While it is really impossible to do something like narrow my favorite individual scene in cinema in the 21st century, this particular one, from David Lynch‘s aborted TV show turned feature film, Mullholland Dr., would be one of the top contenders. There is something about the way the brain processes a Lynch film, visual cues (which often are misleading, and other times not), emotional scattershot, and here is the kicker that I never really noticed before in Lynch’s work: Reaction Shots.
First off, if you watch the scene as many times as I have, you realize that there is a fair bit of planted information in the individual scene, which seems to be a bit of a non-sequitor (and I say this with a straight face considering the nature of Mulholland Dr. and David Lynch!) compared to the rest of the film. The two principle characters find themselves in a deserted theatre to witness a vocal performance of Roy Orbison‘s “Crying” in Spanish by “La Llorona of Los Angeles.” There is a nice clue as to what is yet to come in the film (admittedly a clue only gleaned on multiple viewings): La Llorona being the great supernatural Mexican/Latin-American myth of the crying woman who is harbinger of death, who has drowned her own children (I think here a metaphor for the drowned Hollywood dreams). A second clue is the velvet red curtains in the background of the stage, a typical Lynch symbol for ‘really strange stuff is about to go down.’ The fact that he plays with voice (see also backwards phonetic speaking Michael J. Anderson in Twin Peaks) by having the nerve-wrackingly emotional sequence end abruptly as a lip syncing exercise, is another clue of the impending supernatural. For those who have seen Mulholland Dr. you’ll see the frustrating “blue box” coming out of Naomi Watts‘ characters purse at the end of the clip.
But forget the rational deconstruction for the moment and let us focus on the emotional effect of this entire scene. Even out of context of the film in ratty You-Tube the scene is wholly gripping. As it was meant to be seen in a huge theatre, watching Laura Harring and Naomi Watts watching the performance also in a theatre is really how the scene was meant to be fully processed. Nevertheless, the passion of the music, and more importantly the fantastic reaction shots of Watts and Harring achieve a visceral emotional power not often encountered in American cinema. You are watching a woman with a tattoo of a tear, dubbed the crying woman make an audience of two (within the film) cry, and like a yawn reflex being passed around a room (a visual virus?), it makes you want to cry as well. A theme that resonates across much of Lynch’s work and on display here in full force, the irrational realization of broken dreams made painfully visual. Enjoy.
If all goes well this weekend I am making a mini-Lynch marathon happen, back-to-back viewings of Mulholland Dr and Inland Empire. My wife has never seen Inland Empire and typically is not the type of person to like that kind of thing but I am convinced if you set the right mood, if you make it an event, with food (Lynch’s quinoa?) dim the lights, maybe light some candles, I may be able to get her to take the plunge, and in the process I may be able to accept Mulholland Dr.
As a true fan of both of these films Kurt, I highly recommend you visit los Angeles for yourself. I was aware immediately of how the city was an obvious muse for the works, how surreal it actually is without artistic interference… Mulholland dr at night especially is something to behold… you go up these steep inclines and what feels like cottage country darkness and then there is a sea of twinkling lights.
I also want to catch a documentary that came out a while ago called Los Angeles Plays Itself… which looks at how cinema has used the city… if anyone has seen this film I would be interested to know what you thought.
A co-worker just gave me the DVD of Dune since he picked it up on HD or Blue Ray. I’m going to watch it coming up shortly. I still love that movie.
I’ve never gotten around to seeing Mulholland Drive. When it first came out in theatre I somehow totally missed the fact that it was a Lynch film, and since then I’ve rented it twice and something came up both times.
I heard on the news that HD-DVD has succumbed… Blu-Ray is the victor? not that I have either but I guess the war is over, time to count the dead.
Warner just sided with Blu-Ray exclusively. That means there are now only 2 studios still going with HD. The war isn’t truly over but when Warner made its announcement the HD camp canceled their press conference with the statement that they had to discuss the impact of Warner’s decision.
Take it for what it is but my guess is that Blu-Ray will win plus the other rumour I heard recently is that Apple is going to announce that they are going to include Blu-Ray players on their upcoming Macs.
