Very good.

Rating: 10/10 (12 April 2002)

If David Lynch's Mulholland Drive is going to do anything, it will confuse the hell out you. In all likelihood, most who exit the cinema will wonder, was that a very weird film, or was it an incredibly bizarre dream?
Originally intended as a television series, Mulholland Drive was cancelled shortly after the pilot was made. Not wanting to let his dream die, Lynch added some new scenes converting it into a feature length movie. Because it began as a television series, a number of affairs remain unresolved. But after seeing what Lynch has managed to create with what little he had, this is forgivable.
The film reeks of Lynch's earlier work. In fact, this one acts almost as a show reel of its predecessors. Some fantastic camera pans and lush music make appearances here, which are now Lynch staples. To boot we have the usual dark settings and bizarre characters. We're also treated to a narrative that decides upon changing directions somewhat. In fact, after a time it basically allows another story with new characters - or are they? - to take the helm.
The film depicts the move to Hollywood of an aspiring actress named Betty Elms, played by Naomi Watts. She is the starry-eyed small town girl who, upon arrival meets Rita (Laura Harring). Rita had been a woman by the name of Camilla Rhodes, but suffered amnesia after being involved in a car accident before she could be murdered. Betty decides to help Rita find her identity and, to put it mildly, the two become close friends.
Sound complicated? There is more. The film also plays host to a number of characters, all seemingly unrelated but connected in some way or another.
The key theme here appears to be dreams, or some sort of notion of them. Not only does the film play out like a dream, but they are referenced frequently by characters. A seemingly unimportant character at the beginning mentions that he would never want his recurring nightmare real. Betty on the other hand decides to make her ambition of movie stardom come true, following the cliché of the small town girl making good in Hollywood. However, this is a David Lynch film and dreams can quickly turn into nightmares. Guess what? They do.
The nightmares appear to be concocted by seemingly unrelated forces, in the form of bigwig movie producers and a very scary hobo. These people, not only manipulate the casting of a film but the lives of those around them in an almost supernatural manner.
For those unacquainted with David Lynch, Mulholland Drive would a good movie to start off on. For those who have seen them all, well, there is not much new here. Although there is some genuine comedy courtesy of a hapless assassin, and it is extremely well made. If that is still not enough, at least Billy Ray Cyrus makes an appearance.