became addicted to the film, and have watched it many times, and have been fascinated every time.

Naomi Watts is electrifying in the lead, perfectly playing both an aspiring actress who’s too good to be true, and a failed one who just can’t work things out her way. Theroux is also good (and fun) as the confused director. Incidentally, Angelo Badalmenti, the regular composer of Lynch’s movie scores, appears as the mobster who drinks espresso.

“This is the girl.”

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Other reviews of Mulholland Dr. (2001): Morris