cv389_9369.txt

when_CS
i_PP
left_VBD
the_DT
theater_NN
after_IN
seeing_VBG
david_NP
lynch_NN
's_POS
"_"
lost_JJ
highway_NN
,_,
"_"
i_PP
remarked_VBD
to_IN
a_DT
fellow_NN
movie-goer_NN
,_,
"_"
i_PP
feel_VB
like_IN
someone_PN
just_RB
sucked_VBN
my_PP$
brains_NNS
out_RP
through_IN
my_PP$
nose_NN
and_CC
put_VB
them_PP
back_RP
in_IN
through_IN
my_PP$
ears_NNS
._.
"_"
in_IN
his_PP$
first_OD
feature_NN
film_NN
in_IN
five_CD
years_NNS
,_,
lynch_JJ
delivers_VBZ
a_DT
film_NN
second_NN
only_RB
to_IN
his_PP$
debut_NN
picture_NN
"_"
eraserhead_NN
"_"
on_IN
the_DT
weirdness_NN
scale_NN
._.
you_PP
won't_MD
"_"
know_VB
"_"
what_WDT
happened_VBD
when_CS
it_PP
's_BEZ
over_IN
,_,
though_CS
there_EX
are_BER
certainly_RB
enough_RB
clues_NNS
with_IN
which_WDT
to_TO
make_VB
some_DT
reasonable_JJ
guesses_NNS
._.
it_PP
is_BEZ
difficult_JJ
to_TO
describe_VB
the_DT
plot_NN
of_IN
this_DT
film_NN
,_,
because_CS
it_PP
depends_VBZ
partly_RB
on_IN
how_WRB
you_PP
interpret_VB
it_PP
._.
i_PP
can_MD
,_,
however_RB
,_,
describe_VB
what_WDT
we_PP
see_VB
on_IN
the_DT
screen_NN
:_:
l_NN
._.
a_DT
._.
jazz_NN
saxophonist_NN
fred_NP
madison_NP
(_(
bill_NN
pullman_NN
)_)
and_CC
his_PP$
wife_NN
renee_NN
(_(
patricia_NP
arquette_NN
)_)
,_,
whom_WP
he_PP
clearly_RB
suspects_VBZ
of_IN
infidelity_NN
,_,
receive_VB
a_DT
series_NN
of_IN
videotapes_NNS
apparently_RB
filmed_VBN
inside_IN
their_PP$
house_NN
while_CS
they_PP
were_BED
asleep_JJ
._.
they_PP
are_BER
,_,
naturally_RB
enough_RB
,_,
more_DT
than_CS
a_DT
little_JJ
frightened_JJ
and_CC
confused_JJ
,_,
and_CC
it_PP
doesn't_DOZ
help_VB
matters_NNS
any_DT
when_CS
"_"
mystery_NN
man_NN
"_"
(_(
robert_NP
blake_NP
)_)
approaches_NNS
fred_NP
at_IN
a_DT
party_NN
and_CC
proceeds_NNS
to_IN
call_NN
himself_PPX
on_IN
the_DT
telephone_NN
at_IN
the_DT
madisons_NNS
'_"
house_NN
in_IN
a_DT
scene_NN
that_CS
is_BEZ
at_IN
once_RB
hilarious_JJ
and_CC
unnerving_VBG
._.
the_DT
next_OD
morning_NN
,_,
fred_NP
finds_VBZ
another_DT
videotape_NN
which_WDT
,_,
to_IN
his_PP$
(_(
and_CC
our_PP$
)_(
surprise_NN
,_,
shows_VBZ
him_PP
brutally_RB
murdering_VBG
renee_NN
in_IN
their_PP$
bedroom_NN
._.
he_PP
is_BEZ
convicted_JJ
of_IN
her_PP$
murder_NN
and_CC
sent_VBD
to_TO
death_NN
row_VB
,_,
where_CS
he_PP
inexplicably_RB
disappears_VBZ
one_CD
night_NN
and_CC
is_BEZ
replaced_VBN
by_IN
a_DT
young_JJ
mechanic_NN
named_VBN
pete_NP
dayton_NP
(_(
balthazar_NP
getty_JJ
)_)
._.
the_DT
perplexed_JJ
prison_NN
officials_NNS
release_NN
dayton_NP
,_,
whose_WP$
life_NN
begins_VBZ
to_IN
intersect_VB
with_IN
fred_NP
in_IN
a_DT
number_NN
of_IN
ways_NNS
-_-
most_DT
notably_RB
his_PP$
affair_NN
with_IN
alice_NP
wakefield_NP
(_(
arquette_NN
again_RB
)_)
,_,
a_DT
blonde_JJ
who_WP
is_BEZ
otherwise_RB
renee_NN
's_POS
spitting_VBG
image_NN
,_,
and_CC
another_DT
encounter_NN
with_IN
the_DT
mystery_NN
man_NN
._.
i_PP
would_MD
be_BE
giving_VBG
away_RB
a_DT
little_JJ
too_RB
much_DT
to_IN
reveal_NN
any_DT
more_DT
,_,
but_CC
suffice_VB
it_PP
to_IN
say_NN
that_CS
lynch_JJ
doesn't_DOZ
offer_VB
any_DT
neat_JJ
wrap_NN
?_?
