L.A. at Night - A submersion into dark desperation and hopeless solitude

Rating: 10/10 (19 February 2006)

Mulholland Drive is one of the top films created in the last 10 years, and it makes my top-10 list of all-time.
Now, this is not what I would call a great movie - but rather, this is a fantastic film - and give me a great film over a great movie any day of the week. Great movies make you feel something while you are inside the theater, but great films go home with you and consume your soul for months and years to come. Great films are also: well written, offer thorough character development, well-acted, smartly shot, and treat their audiences in an intelligent manner. There is nothing worse than seeing a movie and / or film which insults the audience's intelligence.
Now, let's make this simple -(Mulholland Drive "simple"? yeah right....)Here's what I love about the film: Naomi Watts is both effortless and flawless in her delivery - what an actress.....; Robert Forster's role (Detective McKnight)- albeit limited, was so very well-timed and properly placed within the film; Lynch's spicy color schemes are as simultaneously vibrant, disturbing, stunning, bizarre, uneasy and awkward which is a direct reflection of his characters. And the soundtrack? - oh me oh my..... the soundtrack.....it's as chilling and dark as my hallway at 3:00 am.
Laura Harring is a rare and precious gem constantly reminding us of the great Rita Hayworth and her all-encompassing and extraordinary embodiment of beauty; Justin Theroux accomplishes so much in his role that I wouldn't know where to begin; and just the idea of casting Ann Miller (Louise Bonner) for her role as "Coco" brings those words "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer" back to life for the audience - as well as a longing for a resurgence of the great movie musical.
I fall in love with L.A. (especially L.A. at night) all over again every time I view this film. When I think of L.A. I think of all the people and things I have lost in my life. But I also think about what could possibly happen 5 minutes from now and how my life could change entirely. Then I begin to look around and think of all that garbage and evil such as despair, loneliness, cruelty, greed, lust, crime and poverty. But, maybe this sick cycle simply feeds my love for L.A. There is a haunting beauty that is associated with all of these elements; perhaps it is the idea that although we are constantly reminded of the evil in the world, there is always hope - hope that, one day, things will right themselves, and for each of us - our dreams of the perfect life and the perfect world will be realized.
David Lynch has always been a favorite of mine as far as Directors go, and Mulholland Drive is just another disturbing, but ravishing piece of work generated from the mind of this genius. Mulholland Drive is an extremely abstract film that is wide-open for individual interpretation - and, for myself and for fans of this film, that truly is the fun part. If you choose to show this film to friends or family, choose your audience wisely. Invite your film lovers to your next showing, but lock the door if the "movie-lovers" want to join-in. Still, no matter who your audience is, expect some frustration, tons of questions, and confusion beyond belief. But, most of all, while Mulholland Drive is showing, expect a great deal of silence (silencio).
Thanks for reading - and enjoy!