Mulholland Drive

A chilling drama that kept me up at night and forced me to think. I really gave the film my utmost attention, and I was desperate not to miss the slightest detail that might then cost me a shred of explanation. Up to about the 110th minute, everything is understandable, but what takes place in the final scenes is something unbelievable, completely incomprehensible to me (though I felt at times that there were some clues to an explanation, ultimately I was "disappointed" in this respect) and fascinating. For another half hour after the closing credits, I remained sitting on the couch, staring dully at the DVD menu screen. For a moment I considered playing it again. :) Bottom line – David Lynch is the man, so very much the man, the direction is absolutely amazing, as is the music, sound, cinematography, and actors. A totally unique and almost "otherworldly" cinematic experience. (03/05/2009)

This is either a masterpiece or a bad trip, but an excellent and unusual experience in any case. Also, since my first encounter with Lynch, I have learnt how to watch his films (to accept that most of the action doesn’t take place in the real world), so this time I’m convinced that I know what this one is roughly about, and it actually begins to make sense in the last half hour. Basically, it draws attention to feelings and conditions that are common in a person’s daily life, even if they are not always aware of them: desire, disappointment, pain, escape, revenge. PS: Or it’s something completely different. (06/03/2009)

A really tough nut to crack, even the squirrel from Ice Age wouldn't be able to handle it. Lynch plays an unequal game with the viewer and it may not be to everyone's taste. I appreciate Lynch's disregard for sales and going about his business, but I guess the distributors of Mullholland Drive weren't jumping for joy at the $7 million US box office. If I were them, I would announce a competition "Whoever understands this film wins a dinner with Lynch in person". It wouldn't cost them anything because no one would come and they would at least get some interesting advertising. Lynch not only gives no answers (and that's a good thing), but he gives no clues to understanding his visions. He only mumbles, but very skillfully. For the first twenty minutes I had a hard time getting into the action on the screen, but gradually Lynch wrapped me around his finger and I devoured one scene after another. I didn't ask for an explanation, I took the whole thing as a sequence of mini-stories that may or may not have a connection. I enjoyed putting the pieces together, I embraced Lynch's game. And why I’m not giving it five stars then? Because Lynch overdid it with the final half hour. Everything has its limits, even Lynch's riddles and plot twists. I can totally see him having royal fun over all the "what was that about" discussions. Once again he took a shot at the audience and got away with it. And by the way, Naomi Watts is amazing here, acting and visually. (17/03/2004)

Mulholland Drive is not a film for viewers who need a clearly defined script, want answers, and a clear resolution. It is, on the other hand, suitable for those who like to play, enjoy a mysterious atmosphere, and possess a good dose of imagination and creativity. Mulholland Drive is primarily a typically Lynchian game with genres and pop-cultural references, featuring excellent music, great acting performances, precise editing, and interesting cinematography. It’s a film that made Naomi Watts a major star. Overall impression: 95%. Along with the much darker Lost Highway, it's probably Lynch's best work. (24/09/2007)

A film about the purity and vulnerability of the human soul, about life’s dreams and the desire to fulfil the expectations that are placed on us. A film about the fear of touching the ideal, about disappointment, desperation and hatred, about the ugliness of the world outside (specifically Hollywood in this case). This film doesn’t have one clear point, there is no “right key” to it. Mulholland Drive is a mosaic of multiple ideas that could have been put across in a much simpler, but not as interesting and compelling way. The number of connections in the film that tell you something depends on your personal experiences and your awareness of their place in your life. A simultaneously cruel and beautiful soap opera. (04/10/2005)