Mallory and Lula were both abused in the past and it's the love that set them free. Mickey and Sailor are both violent, angry and willing to do anything for the women they love. Both couples are being chased - by Lula's insane mother who doesn't want her daughter to be with sailor and Mickey and Mallory are on the run from the police, especially unhinged detective played by Tom Sizemore. Both films also have elements that are borrowed from road trip movies including cheap motels, driving at night, diners and weird people and incidents that they come across.
During their trips both couples come across various temptations, obstacles and difficulties but in the end it is love that conquers all. Both films end in similar way - where the characters are finally reunited and get their happy ending after all.
Great visual comparison. One could be made the case with True Romance as that and NBK were written by Quentin Tarantino as both films were inspired by Terrence Malick's Badlands.
ReplyDeleteBTW, which version of NBK did you see? I still have my VHS copy of the Director's Cut.
Thanks! I saw Wild at Heart, NBK and True Romance in one day - I know both NBK and TR are written by Tarantino and have influences from Badlands, but I always felt Wild at Heart was a bit more similiar. Funnily enough, TR is my favorite out of three.
DeleteI saw both theatrical and director's cut, I think the screencaps are from theatrical cut, though.
Wonderful comparison, Willem Dafoe was incredibly creepy in that performance!
ReplyDeleteYou know another movie that is comparable to Wild at Heart? The Fugitive Kind (1959) with Marlon Brando(the snakeskin jacket, anyway)
Oh God, he is! His teeth are among the most gross thing I've seen in films.
DeleteI'm gonna have to check this one out, Brando and the snakeskin jacket sounds awesome!
I saw Natural Born Killers ages ago but not Wild At Heart. Seems like they do have a lot in common. I also thought of True Romance as well.
ReplyDeleteWild at Heart is really good - especially at first time viewing. It's Lynchian but it is comprehensible :)
DeleteI'm not really a fan of NBK but this was a cool piece.
ReplyDeleteI never watch both so I really can't compare. But the visuals you put does have similarity. Nice work, Sati!
ReplyDeleteThank you! You should check those two out, really great films especially NBK!
DeleteExcellent stuff. Love Natural Born Killers, but haven't seen Wild at Heart. from the looks of things, I don't need to either!
ReplyDeleteGlad you love NBK, definetly my favorite Oliver Stone movie!
DeleteBrilliant post! NBK is great, and Wild at Heart is going at the top of my watchlist now.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope you'll like it - it's one of the most accesible films by Lynch but it still has his trademark weirdness to it.
DeleteYou do have a brilliant eye matey!! Well done
ReplyDeleteExcellent stuff here Sati. Personally I prefer Lynch's film but I'm very impressed with how you put this together.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I loved Wild at Heart upon first viewing, but with repeated ones I found it a bit too stange for my liking, still like the movie a lot, though!
DeleteYou've done it again. Love love love this!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Next month - Prometheus and Alien :)
Deleteoooooh shit, I can't wait for that.
DeleteWild at Heart is a movie that screams to be on Blue Rayu. Damn I love these posts. You put so much good work into them that I love seeing what new comparisons you will come up with next.
ReplyDeleteOh btw I love love love your Alabama Worley avatar
Oh absolutely, the cinematography is gorgeous in this one and blu ray with the movie would be fantastic.
DeleteThank you! I've recently rewatched the movie and fell in love with her character.
Good eye! I remember when I saw NBK and felt the story arc paralleled that of Wild at Heart very much: An example is the general tone (and moods of the characters) turn similarly at the scenes where Sailor & Lula come upon the car wreck, and Mickey kills the Old Indian.
ReplyDeleteAs far as imagery: I'd swear that the most dramatic similarity is when Sailor/Mickey are taking a leak while Lula/Mallory sit in the car. Like, isn't there a similar image of Sailor to the one during which Mickey says, "The whole world's coming to an end, Mal." or is that my imagination?
Plus: Stone's use of a super-Lynchian close-up of a bug on the road.
Thanks! Yeah I noticed a lot of similarities back when I first saw two movies, the stories are quite alike.
DeleteI remember the scene with the Mickey, but I cannot recall the one with Sailor, but I'm sure it happens somewhere!