Mulholland Drive (2001)
The strangest thing about Mulholland Drive, arguably David Lynch’s best movie, is that it seems almost conventional, at the start. Naomi Watts plays an aspiring actress, Betty Elms, who turns out to be shockingly good. She goes with Rita (Laura Harring), who has amnesia, to look for a woman named Diane Selwyn, because Rita remembers her name.
But soon Watts is playing Diane, And Rita is Camilla. But so is Melissa George. The mafia is involved. Billy Ray Cyrus pops up in the role of Gene.
Lynch has refused to explain what it all means, but the original DVD release did include a card containing “David Lynch’s 10 Clues to Unlocking This Thriller.” Among them: “Pay particular attention in the beginning of the film: At least two clues are revealed before the credits” and “Notice appearances of the red lampshade.”
It would be easy to fill this list with David Lynch movies, but we’re opting to go with the one we like best. At least today. Suffice it to say that almost anything he’s made — except for The Straight Story — would fit easily on a list of the strangest movies we’ve ever seen.
Share:
