Everyone should agree: Nobody does film like David Lynch. As the Picasso of the film industry, Lynch has a brilliantly unique (and often dark) outlook on life and enough creative genius to successfully adapt it to film. True to form, his newest warped offering, "Lost Highway," maintains his tradition of artistic excellence.
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Lost Highway At Showcase |
The film stars Bill Pullman as Fred Madison, a jazz musician tortured by the suspicion that his beautiful wife Renee (Patricia Arquette) is unfaithful.
After standing accused of her brutal murder, his life somehow becomes mysteriously intertwined with that of a handsome young mechanic named Pete Dayton (Balthazar Getty). Pete, on the other hand, is drawn into a web of deceit by a beautiful and seductive woman (also played by Arquette) who happens to belong to a gangster boyfriend.
The movie ambitiously delves deep into the shadows of the human soul, exploring the esoteric nature of identity through enigmatic and shocking imagery.
Lynch is by far the mastermind behind this masterpiece, as he creates a gutsy piece of work that is both dynamic and aesthetic. Not only does he do an excellent job as the director, but he also wrote the original screenplay with the help of Barry Gifford, assuring that his extraordinary signature style would be as apparent as possible.
The writing duo describes "Lost Highway" as "a 21st-century noir horror film," drawing its plot from classic film noirs filled with desperate men and faithless women. They should have also described it as a "soon to be legendary cult classic," as that's what this movie is destined to become.
Lynch begins this film with a long and exhilarating shot, having the camera hurtling down a dark, lonely highway. From there, Lynch continues to manipulate strong feelings from the audience throughout the entire film. He uses ingenious camera angles along with expertly placed shadows to create feelings of dread and suspense. It is apparent that a great deal of thought was put into each shot, and the effort definitely pays off. "Lost Highway" is a breathtaking beauty and a perfect example of filmmaking at its greatest.
The ensemble cast, which also features Gary Busey, Richard Pryor and Henry Rollins in bit parts, is excellent and well-cast. The many actors' talents help make this surrealistic tale more acceptable and forceful.
Bill Pullman ("Independence Day") is nothing less than amazing in his role as a man whose life careens out of his control. Some of the film's best scenes come when Pullman's character is having jarring visions of chilling and bizarre images. His anguish is so powerful that the audience is involuntarily captivated.
Balthazar Getty is also excellent in his role. He creates a character who struggles to understand his life, though his whole existence is based on being a pawn in someone's twisted game.
Robert Loggia turns in a strong performance as the slimy mobster Mr. Eddy (also known as Dick Laurent), but Arquette's portrayal of a needy yet seductive sex kitten is a bit two-dimensional.
It can be said that David Lynch movies are an acquired taste, but a taste that is well worth acquiring. The twisted plot, the amazing shots and the overall effect make "Lost Highway" a film that shouldn't be missed.
From the opening scene to the closing scene, Lynch's speed-of-light pace attacks the audience's senses to the point of complete numbness. But by the end of the movie, the audience will be completely invigorated and pumped with adrenaline - feeling as if they have been tearing down an empty highway at breakneck speed.
Bill Pullman and Patricia Arquette star in David Lynch's latest, "Lost Highway."