Mulholland drives attention

A strange love story can be found in David Lynch's newest film Mulholland Drive. The film opens with a car accident that leaves the lone survivor wandering around the streets of Los Angeles with amnesia. The wandering soul eventually finds herself in an out-of-town stranger's apartment, and the resident's niece, Betty Elms (Naomi Watts), comes to stay in the apartment for a short time while she is trying to "break into the industry." Betty soon discovers the unexpected and unknown guest. The audience comes to know the survivor by the name Rita (Laura Harring). Betty decides that she will help Rita find her identity by finding clues and pursuing them to their fullest. For David Lynch fans, Mulholland Drive is an excellent treat. However, for those who don't share Lynch's artistic vision or who are unfamiliar with his work, which includes the theatrical film adaptation of Dune, Blue Velvet and Lost Highway, the film may seem just plain odd. The plot is a love triangle filled with twists and turns that keep the audience thinking and analyzing through most of the film. The only downside is that the numerous twists can be a little overwhelming when one is trying to figure out what is going on in the film. However, the end result leaves the viewer having seen a good film. One surprising aspect of Mulholland Drive is the good performances put on by the relatively unknown players. Watts, Harring and Justin Theroux, who plays a film director, are certainly not new to the film industry, but the audience may not immediately recognize the names. However, after seeing the film one might be more inclined to remember them. Despite a few small detracting factors, such as lack of music during radical plot twists, Mulholland Drive proves to be quite good. Rating: B+