Film Review: Blue Velvet

Director: David Lynch

Unfortunately when it comes to reviewing another of David Lynch's films, I feel it's only fair to admit that I am hugely biased when it comes to his films. He is without doubt my favourite director and will always look at his films expecting something amazing which coincidentally is true about Blue Velvet. A story about the seedy underside of what seemed to be the perfect and idyllic town of Lumberton in America. This film followed on from the commercial flop that was Dune, it lead Lynch to go back to his roots and make a film he was more comfortable so we move back into the slightly more surreal.

Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper) inhaling gas and abusing Dorothy (Isabella Rossellini)

Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) returns to his hometown after his Dad suffers a stroke but on the way home from the hospital finds a severed ear in a field which he reports to the police. Believing that Dorothy (Isabella Rossellini, a surprise choice but is superb) is connected to the case he sneaks into her apartment but is caught hiding in the closet. Before anything else can happen, Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper with one of the great acting performances I've seen) arrives and inflicts his bizarre sexual interests on her which include inhaling gas and sado-masochism. Jeffrey continues to get into more trouble as he tries to uncover the mystery behind the missing ear and the link between Frank and Dorothy.

Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) finds a severed ear in a field

As with all of Lynch's films, Blue Velvet is filled with imagery starting with the deep red tulips show against the white background of the picket fence and a perfect blue sky symoblising that this perfect little town is about to be disrupted. This is also shown when the perfect lawn is shown to be crawling with insects underneath when the camera zooms in showing the dirty underside to the dream town. The camera zooming in and entering the ear is showing the start of the nightmare for Jeffrey and the camera doesn't zoom out again until the mystery is solved.

Dennis Hopper was insistent that he played the character of Frank Booth despite being Lynch's third choice and I think he showed he was the perfect choice. His combination of aggression, sadness and pure intensity is quite simply superb and is one of the best acting performances that I have seen. Hopper's performance is reflective of the film itself in being shocking and unrelenting. The scene where Frank psychologically intimidates Jeffrey to the words to ''In Dreams'' by Roy Orbison is deeply unsettling and one of my favourite cinematic scenes, I will certainly never view that song in the same light ever again.

Ben (Dean Stockwell) lip syncs Roy Orbison's ''In Dreams'' 

Over time the film has increased in appeal and has been viewed more favourably by critics especially when revisited after his later works like Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive. The scenes of sexual violence caused outrage at the time and are still shocking to this day which really speaks volume about the acting and direction. The only criticism is the lack of background surroending Frank Booth, why is he such a psychopath and was sexual violence the only reason for his actions against Dorothy? Seems we will never know.

4/4 superbly dark and unnerving, another Lynch masterpiece.