MULHOLLAND DR. - Jameson Posey

MULHOLLAND DR. (2001)

David Lynch/USA/1946

Budget: $15,000,000.

Gross: $20,112,229.

Synopsis: After an aspiring actress lands in L.A. she unites with a car wreck victim summering from amnesia, they embark on a journey of love and lust touring through corporate hollywood to find out who she is.

Narrative and Visual Keywords: Drama, Mystery, Love, Lust, Queer, Dark, Suspense, Strangulate.

Characterization/ Dialogue: 

Naomi Watts plays Betty Elms/Diane Selwyn, a sensual, innocent limelight hopeful who gives everyone a chance at first glance. Her lustful obsession comes out in a burst of split personality within Diane Selwyn. 

Laura Harring plays Rita who is not really a real person at all. Tortured and scarred, she is sweet to the touch at first a perfect match for Betty until she sheds Rita and reveals Laura Elena Harring.

Justin Theroux plays Adam, a cliche Hollywood director who wants nothing more than power, he finds comfort in his ignorance until he feels the sharp pierce of a power greater than his.

Camera/lighting/editing technique: The lighting in this movie is a mixture of low key/low contrast and high key/low contrast. There is an exception of a few godfather/overhead lighting situations. Daylight fills most of the space during the day and minimal lighting fills the dark nights. 

Political/ Social Commentary: An look into the nature of the human condition and the flaws of humankind. 

Random: The film is dedicated to Jennifer Syme, a young actress whose story is startlingly similar to that of the character of Betty - but who in fact died after the bulk of the film was completed. (IMDB)

1. "Notice factor." Why was their first film received well- what set it apart from other films being released. Essentially, what made these now mainstream directors seem fresh upon their first release?

- David Lynch's first film, Eraser head was well received because of what he was able to accomplish on such a short budget, he didn't have main stream strain and was able to literally create his own world, and in true Lynch form his attention to detail and story made even the main stream fan a David Lynch fan, or at least some of them. Lynch is one of those directors and you either love or hate, he does not fall in the center. 

2. "Emerging Talent" What signature stylistic tendencies are apparent even in work that is embryonic? A world completely unreal and made up that somehow feels as real as yours. Realistic dialogue juxtaposed with awkward circumstances and very silent scenes at times with a huge emphasis on ambient sounds and dark tones when provoked.

3. "Evolution of Vision" Has the vision of the director become evolved/ integrated or dispersed/ unidentifiable. 

Personal: Do you prefer this director's early works or later works? 

I think the only thing that has changed is his budgets and options. He has the ability now to tell and big and vast of a story as he wants or he can keep it defined and contained like in blue velvet. I prefer his work as a whole, he has never sacrificed his world for the real world.