tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65175732224282718.post8191703773806308547..comments2022-03-27T04:40:18.156-07:00Comments on I Was Just Watching a Movie ...: Double Feature: 2001: A Space Odyssey and Mulholland DriveJulia Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09041411551162128922noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65175732224282718.post-63971471044896437202015-08-28T21:28:33.195-07:002015-08-28T21:28:33.195-07:00Clearly I had not made that connection, but I can ...Clearly I had not made that connection, but I can definitely see it. Thanks for the comment; next time I watch the two films I shall look out for more clues like that. Julia Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09041411551162128922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65175732224282718.post-26461146253463628302015-08-26T05:37:54.261-07:002015-08-26T05:37:54.261-07:00There is a clear visual reference to Kubrick's...There is a clear visual reference to Kubrick's 2001 in Mulholland Drive, a film that is filled with references to classic movies (Gilda, Vertigo, Persona, etc.) Behind the diner the "bum" replaces the ogre or monster-id figure from the first half of the film. The "bum" is shown tinkering with the sleek blue box that Camilla appeared to disappear into in an earlier scene. The image of the matted hair neanderthal-like bum playing with the sleek box visually recalls Kubrick's cavemen from the first part of 2001. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65175732224282718.post-68181453541839651752014-10-19T18:20:26.581-07:002014-10-19T18:20:26.581-07:00Interesting point about '2001' looking in ...Interesting point about '2001' looking in on humanity rather than out from it. 'Genesis', by contrast, feels very human despite the minimal characterisation throughout. It's probably not on a par with Kubrick's and Malick's work, but I like it quite a lot. There's a clip on YouTube (from the original Italian version) which gives a sense of the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCu8HesHsdI.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08491561898086347018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65175732224282718.post-87497503784923276552014-10-17T22:56:22.471-07:002014-10-17T22:56:22.471-07:00'Genesis' sounds intriguing, I shall look ...'Genesis' sounds intriguing, I shall look out for it. <br />I will probably do a '2001' and 'Tree of Life' comparison in the future, though a re-watch of both films will need to happen! <br />Though '2001' is a science fiction film, and I can see its influence in almost all science-fiction films since, I often think of it in relation to non-sci-fi films like 'Mulholland Drive.' Unlike many sci-fi films, where technology and humanity is looked at from within, '2001' feels like it is looking from outside at humanity. Julia Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09041411551162128922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65175732224282718.post-34534771752593318972014-10-17T20:54:31.611-07:002014-10-17T20:54:31.611-07:00A very thought-provoking comparison. It's intr...A very thought-provoking comparison. It's intriguing to compare apparently dissimilar texts and see what each reveals of the other. I haven't seen "Mulholland Dr." so can't really comment on it (but I enjoyed your write-up). The film that strikes me as most reminiscent of "2001" is Malick's "Tree of Life", as we've discussed before. Another, somewhat more obscure, film comes to mind as well: Ermanno Olmi's "Genesis". Like "2001" it begins at the beginning and has very little (if any) dialogue, relying heavily on spectacular visuals. Yet it shows very little that specifically relates to Genesis, lending it a very abstract yet naturalistic quality that resembles "2001". It interweaves the biblical narrative with the daily life of an ancient nomadic tribe, and juxtaposes both with inter-cut scenes of the modern world. In that sense it spans a considerable period of time, but in a much less linear fashion than Kubrick's film. It's held together by narration from the first chapters of Genesis (provided by an elder of the aforementioned nomadic tribe). It's a very haunting film that, while it lacks an express 'twist' in the second act, leaves ample room for interpretation and wonder. You really hit the nail on the head when you say that some “movies...are to be experienced rather than explained”. <br />I look forward to reading more!Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08491561898086347018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65175732224282718.post-56257875903818923622014-10-17T03:40:36.714-07:002014-10-17T03:40:36.714-07:00Thanks for the comment!
Mulholland Drive does seem...Thanks for the comment!<br />Mulholland Drive does seem deliberately frustrating, but I was intrigued enough to not let it bother me (too much). The religious reading of it sounds interesting, though I didn't get any hints of that from the film. In my head it is about the Hollywood dream (though what about it exactly I am not sure). <br />I read an early draft of 2001's script, and have also read the book. They both explain things in clearer terms, and the early draft even had a voiceover for the whole end. Lucky you getting to see the sets, that would have been fabulous.<br />I must confess my knowledge of the French Nouvells Vague is limited to the 400 Blows, though I have read theory (but naturally that is not the same as actually seeing the films). Julia Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09041411551162128922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65175732224282718.post-59391651608789944072014-10-17T02:57:15.757-07:002014-10-17T02:57:15.757-07:00I once read a comment to a post on Mulholland Driv...I once read a comment to a post on Mulholland Drive that explained the plot a critique on religion. It sort of added up, but it just goes to show many interpretations there are to that movie. I liked the movie, but it is also massively frustrating. Almost intentionally opaque to annoy us. <br />2001 is a visual feast and I enjoy it for that reason. As a story it seems to confuse itself so you wonder if Kubrick really knew where he was heading. I saw parts of the set on an exhibition in Berlin some years ago and it was totally awesome to see yourself among the primates in the desert.<br />As for comparisons I think you can pick a random French Nouvelles Vague film from the sixties (like Alphaville). They all contain the same apparently meaningless storyline that is actually a comment on something else entirely. TSorensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12208153011927807857noreply@blogger.com