The best artistic film ever.

Fugue: Musically a piece that starts in one form, takes up a complettely new one only to return to it's original form at the end. Or Psychologically when a person undergoes great trauma they may retreat into their mind and take on a completely new persona in an effort to erase the traumatic events from their lives.

I think one more line should be added to that defenition. "See Lost Highway" It really helps you understand the film if you are aware of that little condition.

Two men, two lives, two problems all centred around one women. At it's core (or on it's surface!) this is how I would describe David Lynch's masterpiece "Lost Highway". If you don't want to know too much about this film (and that's how I recommend seeing it) here is my opinion: If you are a fan of Mulholland Drive, but want something tougher, a fan of Joyce's "Finnegan’s Wake" or any form of surrealism, see it. This is film as an art form, not just easy to swallow entertainment. A pretentious comment maybe, but that's how I view it. I'm now going to delve into the film, talk about the plot, sound and imagery involved. If you see it and don't understand it, pop back. I might shed some light on the matter!

Spoiler's Baby! The first half involves a saxophonist named Fred Madison, who's wife may or may not be cuckolding him. Either way he receives a series of tapes through the post which depict recordings taken from outside and inside his house. The last one contains a very nasty surprise...

The other involves Pete Dayton, a young, very talented mechanic who has been taken under the wing of gangster "Mr Eddie". Pete falls in love with Mr Eddie's gal and she falls for him. Together they must find a way to break free of Mr. Eddie's hold.

Both Eddie's woman and Fred's wife are played by the scrumptious Patricia Arquette (with her large forehead hidden by a large fringe). There are other possible connections, but if you are truly stuck for any interpretation go here "http://www.jasonsweb.com/LostHighway/lh_index.html" . No spoilers

The Cast:
Fred Madison is played fantastically by Bill Pullman. Never heard of him before this, but he is amazing. At some point he transforms going from a possibly naive, trusting man, into a psychotic killing machine. Damn good performance.

Pete Dayton is played by Balthazar Getty. Although not as memorable as Fred, Pete is portrayed as a young man who is immensely naive (he lives at home and in an idyllic one at that!) but is also revered for his Fonz like cool. In short women want him and men want to be him. More subtle than Bill Pullman's performance, Balthazar's is equally accomplished.

Renee Madison and Alison Wakefield are both portrayed by Patricia Arquette. Wow, blonde bombshell and femme fatale all in one flick. Menacing, manipulative, victim and antagonist she does it all. Another excellent, although at times flat, performance. And she manages to be immensely sensual as well. Spends a lot of time naked!

The scariest man ever (TM) also known as "The Mystery Man" is played by Robert Blake. What can I say? Absolutely terrifying, and although he has little screen time he makes the damn biggest impression out of all the other actors. He also pretty much eclipses Dennis Hopper's "Frank Booth" for most evil and scary screen villain ever. Perfect.

Robert Loggia is Spoiler Mr Eddie and Dick Laurant. Spoiler over Suave, paternal and menacing would be the best way to describe him. Also features in one of the funniest driving lessons ever! I love him.

The rest of the cast are just as good and well placed in their roles.

The film was directed by David Lynch and written by David Lynch and Barry Gifford

Stylistically this film is unmatched. The opening shot of an (unseen) car rushing down a highway at night is equally exhilarating and foreboding, which then fades into a blackened room. We then see Fred's face slowly becoming half lit by the light of a cigarette. This scene, along with most of the film, combines music and pictures perfectly, with David Bowie's haunting "I'm Deranged" playing in the background.

A scene of equal power is definitely the first time Pete meet's Alice. Brightly lit, while "This Magic Moment" plays in the background, the moment is indeed magical. The scene where Spoiler Fred becomes Pete Spoiler Over is suitably disturbing and unnerving with the highway shot repeated and screaming and other strange noises heard in the background. And as for the closing shot, well I'll just say it will leave you breathless, as well as completely bloody scared and confused

Also well used is the lighting which provides one of the many clues to what is going on. Pay attention to the blue and white flashes, as well as the headaches are all you are going to get from me.

As fantastic as the cinematography provided by Mr. Lynch is, as you have probably guessed music is equally as important. The soundscape is created by none other than NIN front man Trent Reznor. Ambient sound, silence and music all meld perfectly to fully compliment the mood of the scene. So fantastic do I feel the soundtrack is, it is one of the few I am considering buying.

One of the films main powers is to truly involve the viewer, more so than any film I have ever seen. We feel completely immersed in Pete and Fred's world. It is testament to the film's sheer ability to make the viewer question their own sanity that this film is the scariest I have ever seen, and it's not even classed as a horror. The tension and atmosphere are indeed second to none, and The Mystery Man's entrance gave me nightmares, but I wouldn't dream of ruining it.

As you can see, I love this film. I'm contemplating not giving it 5 stars though, for two reasons. As my English teacher commented on Finnegan’s Wake "we know it's art because it's Joyce. But if we can't understand it what good is it?" This also applies to Lost Highway. I just about understand it, but it is so open I doubt anyone will completely solve it. Moreover, the DVD sucks big time. One mince trailer, bad sound mix and ok transfer? It deserves more

It is my favourite film of all time though, due to it's atmosphere and ability to completely immerse all who watch it in the riddle presented. But there are those who only live for the gun's and gut's action genre and this is not for them. This is possibly one of the least accessible films ever, as it is confusing (which I think is good, always good to stretch the mind) but also slow moving. If you count yourself as a true film buff see it. If you want to be challenged or scared witless, see it. Or if you are just intrigued by a film that will go down in history as being one that even the Director doesn't completely get, see it. So yeah, 5 stars it is.

Thanks for reading, as always.