Comments on: Inland Empire, or, David Lynch Loses His Marbles http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/ culture blogging for the good of the planet Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:09:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dan Leo http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-28612 Dan Leo Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:44:32 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-28612 I'm going to toss out a cockamamie theory here, (and I think I first heard it ages ago, maybe from Borges, or maybe the dancing dwarf whispered it into my ear) and it's that artists more often that not create real art not because of any theories they have going in to create the art, but despite these theories. I’m going to toss out a cockamamie theory here, (and I think I first heard it ages ago, maybe from Borges, or maybe the dancing dwarf whispered it into my ear) and it’s that artists more often that not create real art not because of any theories they have going in to create the art, but despite these theories.

]]> By: OutOfContext http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-28367 OutOfContext Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:17:42 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-28367 Viscount...I don't believe Lynch sabotaged Twin Peaks. I've read that he feels the switch from Thursdays to Saturdays and the fact that they were forced to reveal Laura Palmer's killer by the network killed the show. He says he hated leaving the world of Twin Peaks, hence the feature he made, Fire Walk With Me. Dan, you may be right by too much freedom (just like having too much money to make a picture can ruin it). What's going on here is an unrestrained move to personal vision. Lynch is an absolute believer in the director as auteur. There's no question it's self-indulgent and I don't think he would reject that characterization. He thinks the path to the universal is through the self. He's running with it. You're right about the cinematographic beauty of his previous work, but I like the lo-res, too (of course, I use 110 film for my photography). It's an odd change for him, though, because one of the things he complained about in working with TV was the low and varied quality. The fact that every viewer's tv would have different brightness, tint and contrast really bothered him. Viscount…I don’t believe Lynch sabotaged Twin Peaks. I’ve read that he feels the switch from Thursdays to Saturdays and the fact that they were forced to reveal Laura Palmer’s killer by the network killed the show. He says he hated leaving the world of Twin Peaks, hence the feature he made, Fire Walk With Me.

Dan, you may be right by too much freedom (just like having too much money to make a picture can ruin it). What’s going on here is an unrestrained move to personal vision. Lynch is an absolute believer in the director as auteur. There’s no question it’s self-indulgent and I don’t think he would reject that characterization. He thinks the path to the universal is through the self. He’s running with it.

You’re right about the cinematographic beauty of his previous work, but I like the lo-res, too (of course, I use 110 film for my photography). It’s an odd change for him, though, because one of the things he complained about in working with TV was the low and varied quality. The fact that every viewer’s tv would have different brightness, tint and contrast really bothered him.

]]> By: Dan Leo http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-28359 Dan Leo Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:02:53 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-28359 I really liked Mulholland Drive, too, and I think I'm almost ready to watch it again for the third or fourth time. I'm honestly glad that Sean and Out of Context enjoyed Inland Empire; to me it's really boring and absurd to try to convince someone else either to like or dislike a work of art; it's much more fun just to talk about why you did or didn't like it, or what it was about the work that you did or didn't like (of course not saying anything at all is always good, too). I forgot to mention specifically how good I thought Laura Dern was in the movie. But I didn't get that sense of beauty from Inland Empire, a sense that I got even from a movie filled with seemingly horrific images like Eraserhead, and, I hate to say this, because I wonder if I'm being a total fuddy-duddy, but I wonder if the cheap video quality is a big reason for this. Lynch's work on film always had such a beautiful and rich visual quality, no matter how nightmarish the images were. And it's not just that video looks crappier than film. I know Lynch loved the freedom and speed that shooting on video gave him, but, y'know, freedom is not a always a good thing for an artist. Because, sure, you can set up a shot and shoot it on video in ten minutes, whereas if you're working with film your set-up may take an hour or two or more, and you're paying for every frame of film you expose, and you're paying a cast and crew for every second you're setting up and shooting the shot, but just possibly the greater time and expense and hassle of working with film is going to make you think a little bit more about what you're shooting. Or maybe not. I really liked Mulholland Drive, too, and I think I’m almost ready to watch it again for the third or fourth time. I’m honestly glad that Sean and Out of Context enjoyed Inland Empire; to me it’s really boring and absurd to try to convince someone else either to like or dislike a work of art; it’s much more fun just to talk about why you did or didn’t like it, or what it was about the work that you did or didn’t like (of course not saying anything at all is always good, too).

