# Confusing films..... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 3, 2002, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088 "2002-11-03T08:38:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/1 "2002-11-03T08:38:39Z")
Today I watched \*\* Mulholland Drive \*\* for the first time and I can see why it would be considered confusing. Even after a 2nd veiwing, including what I felt to be key parts, I am still perhaps only 75% sure what actually happened. It made me remember other confusing movies, but I could only come up with a few off the top of my head. Such as: Donnie Darko The Attic Expeditions Memento Can anyone suggest any others? ---
**Author:** ![Hunsecker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d78d45/32.png) [@Hunsecker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunsecker)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/2 "2002-11-03T09:13:47Z")
Some that were obviously written, directed, and edited under the influence: _The Forbidden Zone_ _Putney Swope_ _Zardoz_ More David Lynch: _Lost Highway_ _Twin Peaks_ Confusing Endings: _Taxi Driver_ _Barton Fink_ _2001 - A Space Oddysey_ Coufusing Noir: _The Big Sleep_ _Chinatown_ ---
**Author:** ![Jabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Jabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabba)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/3 "2002-11-03T11:13:16Z")
The official world’s most confusing film is _Last Year at Marienbad_. Generally, European art-house cinema is more likely to be confusing than American films ( though **Hunsecker** has mentioned some notable exceptions and no doubt **Cervaise** can give us some more): films such as _Day of Wrath_ or _Innocence Unprotected_. The most confusing are probably experimental films, those of Kenneth Anger, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Obvious\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Obvious\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obvious_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/4 "2002-11-03T13:00:45Z")
To most people “The Matrix” was confusing. I guess because some couldnt tell what was supposed to be real, from what was supposed to be virtual. It was one of those flicks where you have to watch a second time and say to yourself “ohhhh I get it now.” I’ve had to explain the plot of that movie several times to those that didn’t get it. Incidentally I think that’s why some people didn’t like the movie. Or maybe they dont want to have to “think”, just be entertained. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/5 "2002-11-03T13:55:42Z")
_Repo Man_ _Open Your Eyes_ (I havent’t seen the remake, _Vanilla Sky._ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/6 "2002-11-03T14:59:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Some that were obviously written, directed, and edited under the influence: > > _ **The Forbidden Zone** _ I didn’t find _The Forbidden Zone_ confusing at all. I thought it was pretty straight-forward. Of course they never explained why everyone walked around in their underwear, but that’s what they do in the other dimension. This is one of my favourite films. I wish they’d release it on DVD. Anyone up for an e-mail campaign? ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/7 "2002-11-03T15:49:38Z")
I agree with the Mulholland Drive comments, although I don’t think there is any real explanation. Sometimes I think David Lynch doesn’t even know where he’s going with something. Regardless of the confusion, Mulholland Drive is an excellent film with some of the most memorable imagery I’ve ever seen. I guess it was supposed to be a television show. Damn that would have been good! As for other votes, I’ll have to go with Eyes Wide Shut : SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS!!! ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/8 "2002-11-03T22:19:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Obvious Guy \* > \*\*To most people “The Matrix” was confusing. I guess because some couldnt tell what was supposed to be real, from what was supposed to be virtual. It was one of those flicks where you have to watch a second time and say to yourself “ohhhh I get it now.” I’ve had to explain the plot of that movie several times to those that didn’t get it. > \*\* Wierd. I didn’t find it confusing at all. I even suspected the main plot twist slightly ahead of time. I never understood why they needed a landline to leave and enter(other then the fact a cellphone makes it too easy), but that’a different. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/9 "2002-11-03T22:21:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by twickster47 \* > > _Open Your Eyes_ (I havent’t seen the remake, _Vanilla Sky._ \*\* Saw Vanilla Sky. I didn’t find it confusing. I guessed the plot twist about 1/2 through the film (I got some of the details wrong, but the main idea was right). Need to see “Open your eyes” someday. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/10 "2002-11-03T22:31:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alias \* > \*\*I agree with the Mulholland Drive comments, although I don’t think there is any real explanation. Sometimes I think David Lynch doesn’t even know where he’s going with something. Regardless of the confusion, Mulholland Drive is an excellent film with some of the most memorable imagery I’ve ever seen. I guess it was supposed to be a television show. Damn that would have been good! > > \*\* It was apparently supposed to be a TV show pilot that never made it, so it was turned into a film (where they added the wierd final half hour). But my opinion of it was: Betty was Diane, and the entire thing was her life flashing before her eyes, up to the moment she kills herself (and after ordering her ex-lover murdered), Albeit with a wierd dreamlike twist. Dreams don’t make sense sometimes, so maybe that is it Still haven’t figured out the deal with the guy behind Winkies yet. But then again, it may not make any sense at all, and all theories are vain(Though I was thinking I need to take a class on symbolism to figure it out). But I like a challenge. ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/11 "2002-11-04T00:07:50Z")
