JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonBlue Velvet (1986) – Trailer Included
April 15th 2008 00:00
Truth or Dare, Come Inside Suburbia
Blue Velvet DVD available in Australia
Starring: Dennis Hopper, Isabella Rossellini, Laura Dern, Kyle MacLachlan, Dean Stockwell, Brad Dourif, Hope Lange, George Dickerson
“See that clock on the wall? In five minutes you are not going to believe what I've told you.” – Jeffrey Beaumont
Bryn over at Horrorphile.net and John Doe have often discussed how they have omitted reviews for many of their favourite films in favour of lesser recognised work. So it is that until now Johnny has not actually done a review for a David Lynch work. A Director of profound importance, whose influence over cinema and this reviewer is monumental.
“I had a dream. In fact, it was on the night I met you. In the dream, there was our world, and the world was dark because there weren't any robins and the robins represented love. And for the longest time, there was this darkness. And all of a sudden, thousands of robins were set free and they flew down and brought this blinding light of love. And it seemed that love would make any difference, and it did. So, I guess it means that there is trouble until the robins come.” – Sandy Williams
Manic energy, suspense, horror and black humour, Blue Velvet was unlike anything to confront audiences at the time of release. Still a staggering work of imaginative power David Lynch’s trademarks are all present to see in this early oeuvre.
“I have a part of you with me. You put your disease in me. It helps me. It makes me strong.” – Dorothy Vallens
“Maaaggggiic moments are made of this” establishing its setting in the opening frames we journey through white picket fences, lemonade stalls and smiling faces. Cutting across the landscape is Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan), a handsome young man who wanders into an empty field and makes a gruesome discovery. A severed human ear sits within the tall blades of glass.
“That's a human ear all right.” – Detective Williams
Curiosity fuels the quest for his own rite of passage, Jeffrey is soon plummeting beyond logic to search for answers to the riddle of the amputated organ. He is Alice going down a rabbit hole into an underworld of diabolical intent.
“I'm seeing something that was always hidden. I'm in the middle of a mystery and it's all secret.” – Jeffrey Beaumont
Deadly, erotic and possibly fatal, as he falls deeper he drags the innocent Sandy Williams (Laura Dern) into his mission. Encountering a sadistic criminal named Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper), the manipulated object of violent lust Dorothy Vallen (Isabella Rossellini) and a cruel universe that we all prey is unreal.
“Baby wants to fuck! Baby wants to fuck Blue Velvet!” – Frank Booth
Warning: Enter at your own risk
John Doe says:
Surreal and mysterious, Blue Velvet is David Lynch’s most coherent dream and like Elephant Man is blessed with a linear plot. Going underground, burrowing beneath an idyllic middle American town to reveal dark secrets that remain behind closed doors.
A warped excursion inside Americana, the haunting imagery is harnessed in the cinematographers lens then elevated through cunning sound design, a vibrant soundtrack and unhinged performances.
The screenplay and visuals are dense in symbolic gestures and riddled with purposeful character moments. Lacing much of its violence with a comedic edge that rather than smooth it out actually cuts like a serial killers cut throat razor, you hate to enjoy its decadent intent that much. But you do.
Blue Velvet exists in an uncomfortable melancholy that refuses to judge its inhabitants, akin to the mind of mad genius, this is high art merged with exploitive noir.
Dennis Hopper at full tilt boogie
Veteran performer Dean Stockwell (Paris Texas, To live and Die in LA, Rapture) blows any fond memories of his part as Al in Quantum Leap from memory. As Ben this one time child actor is gifted with what is arguably the films most memorable scene.
Regular Lynch muse Laura Dern (Wild at Heart, Novocaine) is her usual stiff self, but it works for her part as a naďve lynchpin (you like?) to Kyle MacLachlan’s (Twin Peaks, The Hidden, Dune) hapless and inquisitive Jeffrey.
Isabella Rossellini (Wild at Heart, The Funeral, Roger Dodger) proves why she was such an object of glamorous lust at the time and even as a victim she brings an much needed class to her tortured soul.
John Doe finds it hard to not just go on and on about this film, but luckily for those who haven’t seen it he refuses to analyze its deeper meaning. That's his gift of love to you, leaving it open to personal interpretation. Hopefully JD hasn’t revealed anymore about this masterpiece than is necessary to let you know that everybody must see this film at least once in their life.
Blue Velvet Trailer
Roy Orbison’s “In Dreams”,…”The candy coloured clown they call the sandman”
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Comment by Nathan 1
Film Banana
This film isn't officially linked to Twin Peaks (I don't think it is anyway) but they have so many similarities that it's amost like Lynch wanted to take the story and the characters he had here and explore them even further. Kyle Machlacian is almost playing the same curous guy and you can imagine that Frank Booth and a certain 'father Bob' would be in cahoots in some point along the Lynch continuum
I'm not sure whether Lynch was delving into his inner oceans of bliss at the time he made this, but he sure does have a talent for combining the sensual and the perverse, that must have appeared to him in some pretty dark dreams.