I forgot to mention specifically how good I thought Laura Dern was in the movie. But I didn’t get that sense of beauty from Inland Empire, a sense that I got even from a movie filled with seemingly horrific images like Eraserhead, and, I hate to say this, because I wonder if I’m being a total fuddy-duddy, but I wonder if the cheap video quality is a big reason for this. Lynch’s work on film always had such a beautiful and rich visual quality, no matter how nightmarish the images were.

And it’s not just that video looks crappier than film. I know Lynch loved the freedom and speed that shooting on video gave him, but, y’know, freedom is not a always a good thing for an artist. Because, sure, you can set up a shot and shoot it on video in ten minutes, whereas if you’re working with film your set-up may take an hour or two or more, and you’re paying for every frame of film you expose, and you’re paying a cast and crew for every second you’re setting up and shooting the shot, but just possibly the greater time and expense and hassle of working with film is going to make you think a little bit more about what you’re shooting. Or maybe not.

]]> By: sean http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-28348 sean Wed, 19 Sep 2007 03:24:39 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-28348 Mulholland Drive is still the best thing I've seen this decade, instinctual, moving, self-referential in the best sense. Inland Empire is, as one critic put it, a You-Tube nightmare, too long, taxing, and as far as I'm concerned, beautiful. But, like OOC i am not out to convert anyone to Lynch's wavelength. IE comes closer to mapping the processes of (distressed)thought (from the inside) better than anything I've seen, and Laura Dern holds all these personae (shards, really) in place expertly, until the rabbits upstage her. Mulholland Drive is still the best thing I’ve seen this decade, instinctual, moving, self-referential in the best sense. Inland Empire is, as one critic put it, a You-Tube nightmare, too long, taxing, and as far as I’m concerned, beautiful. But, like OOC i am not out to convert anyone to Lynch’s wavelength. IE comes closer to mapping the processes of (distressed)thought (from the inside) better than anything I’ve seen, and Laura Dern holds all these personae (shards, really) in place expertly, until the rabbits upstage her.

]]> By: Viscount LaCarte http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-27297 Viscount LaCarte Sun, 16 Sep 2007 20:03:20 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-27297 <em>But did Lynch and Frost deliberately bring down “Twin Peaks”? </em> I had heard / read some allusions to them getting bored with the show and deliberately trying to alienate the audience after the resolution of Laura Palmer's murder - and fed up with the constraints that go along with a network prime-time show. I can't find any references to that on the 'net - so mabye it wasn't true, or maybe the dancing dwarf told me in a dream. But did Lynch and Frost deliberately bring down “Twin Peaks”? I had heard / read some allusions to them getting bored with the show and deliberately trying to alienate the audience after the resolution of Laura Palmer’s murder - and fed up with the constraints that go along with a network prime-time show. I can’t find any references to that on the ‘net - so mabye it wasn’t true, or maybe the dancing dwarf told me in a dream.

]]> By: Dan Leo http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-27124 Dan Leo Sun, 16 Sep 2007 10:46:53 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-27124 Viscount, I remember loving Bob Downey's "Chafed Elbows" back in my own college days. And, yeah, "The Straight Story" was a good movie. But did Lynch and Frost deliberately bring down "Twin Peaks"? Why the hell would they do that? Viscount,
I remember loving Bob Downey’s “Chafed Elbows” back in my own college days.

And, yeah, “The Straight Story” was a good movie.

But did Lynch and Frost deliberately bring down “Twin Peaks”? Why the hell would they do that?

]]> By: Viscount LaCarte http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26914 Viscount LaCarte Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:03:03 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26914 I liked the Robert Downey films in college - they showed <em>Putney Swope</em> and <em>Greaser's Palace</em> as midnight shows. We used to get very stoned before the midnight show. I've often wondered what I'd think of <em>Swope</em> today - older and not stoned. I already know what I think of <em>Greaser's Palace</em> - UNWATCHABLE. As far as Lynch is concerned, like you, I thought season 1 of <em>Twin Peaks</em> was as brilliant. I've heard he and Mark Frost deliberately brought the show downhill after the first 7 episodes - but I didn't get the joke. Funny that you mentioned <em>Star Trek</em> and <em>Kung Fu</em> as I count them just as you do. Did you catch <em>The Straight Story?</em> Not exactly avant garde - but a good flick. I liked the Robert Downey films in college - they showed Putney Swope and Greaser’s Palace as midnight shows. We used to get very stoned before the midnight show. I’ve often wondered what I’d think of Swope today - older and not stoned. I already know what I think of Greaser’s Palace - UNWATCHABLE.

