One Weird Dream

Rating: 9/10 (27 February 2004)

After watching Mulholland Drive, I just wondered, "What in the world did I just watch?!" Even though I was confused and perplexed during the movie (particularly the second half), I was still gripped by what I was watching. I especially enjoyed Naomi Watts' performance, especially considering her character(s) goes from one extreme to the next.
Unlike most movies I've seen, Mulholland Drive made me think afterwards and made me want to research it out. I found Salon.com's assessment of the movie to be most helpful and interesting. It may not be 100% correct, but it did shed some light on the story.
This movie was also the first time I've ever watched anything from the cult director David Lynch. Say whatever you want about Mr. Lynch, but for better or for worse, you definitely know when you're watching one of his movies. Most directors don't really stick out to me. They are talented, yes, but their contribution to a movie doesn't necessarily mean I can obviously notice their personal touch. David Lynch has his own offbeat style that's very recognizable, much like Stanley Kubrick and Quentin Tarantino. You may love David Lynch's style or you may be baffled by it (or both), but you know that a David Lynch movie is not going to be a run-of-the-mill picture.
Overall, I'd say that Mulholland Drive is definitely a unique movie, which is probably an understatement. The story, while confusing, has a lot of depth to it if you ever want to research it out. The acting is well done, headed by Naomi Watts' powerful dual performance and Laura Harring's strong, quiet performance. Like the story, the direction is confusing, but it does stick out. As for the visuals, they will stick in your head for quite a while. I think Roger Ebert said it best that after watching Mulholland Drive, you'll tell your friends that you watched the strangest movie, much like you would tell them that you had the strangest dream.
My IMDb Rating: 9/10. My Yahoo! Grade: A- (Almost Perfect)