ups_NNS
,_,
nor_CC
does_DOZ
he_PP
put_VB
a_DT
lid_NN
on_IN
the_DT
metaphysical_JJ
confusion_NN
:_:
the_DT
cinematic_JJ
demons_NNS
of_IN
"_"
lost_JJ
highway_NN
"_"
are_BER
out_RP
in_IN
full_JJ
force_NN
from_IN
beginning_NN
to_IN
end_NN
._.
this_DT
description_NN
might_MD
make_VB
"_"
lost_JJ
highway_NN
"_"
sound_NN
like_IN
a_DT
giddy_JJ
exercise_NN
in_IN
haywire_NN
surrealism_NN
,_,
but_CC
in_IN
fact_NN
,_,
while_CS
there_EX
are_BER
traces_NNS
of_IN
lynch_JJ
's_POS
weird_JJ
sense_NN
of_IN
humor_NN
,_,
this_DT
film_NN
is_BEZ
anything_PN
but_CC
giddy_JJ
most_DT
of_IN
the_DT
time_NN
._.
on_IN
the_DT
contrary_NN
,_,
lost_VBN
highway_NN
is_BEZ
a_DT
dark_JJ
and_CC
perplexing_VBG
mystery_NN
that_CS
takes_VBZ
lynch_JJ
's_NNS
previous_JJ
excursions_NNS
into_IN
murder_NN
and_CC
intrigue_NN
one_CD
step_NN
farther_RBR
._.
the_DT
film_NN
does_DOZ
not_XNOT
revolve_VB
around_IN
a_DT
character_NN
investigating_VBG
a_DT
mystery_NN
;_;
rather_RB
,_,
the_DT
character_NN
*_???
is_BEZ
*_???
the_DT
mystery_NN
._.
there_EX
are_BER
recurring_JJ
and_CC
at_IN
times_NNS
deeply_RB
disturbing_JJ
images_NNS
of_IN
suspicion_NN
,_,
distrust_NN
,_,
and_CC
infidelity_NN
thoughout_IN
the_DT
film_NN
that_CS
seem_VB
to_IN
indicate_VB
a_NP
deluded_VBD
,_,
fractured_VBD
psyche_NN
at_IN
the_DT
root_NN
of_IN
all_PDT
the_DT
bizarre_JJ
goings-on_???
here_RB
._.
we_PP
,_,
the_DT
audience_NN
,_,
are_BER
left_VBN
to_IN
puzzle_NN
out_RP
whose_WP$
psyche_NN
it_PP
is_BEZ
that_DT
is_BEZ
driving_JJ
this_DT
(_(
probably_RB
fred_NP
's_POS
,_,
in_IN
my_PP$
opinion_NN
)_)
and_CC
what_WDT
,_,
in_IN
that_DT
case_NN
,_,
the_DT
other_JJ
characters_NNS
and_CC
events_NNS
are_BER
meant_VBN
to_IN
represent_VB
._.
all_PDT
of_IN
this_DT
proceeds_NNS
,_,
appropriately_RB
,_,
in_IN
lynch_JJ
's_POS
typically_RB
slow-paced_JJ
,_,
idiosyncratic_JJ
style_NN
._.
as_CS
is_BEZ
often_RB
the_DT
case_NN
,_,
lynch_NN
relies_VBZ
on_IN
sound_NN
,_,
imagery_NN
,_,
and_CC
mood_NN
more_DT
than_CS
on_IN
dialogue_NN
and_CC
action_NN
to_IN
tell_VB
his_PP$
story_NN
,_,
and_CC
in_IN
"_"
lost_JJ
highway_NN
"_"
it_PP
works_VBZ
perfectly_RB
._.
there_EX
are_BER
scenes_NNS
when_CS
the_DT
camera_NN
lingers_VBZ
on_IN
fred_NP
's_POS
blank_JJ
expression_NN
as_IN
he_PP
drifts_NNS
uncomfortably_RB
down_RP
a_DT
hallway_NN
,_,
or_CC
on_IN
his_PP$
pained_JJ
face_NN
in_IN
his_PP$
prison_NN
cell_NN
while_CS
the_DT
haunting_NN
strains_NNS
of_IN
this_DT
mortal_JJ
coil_NN
's_POS
"_"
song_NN
to_IN
the_DT
siren_NN
"_"
can_MD
be_BE
heard_VBN
faintly_RB
in_IN
the_DT
background_NN
;_;
nothing_PN
is_BEZ
technically_RB
"_"
happening_VBG
"_"
in_IN
these_DT
scenes_NNS
,_,
yet_RB
they_PP
present_VB
a_DT
vivid_JJ
picture_NN
of_IN
a_DT
man_NN
losing_VBG
his_PP$
grip_NN
just_RB
as_IN
effective_JJ
as_CS
,_,
if_CS
not_XNOT
more_DT
so_RB
than_CS
,_,
the_DT
hysterical_JJ
screaming_NN
found_VBD
in_IN
most_DT
movie_NN
presentations_NNS
of_IN
insanity_NN
._.
