Blue Velvet

What can you say about David Lynch that hasn't already been said? He's one of the most insane, blazingly original filmmakers in the business and he continues to surprise audiences with every new film. There are mixed opinions on nearly all of his films, but I think people tend to agree that Blue Velvet is his magnum opus. While I haven't seen all of Lynch's films, I can definitely say that Blue Velvet is my personal favorite of his. Let's go for a ride and take a look at Blue Velvet.

The film opens on a picturesque suburb. There's white picket fences, flowers, bright sunshine, and even a candy red firetruck that drives by. Already the film feels like a fantasy picture. We focus on a man watering his lush green grass, and he has some sort of attack. He falls to the ground, spraying water everywhere. We then move past the man laying there and literally go into the the ground. Under the earth, Lynch makes us focus on the cockroaches in the dirt. This is a perfect opening to the film as it shows, first and foremost, nothing is what it seems.

The plot revolves around Jeffery, a normal guy living in this perfect town. One day, while visiting his father at the hospital, Jeffery finds a severed human ear in a field. The cops say that they'll get to the bottom of it, but that's not enough for Jeffery. He wants to solve the case himself. So, with the help of his friend Sandy, he dives deep into this irresistible mystery. What follows is a disturbing spiraling descent into a horrific underground nightmare.

During his investigation of the severed ear, Jeffery comes across Frank, a sadistic man who runs a kidnapping/murder ring in the underbelly of the town.  Frank's latest victim is a woman named Dorothy's husband. Franks holds Dorothy's husband captive, and in return she does certain "favors" for Frank. Once Jeffery finds out about Frank's perversions, his goal is to stop him.

The thing that's most interesting to me about this film is how smooth David Lynch transitions from normal to abnormal. We let these bizarre images and events happen without question. It's that odd quality that makes Blue Velvet such a memorable film experience. For example, in one sequence, Jeffery is forced to go on a ride with Frank and is affiliates. During one tense scene, Frank, and everyone around him, literally disappear off screen into the next scene via jump cut. This happens so fast, you just have to accept it. Because the whole movie is filled with unexpected twists and turns, when the really weird stuff happens, you let it just wash over you, no questions asked. Lynch creates a savage world that you can't help but be entranced by.

The acting is outstanding, and by far my favorite performance is Denis Hopper as Frank. He breaths a certain kind of life into this villain that I don't think any other actor could. Every time he's on screen, you're on edge. He's menacing, horrifically eccentric, and just an all around terrifying person.  His villain, like the film, is unpredictable and out of control.

This is a film you have to see to believe. It's absolutely crazy, yet so perfectly put together. The plot, characters, cinematography, and writing are unlike any film I've experienced. It came out in 1986, but it hasn't aged a day. It's a fantastic film, and it's easy to see why it's a favorite among David Lynch fans.