One of Lynch's best

Rating: Null/10 (23 April 2002)

David Lynch films, like free jazz, are definitely an acquired taste. Some people will never develop a taste for these types of art, but that's cool. I happen to really like most of what Lynch does, it's different and not the same old Hollywood crap. So what if some if it I still "don't get". The mesmerizing images, sounds, and music in this film are wonderful, as is the acting by the two female leads.
It did take me two viewings to (sort of) figure out what the story was. I was pretty chapped when I discovered the DVD has no chapters, forcing you to watch the film in its entirety! That Lynch, what a joker! I decided to watch it a second time two days later, after I had a while to think about it. Many things became clear on the second time around. I think its best not to try to over-analyze the first half, as I suspect Lynch himself may not be able to explain what it all means!
***POSSIBLE SPOILERS ***
Someone on this site already explained the basic story pretty well, it's about the sad demise of struggling actress Diane Selwyn, who is obsessed with another actress named Camilla Rhodes. The story up to where the blue box is opened is a dream, and after that is 'real life'. On the initial viewing, the hard part is determining which scenes are Diane's dream, which are fantasies, and which are real. There are little clues in there, you just have to go back and find them. For instance, near the end, when Diane's ex-roommate comes over to pick up her stuff, she takes the black ashtray off the coffee table. She leaves, and then right after that, when Diane and Camilla have their encounter on the couch, the camera pans over and we see the ashtray is on the table, showing that the encounter is a fantasy.
Another very confusing thing is having two different actresses play Camilla Rhodes. The girl playing Camilla in the dream is not the real Camilla(Rita). Weird. I guess Lynch did this because in a dream, anything can happen, even people changing identities.
Don't ask me what the creepy, happy old couple are all about, I haven't a clue on that one!
Recommended if you like puzzles, film noir, and films that you have to think about, rather than standard Hollywood cookie cutter product.

**** stars out of *****