Typical enigmatic puzzle from Lynch.

Rating: 10/10 (11 July 2002)

You could probably have a direct link into David Lynch's brain and still not figure out some of his films. That's really part of the fun and appeal--the gestation period that follows when viewers want to explore the options and meanings of what they've just seen. It works for me. I'm a big fan.
One thing that stood out to me is the strong anti-Hollywood subtext. Take for instance when Betty (Naomi Watts) first arrives in L.A. as a fresh-faced, bright young thing. She's full of naivity and hope even when the troubled amnesiac "Rita" (Laura Harring) shows up at her pad with a scar on her head and a dark secret. The women set out to explore the mystery, develop a trusting bond and become lovers. It may all be a dream. This all changes when the women flip-flop characters and then we get a look at what life in shallow Hollywood can do to a person. Harring's "Rita" becomes Camilla, a devious bisexual actress who's taunts her lover Diane (Watts again) by flaunting her infidelities in front of her.
The studio setting is painted as creepy and mysterious, yet oddly alluring. The film is full of biting commentary on the Hollywood system which I felt to be the core issue, but what do I know? Only Lynch can know for sure. The strong use of light blue and red all over the place instantly allude to good and evil simultaneously at work within the city. A scary witch-like vagrant pops up from time to time and may be the devil or may just be those cruel, life-crushing, superficial forces at work inside the Hollywood system that have claimed many victims over the years. There's a lot going on in the film, which is great. Movies that make you really think are rare nowadays.
I'd also like to say that Naomi Watts is stunning in the dual role that requires her to run the gamut of emotions. Try not to melt during her breathy audition scene and try not to feel the sting of jealousy when she's betrayed by her lover. Wow! Laura Harring and Justin Theroux are also great and I was thrilled to see James Karen in a scene. The music by Angelo Badalamenti is haunting and gorgeous, as is the Del Rio song in Silencio. The photography and editing are also excellent.
Don't miss it if you like Lynch or are sick of the brainless crap that dominates Hollywood cinema.
Score: 9 out of 10.