As far as Lynch is concerned, like you, I thought season 1 of Twin Peaks was as brilliant. I’ve heard he and Mark Frost deliberately brought the show downhill after the first 7 episodes - but I didn’t get the joke.

Funny that you mentioned Star Trek and Kung Fu as I count them just as you do.

Did you catch The Straight Story? Not exactly avant garde - but a good flick.

]]> By: Kathleen Maher http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26769 Kathleen Maher Sat, 15 Sep 2007 18:38:47 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26769 Great review, Dan--presented in a way that makes me trust your judgment absolutely, almost like tapping into that "unified field theory." For me, this review's a huge help, because I admire artists who aren't afraid to fail all out of proportion. So if I can fast-forward through those--<i>I'm going to scream if this subway car doesn't start moving, really scream, so that some authorities will at least cart me off to a different scene, a different prison</i>, I'll gladly zip through a Lynch movie for one or two brilliant flashes among the murky nonsense. And while I claim no avant-garde cred, some nonsense, you know, good nonsense, amuses me more than perfect sense. For example, I loved Muholland Drive. Thanks for the extra info, OutofContext, especially because it makes good sense. Still, it seems harsh to equate a weird, erratic, film maker with George Bush. So Lynch doesn't care enough about his audience: who dies? Maybe no one, except that Lynch must use cheap video and can't quite get together the lighting and angles that make women beautiful. Great review, Dan–presented in a way that makes me trust your judgment absolutely, almost like tapping into that “unified field theory.” For me, this review’s a huge help, because I admire artists who aren’t afraid to fail all out of proportion. So if I can fast-forward through those–I’m going to scream if this subway car doesn’t start moving, really scream, so that some authorities will at least cart me off to a different scene, a different prison, I’ll gladly zip through a Lynch movie for one or two brilliant flashes among the murky nonsense. And while I claim no avant-garde cred, some nonsense, you know, good nonsense, amuses me more than perfect sense. For example, I loved Muholland Drive. Thanks for the extra info, OutofContext, especially because it makes good sense. Still, it seems harsh to equate a weird, erratic, film maker with George Bush.
So Lynch doesn’t care enough about his audience: who dies? Maybe no one, except that Lynch must use cheap video and can’t quite get together the lighting and angles that make women beautiful.

]]> By: OutOfContext http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26754 OutOfContext Sat, 15 Sep 2007 17:23:22 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26754 I've been doing a lot of reading about Lynch, a couple of interview books and his slim little volume, "Catching the Big Fish" and I bought the DVD as soon it came out. Lynch is guided by the belief in a 'unified field' where all things are connected--it's part of the TM philosophy to which he is fully committed. Bunnies and street people, gypsies and actors, it's all a manifestation of the unified field. That's what leads to something like Inland Empire. He's satisfied with the connections he makes between the elements of the picture and believes that the thing works because it has an internal structure in which he is confident. Exasperatingly formless, certainly, and I would never try to win anyone over to this movie. Having said that, I enjoyed Inland Empire. I watched it without struggling to interpret, just as I would listen to music. There's a do-it yourself-kit aspect to his work that Lynch acknowledges unapologetically. It's kind of what he's shooting at. estiv: "he’s one of those artists who never seems to step back, look at what he’s created..." He just is not interested in pleasing the audience when he's making something. He's pretty self absorbed and goes with his gut. Sounds like the President...maybe George Bush would have been my favorite director--Ed Wood, John Ford and David Lynch rolled up in one...or maybe I've just lost my marbles, too... I’ve been doing a lot of reading about Lynch, a couple of interview books and his slim little volume, “Catching the Big Fish” and I bought the DVD as soon it came out. Lynch is guided by the belief in a ‘unified field’ where all things are connected–it’s part of the TM philosophy to which he is fully committed. Bunnies and street people, gypsies and actors, it’s all a manifestation of the unified field. That’s what leads to something like Inland Empire. He’s satisfied with the connections he makes between the elements of the picture and believes that the thing works because it has an internal structure in which he is confident. Exasperatingly formless, certainly, and I would never try to win anyone over to this movie. Having said that, I enjoyed Inland Empire. I watched it without struggling to interpret, just as I would listen to music. There’s a do-it yourself-kit aspect to his work that Lynch acknowledges unapologetically. It’s kind of what he’s shooting at.
estiv: “he’s one of those artists who never seems to step back, look at what he’s created…” He just is not interested in pleasing the audience when he’s making something. He’s pretty self absorbed and goes with his gut. Sounds like the President…maybe George Bush would have been my favorite director–Ed Wood, John Ford and David Lynch rolled up in one…or maybe I’ve just lost my marbles, too…

