A visually stunning, but convolulted, mess

Rating: Null/10 (17 August 2002)

"Mulholland Drive" was one of the most controversial movies of 2001. The film, about two young actresses and their doings in Hollywood, is dark, ominous, and has dark styles and imagery. Unfortunately, it is also convoluted, containing a plot that goes nowhere and scenes that seem to have no impact whatsoever on the rest of the film. The reviews of this film have labeled it as a mystery or film-noir and it does indeed have elements of both; but those two genres (and basically all others) require some sort of cohesive plot. The movie ultimately is style over substance, emotions over direction. Praising "Mulholland Drive" for its visuals yet ignoring its distracting plot is similar to recommending "Armaggedon" for its special effects and forgetting all of its other dreck.
**1/2