WILD AT HEART
There's been a lot said about David Lynch over the years, so I think I'll just sum it up with the simplest anecdote. Mel Brooks' film company produced the film THE ELEPHANT MAN, and he hired Lynch, who at the time only had one film under his belt (ERASERHEAD), because "You're a crazy man." Of course, at the time, you would think that was the pot calling the kettle black, but not since. Even Lynch's admirers admit there's something strange about his work, from his films (BLUE VELVET) to his TV show (Twin Peaks). And with the possible exception of THE STRAIGHT STORY, Lynch hasn't made a film that hasn't divided people. Either you respond to his blend of romanticism, weirdness, and shocking imagery, or you don't. I happen to be someone who does respond to this, even to WILD AT HEART.
WILD AT HEART is perhaps the most despised film ever to win the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. When it won that award in 1990, the decision was met with loud booing from a vocal minority (among them critic Roger Ebert). More importantly, while people were divided on the film when it was released, as time has passed, it's one of those films which seems to offend people by its very existence. "Sure," they'll say, "BLUE VELVET is still a masterpiece, but this is a piece of CRAP!"
I will grant you that it doesn't have as strong as story as BLUE VELVET did - though, since I never read the novel by Barry Gifford this film is based on, I can't say whose fault that is - but for me, there's still a lot to like here in this twisted version of THE WIZARD OF OZ. The most basic reason is the lovers in the movie, Sailor (Nicolas Cage) and Lula (Laura Dern).
Early on in the film, Sailor is released from prison, and comes back to happily reunite with Lula, so they can go to California. One not happy with this is Lula's mother Marietta (Diane Ladd, Dern's real-life mother). She's indirectly responsible for Sailor being in prison; she tried to proposition Sailor, he rejected her, she sent someone to kill Sailor in retaliation, but he killed him in a brutal murder. Now, Marietta is hopping mad that her daughter is still in love with Sailor, so she sends a private detective and old boyfriend named Johnny (Harry Dean Stanton) after them. But when Johnny seems to be taking too long, she sends the vicious Santos (J.E. Freeman) after them.
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