Was this film really necessary?

Rating: 6/10 (31 October 2004)

I watched this movie a while back, and haven't taken the time to comment on it until now.
Before I begin my rant, I must say: This movie is a VERY great idea and concept. It had a nice plot and a good amount of potential, but more importantly it did have what I feel was a great concept and way of portraying Hollywood.
That was the ONLY reason why I gave this a 6/10...and that was being nice.
The movie is so confusing and tries so hard to be something greater and awwing that it ends up a disaster. You could analyze the film for hours, and still not truly "get" it. People keep on trying to "get" this movie just because they "get" the idea. Let me tell you now...just give up.
You can look at this movie from a million different angles, perspectives, over-analyze every single detail. It still will only lead you to the main theme about Hollywood, and won't really give you any further insight.
When making a movie like this, a point does need to be made, yes. However, at the same time, that point needs to be made clear and concise, not overflowing with randomly inserted scenes that not only remain confusing, but won't contribute to any greater knowledge of the movie's main point. As a result of the telephone sequences, the boss, the homeless man that looks like a monster...all of these scenes present interesting ideas, but it is just redundant and restating it. Not emphasizing, but literally restating it in another way.
We don't need 2 hours of reiteration of a main point. We would prefer to have a good movie. I'm not even asking for it to entirely make sense...I'm just asking for it to add something new, something interesting that can be analyzed and gained from.
I personally feel that there isn't anything that could be added after the main point that Hollywood is a dream that becomes a nightmare...it could have just been a story of two lesbian actresses, one with amnesia and one who fails in Hollywood, yada yada yada...it could have NOT had the excessive scenes that amount to nothing. Was it all really necessary?
Personally, I think not. This movie could have easily been a half hour shorter if it had been edited, but instead it had to be dragged out. It destroys the movie, leaves the viewer confused, and ends up making Lynch's entire point worthless. By the end, we don't CARE what great ideas the movie may present. We just want it to be over so we can go home and go on with our lives as far as possible from the nightmare of Hollywood that presents movies just like this.