# What's the fuss over Blue Velvet **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 8, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891 "2007-10-08T00:42:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/1 "2007-10-08T00:42:34Z")
I read the old threads on Blue Velvet and I don’t mean to ask what the film is about or the underlying symbolism. My question is why is this considered a good or important film? Isabella Rossellini and Dennis Hopper give convincing performances as total nut jobs. I’m not sure it was great acting, but I’ll admit it wasn’t halfhearted. Other than that the neo-noir story doesn’t do much for me. The plot isn’t terrifically interesting or even eventful. So basically, you’ve got manic actors, a weak plot, and a bunch of drugs, sex and violence and general weirdness. Does that a cult classic make? Apparently, but am I alone in thinking this film isn’t worth the hype? ---
**Author:** ![parthenokinesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cc9497/32.png) [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/2 "2007-10-08T00:50:57Z")
Don’t forget Dean Stockwell’s “Candy-Colored Clown”. Definately worth the price of admission. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/3 "2007-10-08T00:55:49Z")
Nah, I’d say I have a pretty catholic taste in films, and the aggressively violent and pointedly symbolic doesn’t turn me off. (I think _Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia_ was Peckinpah’s best film, I can watch Bergman or Antonioni all day, and I count _Being John Malkovich_ as one of the greatest comedies ever.) But _Blue Velvet_–which is supposed to be some kind of biting, insightful parody of “Suburban America” and its dirty hidden secrets–just really doesn’t do it for me. In general, I think Lynch is just pretty full of himself and how is films are elaborate puzzles; they’re complex, sure, but I don’t ever get the sense that even he really knows what ideas or themes he’s trying to convey, although at least \*_Blue Velvet_ had an actual plot, unlike, say, _Mulholland Dr._ So, I can’t answer your question, but I can join you in offering the film a big “meh.” Then there’s David Cronenberg; somebody get him a Xanax, will you? Stranger ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/4 "2007-10-08T00:56:01Z")
[QUOTE=parthenokinesis] Don’t forget Dean Stockwell’s “Candy-Colored Clown”. Definately worth the price of admission. [/QUOTE] We’ll file that under the general weirdness category. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/5 "2007-10-08T01:46:21Z")
The key points are: 1. The attraction of the young man to evil, even though there’s the obvious and easily gotten good future 2. How him and everyone around him want to pretend that there is no such thing 3. Lynch’s direction, which makes it seem throughout the movie like it will all somehow all turn out as a fantasy at the end, but nope–it was all real, and all that evil is, even boringly, real. The story itself is indeed minimal and certainly not worth mentioning. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/6 "2007-10-08T02:13:14Z")
[QUOTE=parthenokinesis] Don’t forget Dean Stockwell’s “Candy-Colored Clown”. Definately worth the price of admission. [/QUOTE] Eh, it kind of pales in comparison to the “Tall Skinned Deer” in _Industrial Symphony Number 1_. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/7 "2007-10-08T02:57:05Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] . . . But _Blue Velvet_–which is supposed to be some kind of biting, insightful parody of “Suburban America” and its dirty hidden secrets . . . [/QUOTE] I disagree. I don’t think that’s what it’s \*about \*at all; I just think that’s the context in which it takes place. I think it’s \*about \*teenage sexual hysteria. I also think it’s important to keep in mind that none of it really happens: it’s the masturbatory fantasies of a hormonal teenage boy. Rosselini represents the darker, dirtier fantasies, and Laura Dern represents the sunny, supposed-to-get-married kind of fantasy. My “proof” of this theory is that the camera enters the severed ear at the beginning, and comes out of Mclachlan’s ear at the end; everything that happens in between is fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/8 "2007-10-08T02:59:16Z")
Even when the context of a story within a story is fantasy, it’s meant to be read as having the same realistic value as things that are “real”. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/9 "2007-10-08T03:04:07Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] I disagree. I don’t think that’s what it’s \*about \*at all; I just think that’s the context in which it takes place. I think it’s \*about \*teenage sexual hysteria. I also think it’s important to keep in mind that none of it really happens: it’s the masturbatory fantasies of a hormonal teenage boy. Rosselini represents the darker, dirtier fantasies, and Laura Dern represents the sunny, supposed-to-get-married kind of fantasy. My “proof” of this theory is that the camera enters the severed ear at the beginning, and comes out of Mclachlan’s ear at the end; everything that happens in between is fantasy. [/QUOTE] Not sure I completely agree with you, but I will note that a great many settings in the film are certainly _not_ period specific. There are moments in the film where it looks to be a 1950s setting, and then there are other moments where it could be the late 1980s. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/10 "2007-10-08T03:08:59Z")
