WILD AT HEART (1990)

Director David Lynch described this violent romantic crime film as the story of two iconic characters “finding love in Hell.” Thirty-five years ago, it was met with mixed reviews and poor box office, but over time it has come to be viewed as one of his best dissections of American life. Like his Blue Velvet (1986), it explores the corruption beneath American life. Career criminal “Sailor” Ripley (Nicolas Cage), who models himself on Elvis Presley, runs off with Lula Pace Fortune (Laura Dern), a beautiful blonde in the tradition of Marilyn Monroe. Her mother (Diane Ladd, Dern’s real-life mother) tries to break them up by sending a string of killers after them. Although Lynch viewed the film as a reaction to violence in American life, he balanced that with references to The Wizard of Oz, including an appearance by Twin Peaks’ Sheryl Lee as a representation of Glinda the Good. It’s a strange, sprawling, and captivating image of American dreams.

d. David Lynch, 125m, DCP

Courtesy of Park Circus and Amazon.