Brilliant mindbender is actually very heartbreaking love story

Rating: 10/10 (4 December 2002)

*SPOILERS*
This is primarily for those who hate and loathe "Mulholland Drive." When I first saw the film, I walked out of the theater angered that I had spent two hours of my life watching a non-sensical film. I enjoyed the performances, but I felt the film just fell apart the longer you watched it.
For two weeks, the film stayed with me, lodged in my brain. Why were critics applauding this? Why did Ebert call it one of the year's best films? Two weeks later, I decided to revisit "Mulholland Drive," this time accompanied by a fellow film lover. As the movie played out, my mind had a reawakening of sorts. Everything started to fall into place. I must not have been paying attention the first time I watched the film, because everything you need to know is there on screen. I walked out of the theater, my friend praising the film, and I right along with him. I've since seen the film about four more times, and it becomes more interesting with each viewing. If I were to create my list of best films of 2001 now? Be sure "Mulholland Drive" would be near the top.
The reason? The first ninety minutes (or primarily the pilot for the TV series) had to be altered in order to finish the film. While I was disappointed that ABC ditched the show (in favor of what, exactly? According to Jim??), I'm glad to have seen Lynch's work. From the opening credits to the moment Betty "wakes up", the film is a dream of Diane Selwyn (Betty). Diane, in real life (and this is where time shifts in the film), came to Hollywood, fell in love with Camilla Rhodes (Rita) and was then dumped for a Hollywood director (Adam Kescher). Emotionally hurt, Diane decides to have Camilla murdered. "Mulholland Drive" is basically just a tale of failed romance.
The dream recollects everything that occurred to Diane upon her arrival in Los Angeles. However, in the dream, her name is Betty, she's a talented girl who immediately gets recognition by the Hollywood's elite, stumbles upon the amnesiac Rita (it's easy to love someone when they have no past), falls in love with her, and everything works out for the best. But then her dream starts to break for her awakening (the "Silencio" club, the blue box, everything starts to come apart--much like a dream would as it ends). The cowboy announces, "It's time to wake up." And then Diane wakes up, hurt and alone, angry at Camilla for betraying her love.
That's basically the film. After Diane wakes up, the film jumps back and forth through memory, time, and dream. Diane is quickly going insane, as she realizes with horror that she had Camilla murdered (blue key). Finally, she kills herself in her room (in her dream, they discover Diane's decaying corpse--a bit of foreshadowing for Betty/Diane). Now watch the film again and see if it doesn't all work. It's quirky, weird, and atypical... but it's one of the most imaginative films in a long time. This is easily David Lynch's best film to date, and everyone should rejoice in its audacity.