Mulholland Drive

Is there much more to say about David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, which has just been re-released theatrically and available on Blu-ray/DVD in May? There probably is. Since its original release in 2001, it’s had no end of interpretation, re-interpretation and almost constant debate. More so as it now looks superb after a 4k restoration, albeit retaining that slightly sleazy aspect.

On the face of it’s a multi-layered story that sees a botched hit causing a woman amnesia who then gets entangled with a wannabee actress, whose working with a slimy director, dealing with the writhing underworld of crime bosses and strange characters. Then the film switches around for its last third, Lynch tightly holding the reigns starts to bring things out and together.

It’s a twisting, disturbing, surrealistic journey into Hollywood’s dark festering underbelly of greed and exploitation, ambition and destruction. Coupled with a potent eroticism lacing through the scenes and characters it’s a film that at points bewilders though never impenetrable.

The cast are first class with Naomi Watts and Laura Harring in full control of their off-kilter characters. It’s doubtful looking at him again if anyone else could really have played Adam the sleaze ball director other than Justin Theroux.

Integral to the film is Angelo Badeltamenti’s score. The lyrical, brooding almost melancholic main theme runs throughout, but its peppered with other troubling themes and cues. The incongruous opening jitterbug throws off the viewer, later on there is the incredible confluence of film and music that is the scene in the Club Silencio and the performance of Llorando (Crying).

Whatever you make of it, it is out again to be picked apart, or just be wallowed in and enjoyed. And maybe not try too hard to ‘get it’…to get it.