Good nutshell review.
Have you seen Inland Empire yet? It was a while before I did, but boy does he take everything he's done to a superior level. It is headfuck all the way to bank.
Comment by Louie
Climate Forum
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
i was very young when i did and I have always wondered if i should revisit it with a few years under my belt as it seems to resonate on people's minds, for it still to be talked about all these years later def ignites my curiosity further.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
Comment by The wonderful Peter Yang
The wonderful Peter Yang's No.1 blog
Cheers
PS: By the way, any chance you can tell me how to load a U Tube video?
Cheers
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Great work JD ... Packed a punch when I first saw it back in 86 or so, and it still has the potency so many filmmakers spend a lifetime trying to capture ...
Wish I could've seen his original 3-hour cut!!! One of the cut scenes has the image with the mirror with "Look Down" scrawled across it ... it's not in the final cut. A film of such rich and dark beauty ... And arguably Dennis Hopper's finest - and darkest - moments in cinema.
Comment by Nomad
Awesome Food
Nomad
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
My favourite Lynch story is when the meat council asked him to create a float for a parade supporting eating meat. A bunch of directors were asked to do floats and they all turned in predictable, cartoonish floats with happy cow characters.
Lynch turned in a float of a butchered cow.
Is this true, or just an urban legend? I don't know.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
My mum might find out if I went to see it.
Then I would be in real trouble.
Good review JD.
Comment by Irene
Women In Cinema
Grammar Matters
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Totally agree with your assessment of the link between Twin peaks and Blue Velvet.
I loved Inland Empire too...even a bad Lynch film still satisfies on some levels (Eg: Dune)
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
David Lynch is an acquired taste and his work demands some maturity that I'm sure you have in spades now...though I saw it at about 13 and was enamored, it wasn't until later that i truly appreciated its brilliance.
Would love you to give it ago and am very interested in reading your thoughts...please come back and share.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Another fan, nice
Isabella brings grace to even the most obtuse moments in the film...she forces you to sympathize but also be confounded by her actions.
Dennis is just on overload in this one and I love it, but then that is the hallmark of all his great moments, he isn't a subtle player.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I will try and have a look at your site again soon and give some thoughts....really appreciate the kind words, I take my reviews very seriously.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
aahhhhh, the 3 hour cut, truly the dream within the dream...I wish too...thanks for the ego boost.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
It is startling how the humour comes through in even the most vile scenarios in the film...sometimes a nervous giggle, others an outright belly laugh...what a script and you gotta love the Easy Rider
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Considering some of Lynch's flesh based still art works I'm sure he would have confronted the crowd with this type of mischief...I've heard teh story but never bothered to investigate, some things are better left in the poetry of the moment.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Now sneak into your room turn off all the lights and never tell mummy the evil perversity you practice. i wear a mask of human flesh to hide the truth.
Glad you dig the broad strokes...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Time to step back through the looking glass of small town perversion me thinks...no less rewarding than Lynch's finest once you dig under its skin with a scalpel and a pair of pliers....Lost Highway is my other big time fave.
Comment by Johnny Come Lately
Jack's Back
I can't say I'm a big fan of David Lynch though, I hated Eraserhead, it lost me completely.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Eraserhead is certainly Lynch's most obtuse work and that is really saying something, of course I dig it for its uncomfortable power and ambiguity.
Blue Velvet is much more accessible though no less of a challenging.....it seems a lot of people saw it when they were young, including me...now at 30 I find it improves with every viewing..
Dare you to go through the experience one more time, you never know it may stick.
Appreciate your compliment on the writing, I did put my heart into it.
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Mich
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Totally with on teh avoidance of prejudging Kyle Maclachlan's work..he may have a lot of duds but there is also quality to be found.
Hopper has disappointed often since his atrocious effort in Speed, but his work in the 70's is consistently sublime.
Isabella, mmmmm yum yum
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
I didn't see this film until my early 40's and I found it terribly disturbing... if it was meant to make me feel anger towards men, it certainly did that.
Hopper's character made me want to take a knife and plunge it into his black heart, no questions asked... *laughs* but then perhaps that's just me and I couldn't for the life of me work out why Rossellini didn't do, just that?
I think this film plays up to the beast within the man a bit too much and I probably wouldn't watch this one again.
Lilla ...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Love the honesty of your answer and I can certainly appreciate your perspective...I agree with the observation about playing up to the male beast, the film relishes the ugly primal truths.
There would be something wrong if everyone liked thsi film, it is aimed to provoke.
Thanks for all the comments, its great to know your digging my work.