"Mulholland Drive", a 2001 noir brain-twisting mystery.

Posted by free.ranger (A) on August 13, 2016 at 21:14:44

This is one of David Lynch's best; he wrote and directed it; received many director and film awards for it. I came across it on the pay-per-cable lineup; I think Cinemax is currently showing it. Not to be confused with 'Mulholland Falls', 1996, with Nick Nolte. This ain't that.

'Drive' cannot be figured out in any logical detail, it will cook your brains trying, but the general lay is a combo of reality, dream interpretation, and psychosis; all generated from the trauma of betrayal and murder. A mind can only take so much. I love films like this. I'm forced to hang with it to the end because I cannot foresee anything coming.

The story is (hope I'm not giving much away) about a young girl moving to LA to break into the movie biz. She gets romantically involved with, and left by, another actress who became successful in the biz, leaving her alone and failed. Various things happen to the other woman after this; mainly death by --

-- and there it is. Audience will have to wonder, choosing between reality and fantasy as it all interweaves in and out of temporal disruptions. I think that when its over, you will understand what basically happened, and discern what was real and what was psychotic fantasy, but you won't be able to logically splice much together.

That's because it was built that way. This film was originally intended to be a pilot for a television series. The series was rejected, so Lynch shot the rest of it to make a full length film out of it. Some elements introduced in the first half don't seem to have much to do with the second. Lynch has refused to discuss any plot details, so head-scratching is built into the deal.

Extremely worthwhile, IMO. Naomi Watts is the Dorothy-from-Kansas type main character, and this was supposedly her big start in films. Lynch didn't know who she was before he interviewed her for the part. Which is curiously juxtaposed to the character she plays, who failed to get into acting. Very strange, but very well done. Try to see this one.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Topic - "Mulholland Drive", a 2001 noir brain-twisting mystery. - free.ranger 21:14:44 08/13/16 (24)

The whole thing hinges on the Blue Box - geoffkait 07:25:20 08/15/16 (3)

Thanks. I sort of had it worked out already. - free.ranger 08:19:12 08/15/16 (2)

I don't remember any blue box. Should I watch it again? Nt - geoffkait 09:25:59 08/15/16 (1)

No, just go back to sleep... - genungo 09:48:27 08/15/16 (0)

What story? I only remember the Lesbian Love scene(s). - oldmkvi 18:31:16 08/14/16 (2)

You have a one rack mind. - free.ranger 08:21:35 08/15/16 (1)

I seem to remember 2. 2. 2. Racks , that is.... - oldmkvi 08:30:37 08/15/16 (0)

If you think Mulholland Drive is weird, check out Inland Empire (nt) - Doug Flynn 18:15:13 08/14/16 (0)

RE: "Mulholland Drive", a 2001 noir brain-twisting mystery. - mkuller 10:46:51 08/14/16 (7)

RE: "Mulholland Drive", a 2001 noir brain-twisting mystery. - geoffkait 11:14:08 08/14/16 (6)

RE: "Mulholland Drive", a 2001 noir brain-twisting mystery. - mkuller 12:43:35 08/14/16 (4)

Nice. Must be that pharmacy training. - free.ranger 13:35:26 08/14/16 (3)

Some analysis from Wikipedia - geoffkait 14:58:55 08/14/16 (2)

Not exactly "in a sentence or two" though... (nt - genungo 16:23:23 08/14/16 (0)

Thanks Geoff. nt - free.ranger 15:09:13 08/14/16 (0)

A murder plot... - genungo 12:16:46 08/14/16 (0)

RE: brain-twisting mystery. - genungo 08:15:12 08/14/16 (6)

Carl Jung would have gone nuts. nt - free.ranger 10:05:03 08/14/16 (1)

RE: Carl Jung would have gone nuts. - genungo 10:23:37 08/14/16 (0)

My explanation for Lynch is that he vividly recalls his dreams...... - Billy Wonka 08:59:46 08/14/16 (1)

RE: My explanation for Lynch is that he vividly recalls his dreams...... - genungo 09:36:35 08/14/16 (0)

As Lynch once opined about his iconic movie, Eraserhead... - geoffkait 08:58:24 08/14/16 (1)

RE: As Lynch once opined about his iconic movie, Eraserhead... - genungo 09:18:50 08/14/16 (0)

RE: "Mulholland Drive", a 2001 noir brain-twisting mystery. - geoffkait 04:58:35 08/14/16 (0)

"Mulholland Drive", a 2001 noir brain-twisting mystery.

Post a Message!