A nice movie.

Rating: 8/10 (14 July 2002)

Don't get me wrong, I liked this movie. I also think it would have made a great TV series. And that is exactly what is wrong with this movie.

Originally shot as a pilot for a TV-series, it got the thumb down from the TV networks. A financier from France (Canal Plus?) gave Lynch the rest of the funds to make something out of the pilot. So what we have here is a mix of material that would have been the starting point of a TV series that I suppose would have lasted us longer then 2.5 hours and some added material to make it a movie.
I am pretty sure this is not the story Lynch wanted to tell (at least not in this form), I am sure what critics heralds as wonderful use of red herrings were not intended as such.
My take on the whole thing is that the first part of the movie is largely the pilot, since this is where basically all characters are introduced and the latter part with the identity switch is what Lynch added to make it into a movie. I like what he did what he had to work with. The movie actually creates a very dreamlike atmosphere and it does make sense in many different ways. And in other ways it doesn't make sense at all.
I would give this movie a 8/10 for that unmistakable Lynch touch and it is a joy to behold. The main actors also are remarkably good. But in the back of my head I still think we would have had a 10/10 TV series on our hands, if the TV networks would have had some guts.
For all who have had the pleasure of watching Twin Peaks and the first Twin Peaks movie (also a modified pilot, with a very poor tacked on ending - some homeless guy with no relation to anything killing Laura Palmer) probably understand my point here.