The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 6 - 'Mulholland Drive’

Key Takeaways

David Lynch's 'Mulholland Drive' is celebrated as a pinnacle of 21st-century surrealist cinema.
The film blends classic Hollywood glamour, Americana, and European surrealism to explore darker realities.
Naomi Watts' breakthrough performance, portraying complex dual roles, is central to the film's impact.
Originally a failed TV pilot, 'Mulholland Drive' resists logical explanation, prioritizing emotional impact.

Hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins discuss 'Mulholland Drive' as part of their '25 Best Movies of the 21st Century' project.
The film is one of only two David Lynch films from the 21st century selected for the list, lauded for its critical acclaim.
Fennessey ranks it highly among Lynch's filmography, alongside 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me' and 'Blue Velvet'.
It is identified as a culmination of Lynch's signature style, blending Americana, European surrealism, classic Hollywood, and sinister outsider art.

The film originated as a television pilot, conceived by David Lynch and Mark Frost as a potential follow-up to 'Twin Peaks'.
The narrative explores thwarted ambition and the underbelly of Los Angeles dreams, featuring an opening car crash and amnesia.
Its plot outlines the investigation by an aspiring actress and a mysterious woman, leading to identity changes and narrative twists.
The actual Mulholland Drive, with its twists and views, reflects the film's opening and atmospheric elements.

Roger Ebert, initially skeptical of Lynch, ultimately praised 'Mulholland Drive' as a masterpiece, contrasting with hosts' initial confusion.
The film consistently ranks at the top of critics' polls, despite questions of accessibility for viewers unfamiliar with Lynch's prior work.
Its tone combines confusion and unease, with a subconscious plotting style akin to a dreamscape that resists simple logic.
Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins discuss how the film resists definitive, puzzle-box explanations, preferring open-ended engagement.

David Lynch's 'The Return' (Twin Peaks Season 3) is highlighted for containing some of his best work, particularly Episode 8.
Lynch frequently explores themes of degraded women and powerful male figures, sparking debate on misogyny versus empathy.
The film's tone is a combination of confusion and unease, rooted in a subconscious plotting style that resists simple logic.
It blends bizarre yet recognizable elements, drawing parallels to 'Sunset Boulevard', grounding its surrealism in cinematic tradition.

Attempts to logically explain 'Mulholland Drive's' plot are futile, as it prioritizes feelings and imagery over coherent narrative.
The film functions effectively as a dream narrative, with the character Betty potentially representing an idealized version of Diane's life.
Hosts recount experiencing unsettling dreams after rewatching the film, highlighting its ability to evoke sadness and agitation.
Roger Ebert's attempt to analyze the film frame-by-frame at a conference ultimately concluded it resisted definitive solutions.

Naomi Watts' performance is identified as her breakthrough role, despite her relative obscurity before David Lynch cast her from a photograph.
Her portrayal of complex dual roles is praised for carrying the film, drawing parallels to Hollywood's dual nature.
Watts skillfully depicts multiple characters and shades of personality within the surreal narrative.
Her audition scene is highlighted as a standout moment, demonstrating nuanced choices in line delivery and physicality.

A memorable diner scene features a character recounting a dream, utilizing abrupt sound cuts and real-time dream events to create suspense.
The reveal in the diner scene, despite being anticlimactic with a normal woman and jump scare, profoundly disturbed one host.
The 'Silencio' scene showcases Lynch's motif of musicians performing before a red curtain in desolate places, featuring mesmerizing, sad music.
Unexplained fainting among performers during 'Silencio' is discussed, attributing it to a 'cursed' atmosphere and 'bad juju' within the location.

Despite its celebration, 'Mulholland Drive' lost the Palme d'Or at Cannes and received only one Oscar nomination, with David Lynch losing Best Director to Ron Howard.
The Academy's historical reluctance to embrace avant-garde films during times of strife may have influenced its Oscar outcome.
The film's critical acclaim has risen significantly, jumping from number 22 in the 2012 Sight and Sound Poll to number 8 in 2022.
This rise is attributed to a broader recognition of Lynch's body of work and the film's role as a portal into surrealist cinema.