"No hay banda!"

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2005)

I absolutely love this movie. I can watch this movie on a loop. Describing it would rob the first-time viewer of a great cinematic experience and would probably annoy those who've already seen it, so I won't bother.
The acting in this movie is incredible. Naomi Watts righteously deserved an Oscar for her role here but hey, since when do the Academy members give awards to those who truly deserve it? Everyone else in the movie delivers, especially Justin Theroux and Laura Elena Harring. Same goes for David Lynch who quite simply, has made a film so incredible that he may not be able to top himself. Sad to say but I believe it to be true. Roger Ebert said it best when he said in regards to this film that "the best movie of the year wasn't nominated for best picture". I couldn't agree more. I have faith in Lynch to continue making great movies but this movie in particular treads the fine line between being accessible and inaccessible so well that I just think it'd be an impossible feat for him to redo.
On a side note, I think that this film has the creepiest scene I have ever seen in a movie. That scene in the diner is an exercise in pure terror.
I love the fact that this movie steers completely away from the formulaic chock that Hollywood seems so at ease with. Films like these show that there is still life in the creative process. I'll take a movie like this over 98% of what comes out of the system these days. If you happen or have happened to watch this movie and feel lost or confused by it, don't fret. There is plenty of material online to help you unlock the secrets of this wondrous puzzle box and every viewing of this movie only serves to intrigue you more and more.
RATING: ***** out of *****.