The first time I watched Mulholland Drive, I was a bit overwhelmed by the multitude of cryptic puzzle pieces being dumped in my lap, and I didn’t completely give myself over to Lynch. In other words, I was actively fighting the film, finding faults where there weren’t any because I didn’t know what else to do. Looking back, this was totally silly of me. But that being said, after showing this film to friends and family it seems that they all had similar viewing experiences for their first time.

I guess the first watch is a bit of a hurdle that most will have to overcome, but when it’s overcome, Lynch offers up a positively delectable smorgasbord of a film to indulge in! And much like Mary Poppins, it’s practically perfect in every way!

I’ll save my in-depth thoughts for a video discussion with a friend that will be coming soon, but before that, I want to take a second to talk about one of the all-time-great scenes that is Club Silencio.

This scene serves as the film’s bridge between fantasy and reality. Betty and Rita, our two main characters, are drawn to this bizarre club where right off the bat we’re explicitly told that everything is a recording and nothing is as it seems. I’m not going to make this a spoiler review, so I’ll just say that this club has a strong impact on these characters. They hold each other close and tears flow as their rose-tinted fantasy is ripped apart and reality threatens to set in. The Llorando song is performed beautifully and with a raw intensity that is consistently effective at bringing me to tears. Then the scene ends with the discovery of the blue-cubic-lock-box that serves as some of the most effective object symbolism I’ve seen.

Mulholland Drive is a masterpiece and a classic. The cryptic puzzle pieces are still here, but when one hands themselves over to a filmmaker and decides to embrace the experience with an open mind and a watchful eye, these pieces can unite in cohesive ways - especially if the filmmaker in question is David Lynch.

What I love most about this film is that despite what most who’ve only watched it once seem to think, the questions posed here can actually be answered! This isn’t a film that disrespects its audience and leaves us hanging, this is a film that respects its audience to a degree that few other films do, but in return, we must show the same respect to make the most of the experience.

If you haven’t seen Mulholland Drive, please check it out. If you have seen this film, consider watching it again, because when you inevitably come across those little tidbits of information that you hadn’t considered before, the sense of fulfillment will make it worth your time!

Trust this totally unqualified, self-proclaimed Cinema Connoisseur! He probably-maybe knows what he’s talking about :)

RATING: 5/5
STATUS: Llorando

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