I read the imdb synopses to work what had happened, but then was left with the why. The Salon piece would probably be better info.

Imdb had a list of Lynch's ten clues, and even they didn't help. On my phone so I can't link, but if someone could explain those to me, I'd be grateful.

Also watched the remake of The Manchurian Candidate (love both versions) and Serendipity which I enjoy in sparse doses.

Next up is to make a dent in my netflix queue by watching online. I'll die before that list gets shorter than 100.

::phone doublepost::

I really don't care for clever twists and stories I have to figure out by reading clues and explanations online somewhere. I don't want everything just handed to me, but Mulholland Dr wallows in a ridiculous level of obfuscation (or laziness?) in its storytelling. If I don't care whether a single character in your movie lives or dies, all the lovely cinematography and Hidden Layers Of Stuff won't save you.

I guess that means I'm not Lynch's advocate here...

I really don't care for clever twists and stories I have to figure out by reading clues and explanations online somewhere.

In fairness to Lynch, the twists aren't there just to give you a gotcha moment, but are completely justified by the narrative.

The story achieves a fair amount of emotional heft when you realize what's happening and it's not a place you can get to narratively if it was told in a straightforward fashion.

Salon's Mullholland Drive analysis

Can someone who liked Mulholland Drive sell it to me?

I liked it. I thought it was the closest movie equivalent I've seen to watching a dream. Other than that, I am at a loss to explain it further.

Thanks for the link, Hec. It doesn't help me like it, because I don't think that movies should be that much work (and the article seems to imply that it's even more work than I found it--is it really supposed to be hard to tell it's Naomi throughout?). It mentions Memento as being similarly arduous, but instead I found Memento rewarding once you click with it, which is eminently possible while you're still in the theatre.

Now to poke through the letters in response to the analysis.

I loved Mulholland Drive - even the first time i saw it and had no idea what I had just seen. Lynch stuff is always so creepy and intense. And this one had hot lesbians, too! I was meh on Memento.

It doesn't help me like it, because I don't think that movies should be that much work

I granted it some leeway because Lynch had to rescue what had originally been a TV pilot and some episodes and make a movie out of it. I think this is more successful than the similar re-edit of the Twin Peaks pilot into its european movie version.

I have to admit that part of me did think "Well, what if you don't care about hot lesbians--what's in the movie for you then?"

It was creepy at times, but still I didn't feel anyone one worth rooting for, and not satisfying to root against.

Oh! Something I don't see in the article or discussion so far--what was up with the two guys in Twinkies--one of whom faints later. She only seems to see the fainter in her RL.

I hated MD. Thought it was pretentious and self-indulgent, even if it does have some achingly powerful moments.