It’s weird. I started off Lynching with Muholland Drive. It seemed like an overly long wankfest and an excuse for lesbian action. After reading all about him and his movies and how much he sucks ass and is pretentious and how horrible Eraserhead was and whatever whatever whatever, I found it at the library and picked it up. I love it. It’s not my top 20 films or anything, but it is a perfectly watchable film that doesn’t rely on too many classic film conventions. If you go in expecting to be shocked, punished, or annoyed, don’t. Except what it is, on its own terms, and its a great film. Does it really happen? Is it a dream? Who cares. After Eraserhead, I decided I needed to see Blue Velvet. Same thing happened. I didn’t find it overly violent, overly suburban angst, or overly anything. It was an excellent thriller, on it’s own terms. Sure, there was some unexplainable random shit in there, but who cares? Except that it happens and you’ll enjoy the movie a lot more for not taking it too seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/11 "2007-10-08T04:48:47Z")
_Blue Velvet_ is one of the best comedy films ever made. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/12 "2007-10-08T04:54:19Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] _Blue Velvet_ is one of the best comedy films ever made. [/QUOTE] Well, that made me laugh anyway. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/13 "2007-10-08T04:58:22Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] Well, that made me laugh anyway. Stranger [/QUOTE] Well, except, that I agree that it’s intended as a comedy by Lynch. Now, obviously, his sense of humor is hardly . . . what . . . universal. But still, I think BV works best if you keep two things in mind: it’s \*supposed \*to be funny; and none of it really happens. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/14 "2007-10-08T05:14:08Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] Well, except, that I agree that it’s intended as a comedy by Lynch. [/QUOTE] Oh, I don’t necessarily agree that Lynch _intended_ it to be a comedy. Lynch’s sense of humor tends to be much more…hmmm…slapstick isn’t the right word, although he does love a head trauma-related pratfall as anyone lucky enough to catch [On the Air](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Air_%28TV_series%29) can attest. Broad, I guess is as good a word as any. And not terribly funny, unfortunately. Maybe it’s fair to say that Lynch had one great comedy in him in BV and he blew out his comedy wiring while making it. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/15 "2007-10-08T05:39:51Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Oh, I don’t necessarily agree that Lynch _intended_ it to be a comedy. Lynch’s sense of humor tends to be much more…hmmm…slapstick isn’t the right word, although he does love a head trauma-related pratfall as anyone lucky enough to catch [On the Air](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Air_%28TV_series%29) can attest. Broad, I guess is as good a word as any. And not terribly funny, unfortunately. Maybe it’s fair to say that Lynch had one great comedy in him in BV and he blew out his comedy wiring while making it. [/QUOTE] Come on, you can’t watch the scene with the dog, or with Laura Dern in the car, or the Robin, and tell me it wasn’t 100% intentional. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@Mike\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Fun)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/16 "2007-10-08T20:31:37Z")
I’d agree there are humorous elements in Blue Velvet. For a real insight on Lynch’s humor, you have to see “The Cowboy and the Frenchman” off of his short films DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/17 "2007-10-08T20:45:44Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] Come on, you can’t watch the scene with the dog, or with Laura Dern in the car, or the Robin, and tell me it wasn’t 100% intentional. [/QUOTE] Putting aside my feelings for this movie (largely negative), I have a vivid memory of the following scene, which is strangely hilarious. Frank Booth: What kind of beer do you like to drink, neighbor? Jeffrey Beaumont: Heineken. Frank Booth: Heineken? Fuck that shit! Pabst Blue Ribbon! It’s probably all in the delivery, but I smiled just typing it. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/18 "2007-10-08T21:53:07Z")
This movie really got between Siskel and Ebert. Siskel loved it (comparing it to “Psycho”) while Ebert gave it 1 star. A clip from their original show is on the DVD. They even came back to it later and debated it more. Back then, if you wanted to start a fight with them, you just had to mention “Blue Velvet.” [Here’s](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19861002/PEOPLE/41216001) an article by Ebert talking about the different views some critics had about the movie. It links to Ebert’s review. Presumbly, the old S&E show is in the new online archives at the site. I _love_ “Mulholland Drive”, so I’m not a Lynch-hater. But this is a movie where seeing it once is enough. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/19 "2007-10-08T22:52:16Z")
Dennis Hopper has done that high-strung violent weirdo routine to death now, but at the time it was fresh and unexpected. I’m sure there’s all sorts of deeper meaning to it, but most of the people I know who liked it liked it because it was violent and bizarre. I prefer PBR to Heineken myself. They’re both watery pilsners. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2007, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fuss-over-blue-velvet/421891/20 "2007-10-09T00:07:35Z")
FWIW, \*\*Blue Velvet \*\* has got to rank in the top 0.001% of all movies when it comes to garnering attention from academics in film criticism and theory. Somewhere in my [somewhat disorganized] library there’s a film theory book on **Blue Velvet** , and it’s not even one of the books listed [here](http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_nr_n_10/202-8556175-6078266?ie=UTF8&rs=1025612&keywords=Blue%20Velvet&rh=n%3A1025612%2Ck%3ABlue%20Velvet%2Cn%3A73). I can’t recall the title or author or enough about it to comment on it, except that the book left me partly bewildered, as the film had. I will say this, though: that movie has one of the best match cuts _ever_. It occurs when the ear is being examined by a cop/detective/M.E. who says that it appears to have been severed with _scissors_ – [CUT TO:] – a close-up shot of an oversized pair of shears cutting through crime scene yellow tape.