Oh, my...I don't know what to think of this movie. My opinion has flip-flopped over the years. At one time, it was my "Favorite Film"(*) even! Saw it again yrs. on, hated it, couldn't understand why I thought it was so great. What?! Well, let me tellya...
Back THEN (the dark days of the late 80s, a horrible time)...I would tape a movie on late night cable, then watch it the next day. For some reason, the audio was screwy and--barely audible. You'd turn it up louder and get this buzzzz...it was just annoying, and watching it with the sound OFF was preferable. "Blue Velvet" was one of these. Remember, there's alot of whispered dialogue in this flick (aside from Dennis Hopper's outbursts), so that added to it. It wasn't until YEARS later that I picked up on what the hell anyone was saying. But...no matter. I couldn't even describe the plot to you (kidnapping victim's ear found in a field...?) The imagery is what makes this movie. It was something very different, and this was way before you knew what to expect from a David Lynch movie. "Lynchian" is tossed around freely now, y'know. What made this my "Favorite" then? You don't know what the hell YEAR it's supposed to be (before I ever saw it, I thought it was set in the early 60's); Dennis Hopper is the most dangerous F*** of all-time (be careful what you say, as not to set off the F'IN' POWDERKEG); Laura Dern is ice-creamy innocence; it's a small-town with "bizarre sex" behind the scenes!; everything else...What I "hated": Some Things seemed overly freak-conscious on later viewing. Like, that chick dancing on top of the car. And, the sex stuff bothered me (of course.)--but, hey...it's supposed to be "disturbing". It's been a love/hate/love thing with this movie over a dozen years. I bought a copy a couple of years back, then wondered WHY I did, and didn't watch it until a year ago...and actually enjoyed it (the seemy atmosphere, esp. the flirty thing going on between D. Stockwell and D. Hopper.) It's a "classic" of its era (the mid-80's), in its genre (freak-out cult flicks), and has its place in "indie/arthouse" history. [A NOTE on current Lynch happenings: How cool that he's made a G-rated movie ("The Straight Story".)***RECOMMENDED TO THE BRAVE: You must see "Eraserhead" once in your lifetime. Then you can say that you survived the ickiest-feeling movie ever.]
Something new: D. informed me that "BLue VeLVeT" is one of the films in the Alabama Theatre's lineup this spring '00, and I will not be there to experience it on the big screen, BUT...I don't think I'd want to, unless it was just me there in the theatre. Because it is not an audience flick! It would ruin it for me, for smartasses to giggle during the moments that I most love...like, "I love you...LOVE ME!" (Isabella stumbles naked through the yard and into the arms of 'Jeffrey Beaumont'.) No, wait...I'm jealous of the folks getting to see it there in the velvety splendor of the Alabam! I do want to be there!
Also, since I didn't think it would go over last year, maybe this upcoming Halloween I should do the blue plush bathrobe-version of Isabella's get-up...carry one of those plastic knives with me. Oh, and remember to cut out a block of the fabric at the hem...Big black wig. Bad blue eyeshadow. Maybe some freaks here would appreciate it.
© 1999 Mia Fudge.
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