Great Twist on Unrequited Love Theme

Rating: Null/10 (23 May 2004)

I had to watch this movie twice for satisfaction. Yes, the first time, I wasn't quite sure if the beginning was a dream or what.
Though I was amused by the brief sub-stories: the guy confronting his nightmare about the man behind the cafe, the recasting of Camille/Rita with the picky espresso drinker, the director's cheating wife, and of course, the Cowboy; it is the story of Diane's descent into the abyss which captivated me.
I tell my friends my interpretation which is that Diane arrived in Hollywood naive & idealistic. Then the reality of how difficult it is to become established made her vulnerable to a lesbian affair with Camille, who was successful. Diane became obsessed with Camille, who was never in love with Diane. When Camille coldly broke off their affair and cruelly flaunted her new relationships, Diane felt she had lost the only thing she had in that town and out of the ugliest, most base emotions, hires a hit-man who successfully carries out the job.
But as we experience in Diane's dream driven by regret, she tries to start over again via her dream as "Betty" where Betty maintains the qualities Diane had lost. In the dream, "Betty" is acknowledged as a true talent; and Camille, aka "Rita", is not the opportunistic vamp she is in reality, but a vulnerable, sweet person in need who depends on Diane.
But intruding upon this lovely dream is the subconscious truth. This is why I loved the scene of the theater, which represents her subconscious - reminding Diane that this lovely dream is not real. "No hay banda!", "This is a tape." The heart-wrenching rendition of "Crying over you" sung gorgeously by Rebekah del Rio is so raw and heart-breaking: Diane lamenting over her lost lover, the lover who didn't love her back, the lover she had murdered.
At the moment we see "Rita" opening Pandora's Box, Diane awakens from her lovely dream and has to metabolize the nightmare of her own making. Confronting the demons is too horrible (the scary homeless guy behind the cafe is Diane's evil personified)...she ends the torture with the bullet.
Loved this movie! Naomi Watts is an incredible incredible talent. I'm inspired to watch more of David's films and those with Naomi.