Blue Velvet

Blue Velvet was one of the independent movies released in the 1980's by a very interesting, very deranged director, David Lynch. It is the story of a small town college graduate named Jeffrey Beaumont who, after finding a severed human ear in a field, mixes himself up with a lounge singer who is being victimized by a local thug/drug lord/sex pervert. Most of the movie isn't exactly school appropriate so we aren't sure how to talk about this one.

Kamala: But first, background. David Lynch directed Eraserhead in the late 70's. It caught the attention of Mel Brooks, and he was given money to make The Elephant Man. The film was a critical success, and Lynch was contracted by Dino De Laurentiis to film a version of Frank Herbert's Dune. Lynch agreed to do it on the condition that he would be allowed to film another movie however he wanted to. That movie was Blue Velvet. He has later described it as his most personal movie, dealing with his childhood in the small town of Spokane, Washington. This movie was set in Lumberton, North Carolina which is funny because I've been to Lumberton.

Emily: I like David Lynch movies generally, especially Mulholland Drive. This one was a little slow at first, but much much easier to understand. He did not eschew narrative continuity. Blue Velvet is credited with revitalizing Dennis Hopper's career, and he is rivetingly great as the sociopathic murderer. Also Kyle MacLachlan has a role in Desperate Housewives.

Kamala: That's too bad. From David Lynch movies to Desperate Housewives. Also he looks exactly, EXACTLY like a young Jon Zeljo, which is pretty scary considering like some of the stuff that he does in the film. Yet also strangely fitting....

Emily: Except for not, because Desperate Housewives is awesome....

Kamala: I generally like movies that have a lot of awesome bright colors and light. The opening sequence was a shot of brightly red roses in front of a white picket fence, in front of a strikingly blue sky. It looked like one of those Salvador Dali paintings of roses in the sky, beautiful.

Emily: I liked that shot too. The use of Roy Orbison's song "In Dreams" was great, as well as the titular pop song "Blue Velvet."

Kamala: I have "seen" one other David Lynch movie, his newest called Inland Empire, and let me tell you, Blue Velvet was far more enjoyable. For one, I saw most of the Inland Empire's three hours through my fingers because it was absolutely terrifying. Moreso, it was virtually plotless, centering on Laura Dern, one of Lynch's favorites who plays a teenager smitten with Jeffrey in Blue Velvet, but occasionally drifting in and out of Rabbits, Poland (?), and reality. Blue Velvet on the other hand was intensely watchable. The villain was despicable, disturbed, and well acted, the femme fatale/victim was suitably messed up in the head, and the main character was one of the most morally conflicted I had ever seen. He alternated between sweet, naive, creepy, driven, and pseudo-rapist personalities.

Emily: This movie was amazing and I recommend it highly.