lynch_JJ
's_BEZ
direction_NN
and_CC
director_NN
of_IN
photography_NN
pete_NP
deming_NN
's_POS
darkly_RB
lit_NN
cinematography_NN
serve_VB
to_IN
create_VB
a_NP
nearly_RB
suffocating_JJ
atmosphere_NN
of_IN
tension_NN
and_CC
fear_NN
that_CS
are_BER
exactly_RB
what_WDT
is_BEZ
needed_VBN
for_IN
this_DT
story_NN
._.
well_RB
,_,
most_DT
of_IN
the_DT
time_NN
,_,
anyway_RB
-_-
i_PP
have_HV
to_TO
admit_VB
that_DT
i_PP
was_BEDZ
a_DT
bit_NN
bored_JJ
at_IN
times_NNS
during_IN
the_DT
section_NN
of_IN
the_DT
film_NN
with_IN
pete_NP
dayton_NP
as_IN
the_DT
protgaonist_NN
,_,
which_WDT
is_BEZ
less_DT
inherently_RB
interesting_JJ
and_CC
mostly_RB
keeps_VBZ
the_DT
viewer_NN
's_POS
attention_NN
because_CS
of_IN
its_PP$
tie-ins_NNS
to_IN
the_DT
original_JJ
mystery_NN
._.
the_DT
main_JJ
characters_NNS
in_IN
this_DT
"_"
reality_NN
"_"
-_-
dayton_NP
(_(
a_DT
well-meaning_JJ
but_CC
none_PN
too_RB
intelligent_JJ
24-year-old_NN
)_)
,_,
a_DT
sleazy_NP
gangster_NN
(_(
who_NP
for_IN
some_DT
reason_NN
has_HVZ
two_CD
names_NNS
but_CC
otherwise_RB
is_BEZ
pretty_JJ
much_RB
a_DT
stock_NN
character_NN
)_)
,_,
and_CC
his_PP$
porn-star_NN
girlfriend_NN
(_(
the_DT
blond_JJ
arquette_NN
)_)
-_-
are_BER
nothing_PN
you_PP
couldn't_MD
find_VB
in_IN
any_DT
of_IN
the_DT
two_CD
dozen_NN
"_"
pulp_NN
fiction_NN
"_"
wannabes_NNS
;_;
fortunately_RB
,_,
the_DT
reappearance_NN
of_IN
the_DT
mystery_NN
man_NN
as_IN
well_RB
as_CS
some_DT
other_JJ
typically_RB
lynchian_JJ
elements_NNS
,_,
such_DT
as_IN
the_DT
strained_JJ
,_,
awkward_JJ
conversations_NNS
between_IN
pete_NP
and_CC
his_PP$
parents_NNS
,_,
help_VB
to_IN
preserve_NN
the_DT
film_NN
's_POS
spooky_JJ
,_,
unnerving_VBG
tone_NN
during_IN
this_DT
stretch_NN
._.
lynch_JJ
's_BEZ
typically_RB
graphic_JJ
and_CC
disturbing_JJ
portrayals_NNS
of_IN
fringe_NN
sexuality_NN
,_,
while_CS
relevant_JJ
to_IN
the_DT
themes_NNS
of_IN
jealousy_NN
and_CC
adultery_NN
,_,
are_BER
also_RB
somewhat_RB
overdone_NN
here_RB
._.
it_PP
's_BEZ
not_XNOT
exactly_RB
exploitative_JJ
-_-
like_IN
almost_RB
everything_PN
else_RB
in_IN
this_DT
film_NN
,_,
the_DT
sex_NN
is_BEZ
thoroughly_RB
weird_JJ
and_CC
creepy_JJ
and_CC
is_BEZ
unlikely_JJ
to_TO
provide_VB
any_DT
cheap_JJ
lurid_JJ
thrills_NNS
-_-
as_CS
much_DT
as_IN
it_PP
is_BEZ
unnecessary_JJ
and_CC
frankly_RB
kind_NN
of_IN
dumb_JJ
by_IN
the_DT
seventh_OD
or_CC
eighth_OD
time_NN
arquette_NN
takes_VBZ
her_PP$
clothes_NNS
off_IN
._.
that_CS
said_VBN
,_,
these_DT
minor_JJ
flaws_NNS
don't_DO
prevent_VB
"_"
lost_JJ
highway_NN
"_"
from_IN
attaining_VBG
its_PP$
place_NN
as_IN
one_CD
of_IN
the_DT
darkest_JJS
,_,
most_RBS
unsettling_JJ
films_NNS
to_IN
hit_NN
the_DT
screens_NNS
in_IN
recent_JJ
years_NNS
._.
it_PP
is_BEZ
a_DT
one-way_JJ
ride_NN
down_IN
the_DT
lost_JJ
highway_NN
of_IN
a_DT
disturbed_JJ
mind_NN
,_,
and_CC
as_CS
such_DT
it_PP
is_BEZ
gripping_JJ
,_,
intense_JJ
,_,
and_CC
brilliantly_RB
effective_JJ
._.