A beautiful and haunting dreamscape

Rating: 9/10 (17 October 2001)

"Mulholland Drive" is one of the most understated, inscrutable, and satisfying films in David Lynch's inestimably complex career. An involving mystery, a surprisingly passionate love story, and a double-edged indictment/celebration of Hollywood superficiality, it's also one of the most involving films of the year. It's particularly gratifying to see Lynch successfully utilize some of the head scratching plot devices -- mysterious puppetmasters, multiple identities -- that failed him so grandly in "Lost Highway." This time, anyone complaining that the story doesn't make sense just wasn't paying close attention. It's also nice to see him carry over some of the subtle touch that he brought to "The Straight Story." Elevating the whole affair is the solid, at times spectacular work of leads Naomi Watts and Laura Haring. Watts should be singled out, especially, for deftly shifting from good hearted innocent to embittered sensualist without missing a beat. She, like the film, simply rocks.