Oh and my co-worker actually has a similar setup to Kurt’s home theatre with the addition of a combo Blu-Ray/HD DVD drive in his computer. So he doesn’t really care which wins. He buy whichever one has the best quality or features.
Apple has a miniscule share of the home computer market. Blu-Ray should be more concerned that Microsoft is backing HD-DVD and most likely every future PC will have an HD-DVD player.
***Shakes Fist*** Damn you rot!
you turned my love of this particular scene, one of the greatest audio-visual moments in this young millenium, into another throw-down between HD formats!
to return to Mulholland Dr… and avert the Wrath of Kurt…
I did notice that Lynch was so kind as to provide 7 clues to understanding the film in the chapter insert of the dvd. If I remember right one of them is about ‘Silencio’… but I cannot remember what it said now.
Does Lynch do commentaries? It would be awesome if he had a commentary track that for the most part just let the film play and then every so often his voice would pipe up. most commentaries are bloated and could do with long empty spaces and strategic insertions of comments so that you could enjoy the film while getting that little extra.
“combo Blu-Ray/HD DVD drive in his computer” hmmmmm I must do more research. I didn’t know such a thing existed yet. This might be a good fix for me.
As for PC and the HD war – I read something yesterday about Gates talking that the HD war was pointless because we’re going to more right past the digital disk and simply download the digital file. And with recent news coming out of CES (check it out here if you haven’t heard about the 4 minute film download yet) this is now a likely possibility.
I still haven’t upgraded to HD – that’s something which is in the budget for this year. I may wait on the component for a little longer.
I tried…
I’ll post the link here coming up for the drive that he bought. Just make sure you also have a good computer to go with it. It is pretty computer intensive.
Gates has always stood by the argument that neither format matters since it will all be digital. There were actually people who said he is in part to blame for the two formats. He deliberately went with HD just to split everyone a bit more. I think its silly but who knows with big business.
heheh and hey part of the fun of Row Three is the tangents.
Nice. I’d love to check out that dual player.
rot lol
I saw this flick at a theater that served wine and beer along with women in short skirts and midgets (or “a” midget) as servers. To top it off, the screen is slightly bigger than yours Kurt (or maybe about the same). The room is long and narrow and had thick, heavy, red curtains lining the theater. It has since been torn down and made into a Wendy’s or some shit, but I’ll remember that experience for a long time.
remember…
This is one of the few scenes to have a deep emotional impact with me. This is easily one of the best individual scenes of the 21st century and perhaps one of the best of all time. There is just such raw power and emotion in every single way that yes Kurt you’re right – it DOES make you want to cry. Lynch has such a gift for making you connect with all things visual and audio in most of the scenes in most of his movies and perhaps this scene in my favouritem film of his sits high towards the top (along with some of the closing scenes of Inland Empire and the first encounter with Frank in Blue Velvet).
Man; RowThree, for the most part, seems to treat Lynch very justly as a film god. Me most definitely included:)
Lynch must be bankrolling it
Hey, all Lynch is doing us is sending his signature brand of coffee to keep us buzzing and up late serving our loyal readers with FF entries focusing on the smoking trancendental meditation man!!
(Lost Highway should be up Tomorrow).
Let me guess the scene from Lost Highway, Kurt – “I’m there right now. Call me.” Am I right?
Oh, no, a scene that is much more dearer to my heart (and for that matter, one that folks can really relate to!) You’ll see it tomorrow!
Must be the Patricia Arquette strip tease then, because haven’t we all been there.
a scene I particularly like is in front of the car headlights not least of all because it uses one of my all-time favorite songs (albeit a cover) Tim Buckley’s Song to the Siren.
Nope!
This should be fun, as the scene will be completely unexpected!
hmmm I’m sensing road rage.
@”(and for that matter, one that folks can really relate to!)”
You kind of gave it away there. Walking up in prison only to find you you’re now Bill Pulman.
rot. no comment. heh.
@Rusty, “You kind of gave it away there. Walking up in prison only to find you you’re now Bill Pulman.”
Almost two years after the fact, this comment sends me into a giggle fit.
@ Walking up in prison only to find you you’re now Bill Pulman.
Bill Paxton knows what I’m talkin’ ’bout.