Wild at Heart is a 1990 crime thriller directed by David Lynch and featuring an all-star cast including Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, and Willem Dafoe. The film follows Sailor Ripley (Cage) and Lula Pace Fortune (Dern), two lovers who are on the run from Lula's domineering and abusive mother Marietta (Diane Ladd). Along the way, they encounter an array of eccentric characters, uncover dark secrets, and confront their own past traumas.
The movie begins with Sailor getting released from prison and meeting Lula at a hotel. Lula persuades Sailor to run away with her to California, but they soon discover that Marietta will stop at nothing to keep them apart. Marietta hires a hitman, played by the chilling Willem Dafoe, to kill Sailor, but he and Lula manage to evade him.
As the couple continues their journey, they encounter a host of strange characters, including a woman who gives them a prophetic message, a former flame of Sailor's who is now involved with organized crime, and a sailor who is obsessed with Elvis Presley.
Throughout the film, Lynch uses surrealistic imagery to create an otherworldly atmosphere, including scenes of Sailor and Lula dancing in a dreamlike nightclub, and flashbacks to Sailor's traumatic past. The film's use of music, incorporating everything from rockabilly to heavy metal to classical music, adds to its surrealism.
Ultimately, the film is a meditation on love, freedom, and the power of the human spirit. Despite the odds against them, Sailor and Lula refuse to give up on each other, even when it seems impossible to stay together. Their unrelenting love and determination in the face of extreme adversity is what drives the film forward and keeps the viewer invested in their story.
In addition to Cage, Dern, Dafoe, and Ladd, the film also features appearances from Harry Dean Stanton, Crispin Glover, and Sherilyn Fenn. The strong performances of the cast, coupled with Lynch's signature style and a haunting soundtrack, make Wild at Heart a unique and unforgettable cinematic experience.
Overall, Wild at Heart is a must-watch for fans of Lynch's work, as well as anyone interested in the intersection of crime, romance, and surrealism. It is a film that rewards multiple viewings, as its themes and imagery reveal new layers each time.
Wild at Heart is a 1990 crime movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 4 minutes.
It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 52.
