MULHOLLAND DRIVE (2001)

Directed by: David Lynch
Written by: David Lynch
Studio: Universal Pictures
Starring: Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Ann Miller, Dan Hedaya
Rated: R

About the film:
A naïve young actress arrives in Hollywood and becomes involved with a mystery when she decides to help an attractive woman with amnesia. Not all is as it appears to be and there’s more than one character that has something to hide in this R-rated, sexually charged thriller.

Movie Quote:
“A man’s attitude… a man’s attitude goes some ways toward how a man’s life will be. Is that somethin’ you agree with?”
Cowboy (Lafayette Montgomery) in Mulholland Drive (2001)

Bible Quote:
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he.”
Proverbs 21:7a (KJV)

Commentary:
The “Cowboy,” a mysterious character in his own right, manages to hit upon a statement of profound truth. It is something that God continually repeats to us in His Word and something we would be wise to heed.

Attitude is a mental condition. It is not an inherited trait or predetermined state. We have the ability to choose which attitude to adopt in anything that we do. As we tackle a task or responsibility – as we respond to an inquiry or suggestion – as we interface with anyone in this world… the attitude we adopt while we take the action is a choice that we alone make.

If we have an attitude that a task is hopeless or that it may be impossible to succeed, we’re generally proven right. Not because the task is too great but because our attitude influences or even determines the outcome.

By strengthening our believing, trusting in God’s promises, and adopting an “I can do” attitude (as in “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”) we prepare ourselves for success. Even in the face of opposition or resistance, we can endure and triumph if we but refuse to accept anything less than the success God wants us to have.

Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. Self-deception plays a big part in the story of Mulholland Drive. How can we protect ourselves from falling into this trap?
2. What evidence do you have that a different attitude will change the results of the actions we take? What would be the best motivation for any of our endeavors?

Michael Elliott
http://screensermon.blogspot.com