Lynch and Badalamenti - a great collaboration

Rating: 8/10 (21 October 2001)

Although I greatly enjoyed Mulholland Drive it left me wishing for something more linear such as Wild at Heart. I was reminded of Twin Peaks in that Mulholland Drive offered a series of episodes that were only loosely strung together. Discontinuities and apparent contradictions abounded, but each episode was gripping, completely engaging, and artistically surreal in the manner we expect from David Lynch. It makes little difference that most of the actors were previously unknown to me except for Ann Miller whom I have idolized for years and Angelo Badalamenti who has always made a significant contribution to David Lynch's films in his more important role as composer. About half of the effect of each scene is due to the music. The "plot" is hardly worth discussing since it is almost irrelevant to a film by David Lynch. Lynch's predilection for cadavers and body parts is evident again, and if he enjoys it, I have no objection. Other elements shared with Twin Peaks are a weazened old man (or dwarf) alone in a room and a nightmare that comes true. It would have been nice to have more of the comic and grotesque elements that made Twin Peaks so enjoyable.