More like “Oh, it all comes clear at the very end” movies, but: Fight Club The Usual Suspects 12 Monkeys ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/12 "2002-11-04T00:55:44Z")
In that vein, “Pulp Fiction” and “Go.” Though “Go” was pretty predictable after awhile. “Memento” was weird, but not all that confusing…IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/13 "2002-11-04T02:17:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hunsecker \* > \*\*Some that were obviously written, directed, and edited under the influence: > > Confusing Endings: > > _2001 - A Space Oddysey_ > > \*\* It makes slightly more sense upon reading the book. The room was a human habitat for him to live in. The mutiple aging images of himself represents either his living the rest of his life in that room, or something being seriously wrong with space-time. The “Star-baby” is him evolving to a higher form of life, sort in keeping with nieztche’s “Beast to Man to Superman”. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hunsecker \* > \*\*Coufusing Noir: > _The Big Sleep_ > \*\* Now I remember that. Even my mother, who loves Noir and has seem that film many more times then I have, doesn’t know exaclty what’s going on. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/14 "2002-11-04T02:27:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoggie \* > \*\* > > “Memento” was weird, but not all that confusing…IMHO. \*\* Well, I’m thinking more in the terms of keeping everything straight, because you have to think at what will happen even though it’s presented as it has happened. Can be hard on the brain to keep up with what is going on and what will happen simultainously. And there are unresolved questions, like: How much of what teddy said was truthful? He’s already so much as admitted that he manipulated lenny, can we be sure he wasn’t still doing so? ---
**Author:** ![Hunsecker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d78d45/32.png) [@Hunsecker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunsecker)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/15 "2002-11-04T02:39:36Z")
Yeah after seeing the film a few times and reading the book I got what 2001 was going for. I think the power of Kubrick is that it was equally good after I knew what it was trying to say. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HPL \* > Now I remember that. Even my mother, who loves Noir and has seem that film many more times then I have, doesn’t know exaclty what’s going on. Well, like 2001 this makes slightly more sense after reading the book. But not a whole lot more. The book still doesn’t explain who killed the driver and why (which seems important, it being the thing that gets the cops watching marlowe and brings the film into act 2) ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/16 "2002-11-04T02:41:53Z")
_Repo Man_ , for sure. And I never got _Sexy Beast_ . ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/17 "2002-11-04T12:13:13Z")
**viavlostwages** , what didn’t you get in _Sexy Beast_? The Russian film _Stalker_ still has me scratching my head about parts of it. _Fraility_ was little confusing but I think it was intentional. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/18 "2002-11-04T15:03:39Z")
David Lynch is always a little vague. Did you see “Eraserhead?” I have no idea what it’s about, and I’ve seen it a couple times. Sheesh! But I still like it! ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/19 "2002-11-04T15:18:49Z")
Eraserhead? Oh Jesus, that movie is f\*cked up! I feel like I have a fever when I watch that movie. I remember reading an analysis of that movie once, and feeling that it _sort of_ made sense, but I’m not sure if it was correct. Like all things David Lynch, analysis becomes pointless after a while. The analysis said that it was a film about someone being thrust into parenthood without a choice, and the anger and confusion this can cause. Remember the dreams with the fetuses? It also said that the only happiness this man has is in a fantasy world with the woman in the radiator. Remember what she was doing while she sang? ---
**Author:** ![Second\_Guest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@Second\_Guest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Second_Guest)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088/20 "2002-11-04T15:40:08Z")
**HPL** –Your summing up of _Mulholland Dr._ sounds right to me. That’s how I interpreted it after the first viewing, and by the time I’d seen it a few times there wasn’t a lot that didn’t make sense. As for the guy behind Winkie’s: I think he was just another version of the dwarf: someone behind the wall who controls everything. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-films/135088.md?page=2)