Watch it twice or give up

Rating: 7/10 (12 February 2002)

David Lynch says he doesn't want to manipulate his audience. I can't quite believe this. While I was watching the film and trying to understand, there was more than one moment where I could imagine Lynch sitting somewhere, watching us and laughing sadistically.
But I don't grudge him that pleasure. Lynch has done a great job in thrilling his audience, which is actually not so easy any more. There are unforgettable scenes in `Mulholland Dr.', some of them even funny.
But, although this film is almost beyond any possible criticism there is a bit left to criticise about it. If I hadn't known that it is a TV series pilot that was later re-cut as a movie for cinema, I could have guessed. Although I am far from `understanding' the deep meaning of the movie (to manage that, I would have to watch it a second time), I feel that there are somewhat too many unnecessary features, too much short scenes filmed just anyhow. And it's a pity that TV stations refused to produce Lynchs mystery series because as such it would have been absolutely brilliant and I would have watched every single episode. In cinema, `Mulholland Dr.' is also a great experience. But there is that one drop of bitterness that it actually doesn't belong there.