]]> By: Dan Leo http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26369 Dan Leo Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:42:40 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26369 Now, Meeg, don't rush to judgment; after all, you only saw the hoppy-people scene. (Or one of them.) I love Kevin's idea of releasing the special features first and then putting the feature film in as the DVD bonus disc. I'm tempted to go out and go into debt on a cheap video camera myself. Now, Meeg, don’t rush to judgment; after all, you only saw the hoppy-people scene. (Or one of them.)

I love Kevin’s idea of releasing the special features first and then putting the feature film in as the DVD bonus disc. I’m tempted to go out and go into debt on a cheap video camera myself.

]]> By: The Meeg http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26335 The Meeg Fri, 14 Sep 2007 19:46:56 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26335 Oh, no, Jason, it's much worse than Devil Wears Prada. Oh, no, Jason, it’s much worse than Devil Wears Prada.

]]> By: Jason Chervokas http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26329 Jason Chervokas Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:32:22 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26329 I've blown hot and cold on David Lynch over the years, myself. And largely stopped seeing his movies. But I recently caught Mulholland Drive and liked it very much so I'll check it out. It can't be worse than The Devil Wears Prada. I’ve blown hot and cold on David Lynch over the years, myself. And largely stopped seeing his movies. But I recently caught Mulholland Drive and liked it very much so I’ll check it out. It can’t be worse than The Devil Wears Prada.

]]> By: estiv http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26281 estiv Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:37:37 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26281 When Isabella Rossellini in <i>Wild at Heart</i> posed in front of a dark background with out-of-focus flames in the corner of the frame, wagging her tongue while looking directly into, and walking straight towards, the camera, and instead of looking shocking, creepy, or cool, it just looked dumb, then I understood that David Lynch was only human. I've seen and enjoyed a lot of his work since, and imagine I will again, but he's one of those artists who never seems to step back, look at what he's created, and say to himself, "This was an interesting idea, but does it actually <i>work?</i>" When Isabella Rossellini in Wild at Heart posed in front of a dark background with out-of-focus flames in the corner of the frame, wagging her tongue while looking directly into, and walking straight towards, the camera, and instead of looking shocking, creepy, or cool, it just looked dumb, then I understood that David Lynch was only human. I’ve seen and enjoyed a lot of his work since, and imagine I will again, but he’s one of those artists who never seems to step back, look at what he’s created, and say to himself, “This was an interesting idea, but does it actually work?“

]]> By: Jennifer http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26247 Jennifer Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:53:25 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26247 Your avant-gardacity is ovahwhelming! Your avant-gardacity is ovahwhelming!

]]> By: blue girl http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26190 blue girl Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:36:08 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26190 I'm with Kevin. Errrrrrrrrr-zzzzzzzz bwooaw! (Rocket crashing sound) I used to love David Lynch movies. But, I'm over "getting weird" for weird sake. There are just too many good movies I've missed to even think about renting this now. <i>I’m old-school in some forgotten gentlemanly ways, despite my hardened avant-gardism</i> Why doesn't that surprise me, hater? I’m with Kevin. Errrrrrrrrr-zzzzzzzz bwooaw! (Rocket crashing sound)

I used to love David Lynch movies. But, I’m over “getting weird” for weird sake.

There are just too many good movies I’ve missed to even think about renting this now.

I’m old-school in some forgotten gentlemanly ways, despite my hardened avant-gardism

Why doesn’t that surprise me, hater?

]]> By: Kevin Wolf http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26189 Kevin Wolf Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:16:05 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/09/14/inland-empire-or-david-lynch-loses-his-marbles/#comment-26189 Great review! This movie shoots like a rocket to the bottom of my list! No, seriously, I'll probably give it a shot, and see how it goes. BTW, wouldn't it be better if Lynch did as you suggest and released a movie consisting entirely of special features, but on the DVD the extra disc is the actual movie that nobody's even seen yet? That would be pretty Lynchian. Great review! This movie shoots like a rocket to the bottom of my list!

No, seriously, I’ll probably give it a shot, and see how it goes.

BTW, wouldn’t it be better if Lynch did as you suggest and released a movie consisting entirely of special features, but on the DVD the extra disc is the actual movie that nobody’s even seen yet? That would be pretty Lynchian.

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