The Lost Highway 04.14.06: Wild At Heart
Posted by Mary Markham on 04.14.2006
This whole world's wild at heart and weird on top.
When I try to choose my favorite Lynch film it is impossible. Each one of them represents something unique and exquisite about David Lynch's vision and his innate ability to dissect the human condition in a way no other director can. I can honestly say that "Wild at Heart" may be my favorite of Lynch's and is quite possibly his most linear and romantic film. It is beautiful heartbreak on every level possible. Never have two screen characters been as captivating and convincing in their plight of the heart as Lula and Sailor. Lynch's love for them beats strongly throughout the entire film and makes sure you never quite forget their spirit.
It has often been compared to the "Wizard of Oz" and there are many winks and nods to the film. Lula's awful mother Marietta as the wicked witch, the red shoes that Lula wears, tapping them together at one point to send her home and Sheryl Lee as the good witch who speaks to Sailor about his destiny with Lula. These are the obvious similarities. Then there are more subtle ones such as Jack Nance's quirky bit about his dog comparing him to Toto. Or the yellow dividing line that runs down the never ending road that Lula and Sailor are on. Not to mention the crazy characters they encounter along the way. But of course this is no child's play. This is David Lynch. Therefore you can expect a much more twisted and deviant version. Sex, felonies, incest, murder, rape etc. That is what you will find on this yellow brick road.
The premise is simple. Sailor Ripley, accused of murdering a man with his bare hands in self-defense is placed in prison for attempted manslaughter. Meanwhile his girl, Lula waits patiently for her love to be sprung from the big house. Upon his release from prison Lula and Sailor embark on a twisted journey trying to escape the devices of Marietta and ultimately to reach California. Now I could continue on with a play by play plot description but that seems senseless because I can only hope that you have seen this film. Therefore let's talk about some of the shining moments of strangeness in this film.
First of all the cast is remarkable. The major players being Nicolas Cage as the moody Sailor Ripley, Diane Ladd in a horrifying performance as Lula's sinister mother, Marietta Fortune and of course the luminous and brilliant Laura Dern as Lula Fortune. Let me say however that the secondary roles feature only the best. Isabella Rosselini, Crispin Glover (in one of my favorite vignettes), Harry Dean Stanton as Marietta's chump and best on-screen crier, Johnnie Farragut, Jack Nance, John Lurie, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Grace Zabriskie as the disturbing and hypnotic Juana, Sherilyn Fenn and of course Willem Dafoe as the unforgettable Bobby Peru. In every Lynch film there is that over the top, bizarre, horrific character that you never forget (i.e. Dennis Hopper in "Blue Velvet", Robert Blake in "Lost Highway") but Bobby Peru is an entirely different kind of monster in this film.
This movie is sewn together with so many delectable little pieces that every time I watch it I find something new. It's almost epic that way. All of Lynch's films are bent love stories that are never pure and simple but always deep and honest. "Wild at Heart" I believe is his heart. Laura Dern's Lula is a character like none other. She is 100% out there and confident and unique and pure. Under all the lingerie, red lipstick and rebellion is a truly beautiful soul. Her love for Sail (as she calls him affectionately or desperately) is unrivaled. Her life up until him although shiny on the outside was full of truly horrible events yet they never made her dysfunctional or jaded. She had the ability to look them in the eye, confront the demon and put it behind her. Like a stallion she is free to experience life in all her glory. Laura Dern is a special actress and Lynch has a special place for her in his artistic vision. That is rare and he has a knack for sniffing out that kind of talent.
During the roller coaster ride that is this film is a scene that to me is the climax, the defining moment and the definition of the way Lynch holds humanity as almost a sixth sense. It's about halfway through the film. Lula and Sailor are driving at night on some lonely interstate where there is nothing around them and no other cars. To set the tone of the scene Chris Isaac's "Wicked Game" plays softly in the background. Lula comments on the isolation of their surroundings while her blonde hair blows gently around her face. Sailor harboring a deep secret turns to her and tells her the truth. Prior to this moment Lula's love for Sailor is almost childlike and unconditional. But as the truth escapes his lips you can actually see in her face that this has changed her life and her heart forever. "That's some big secret you been keeping, Sail" are the words she utters as tears well up in her eyes. Because no matter what Lula has seen or been through Sailor was always safe to her and at that moment the naïve light in her eyes is snuffed ever so slightly. That scene is devastating to me. I cry every time I see it. Throughout all the madness Lula's belief in Sailor keeps her pure almost untainted and it's painful to watch reality set in. The world is not a good place and now Lula knows.
It is this type of moment that places David Lynch at the top. His soul runs deep and he knows the truth about the world but will always hold on to a little shred of optimism and share it with us reminding us that in the darkest of places there will always be love.
