Mulholland Drive

I honestly didn't know this film had a neo-noir type atmosphere that was truly haunting in its very own unique kind of way. On the surface Mulholland Drive is a story about an inspiring actress who stumbles upon a very confused woman suffering memory loss from a car crash. As the actress helps the woman uncover her identity, David Lynch takes us on a deep dive into Hollywood's underbelly and this is when the film starts to really thrive. We encounter eccentric new characters and surreal situations almost continuously over and over, as the haunting scores linger in the background of each scene. David slowly creates a sense that someone may always be watching while also pulling all the strings. As this non-liner narrative progresses throughout the film we start to notice a very key aspect Lynch keeps attacking at, fractured identity. We see this with the generational performances from Naomi Watts and Laura Harring, eventually these two represent two sides of the same coin. One representing the bright eyed optimist and the other knowing the fragmented reality of Hollywood and as they progress through their somewhat coherent narrative journey David keeps blurring the lines between reality and illusion. Forcefully creating a sense of unease and suggesting that their identities are unstable, especially in the Hollywood persona terms, while also diving into the psychological toll it takes upon one’s self. Finally by the 3rd act he completely shatters every illusion, revealing a more darker and even more fragmented reality. Mainly a critique of the Hollywood dream factory. I'd say this was a very rewarding experience by the time this was over. One more thing I'd like to talk about is the masterclass usage in lighting and colors. Especially the symbolism reflected through both. The monster behind Winkie's diner is manifestation of fear and repressed guilt. The color red, quite frequently appears when danger, passion, and the blurring of reality is being presented. Blue, the centerpiece of the film, the enigma. Unlocking hidden truths and repressed memories, plus the outstanding scores and soundtrack brings it all together.