22/07/2002 - Entry #17
I've just watched Mulholland Drive again, and fuck me really fucking hard up my shitter if it isn't one of the best films ever made. I decided that I was going to make a review of it for the site, since it's up on the Gallery of Essentials and the film section gets about 8 times as many hits as the music section (why? talk about misjudging your audience). So I sat myself down with a notepad and a pen (like a real critic), and every now and then I'd just lightly doodle my thoughts on the pad. It wasn't very coherent, with the average line reading something like "Cowboy 2/3/Good/bad", but that wasn't the point. I wanted to watch it tonight, and review it later, after a whole cocking shitload of thought, and so I needed to jot down little notes, to remind me of the 'important' bits. It was about a quarter of the way through the film that I realised this is easily my favourite David Lynch film, and genuinely vies for the incredibly esteemed accolade of my favourite film. I'm honestly not sure I've ever had a favourite film before. I've always, always been unable to pick one, instead settling for a top 5 (or sometimes 10) of everything. Music, books, films, actors, songs. I hated picking a single favourite, because it felt so limiting. Like when, after using a language for 20 or so years, someone says: "Say something". Suddenly, you're unable to. You have to think about it. I'm not going to waste this golden opportunity to say something profound! Okay, okay, the pressure's mounting now, I have to say something, but they're watching me! It has to be something that isn't stupid! "Like what?" you say. Fuck! Fuckery fuck it! And like that your chance is gone, failing miserably to impress, like the sad loser that you are. We've all been there, and it's that kind of scenario that probably makes me think so carefully whenever I'm asked what my favourite films are. I just want so badly to NOT be the complete cunt who says "Oh, I like all sorts really". Die! Now! Please! Just die! Anyway, so I've always opted instead for a top 5 or thereabouts. That's pretty much the reasoning behind the Gallery of Essentials, in fact. But having watched Mulholland Drive once again, I just can't think of a film that I like more right now. I say right now because I can remember when there wasn't a film I liked more than Star Wars. And it's a recent film, Mulholland Drive. Made last year. So it's a testament that unbelievably good films are still being made, and can come crashing into your top 5 at any time, jostling the others out of position and spitting at their families. But it's a film that's got everything. The more and more I think about it, and certainly the more I watch it, the better it gets and the more I like it. It's an absolute masterpiece, with more thought behind it than the entire past decade of Hollywood productions put together. I've seen it a dozen times and there's still a whole bunch I don't get. Still moments when I realise things, still laugh, still frown, still get shivers down my spine and almost cry. It's a breathtaking film.
I'm going to write the review of it later this week. The deadline I'm aiming for with this Badlands skin is Wednesday, but it could easily run over. If it does, obviously the review'll get pushed back (and updates may be scant(er)). Hopefully it won't though.
Anyone who hasn't seen Mulholland Drive, DO SO before Thursday. You probably do not want to read the review before you've seen the film, cos it'll invariably ruin it for you (it will, trust me). So please, I implore you, watch the film before Thursday. This is an incentive! COME ON!
Meh. Worst, update, ever.
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