Film-making is a trust relationship.

Rating: Null/10 (7 December 2002)

(Spoilers)
Around the time "Betty" arrives at LAX as the fresh-faced ingenue hoping to make it big in "dreamland" Hollywood, I found myself getting annoyed at the obvious movie manipulation. I hadn't felt so angry since seeing "ET".
I stayed on the ride long enough to see inconsistencies make sense in "dream logic." Fair enough. The "dream" ended & pieces came together in a fresh way. Those pieces didn't need to fit perfectly.
Film needs rules to communicate with the viewer. A director may play with the rules as part of the experience. David Lynch does this a lot and thus angers many viewers.
Formula movies are trite & insulting--they follow too many rules. Films like "Magnolia" & "Go" that creatively transcend convention are refreshing. I respect John Ford's ability to tell stories with pure technique.

Different viewers vary in their trust of Lynch's ability to make a coherent movie and vary in their tolerance with his abuse of the rules. Lynch's past films reduces one's trust. Knowing that "Mulholland Drive" was a TV pilot converted into a film doesn't help.
I understand how David Lynch generates anger & adoration--it's due how much a viewer trust him or feels betrayed. For me, the film redeemed itself in the last half hour. However, I won't fully invest myself in Lynch's future work. I don't think that repeated viewings will tighten all the mysteries. It might provide a rich emotional experience.
If I get around to it :-)