This thread here is for fans of the great director David Lynch - most famous for his movies [i]Blue Velvet[/i] and the revolutionary television series [i]Twin Peaks[/i]. Many of Lynch's films are open to interpretation, and often provoke discussion as to what they really mean. Let's have a look at his career.
[b]1977: Eraserhead[/b]
[img]http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/HPO/10745~Eraserhead-Posters.jpg[/img]
Eraserhead is David Lynch's first film. He spent five years making this flick, and during the whole time lead actor [b]Jack Nance[/b] wore his hair as above. It is a bizarre, unsettling, surrealist black and white film often regarded as one of the finest horror films of all time, even though it is not strictly a [i]horror[/i] film.
[b]1980: The Elephant Man[/b]
[img]http://ajollyaffair.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/elephant_man.jpg[/img]
Stylistically, David Lynch's first hit [i]The Elephant Man[/i] is identical to [i]Eraserhead[/i]. Grainy, black and white footage with intensely depressing scenarios and settings make the movie a depressing, sad, but ultimately redemptive movie which makes most people cry by the end of it. A departure from his surrealist leanings, it is regarded as one of Lynch's finest nonetheless.
[b]1984: Dune[/b]
[img]https://kaosradioaustin.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2055&g2_serialNumber=1[/img]
[i]Dune[/i] is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Frank Herbert; a six hundred page science fiction epic about a universe in which faster than light travel is possible by means of a spice found on the planet Dune. It is regarded as one of Lynch's failures, being a box office flop and a critical punching bag. Lynch dishones this movie and even walks out of interviews if it is mentioned. This would, however, be the first of his movies to incorporate two of his trademarks: [i]Kyle McLachlan[/i], who takes the lead role, would appear in several more of Lynch's movies; and the cameo appearance of a popular singer, which Lynch would repeat in almost all of his future movies. Overall this movie is not very Lynch-like, but it did teach him what he can and can't do, and what he's good at.
[i]Singer cameo: Sting.[/i]
[b]1986: Blue Velvet[/b]
[img]http://www.geraldpeary.com/reviews/abc/blue-velvet.jpg[/img]
[i]Blue Velvet[/i] sees a return to Lynch's weird ways in the critically acclaimed flick. Famous for bringing us a controversial rape scene and one of screen's most beloved criminals, [i]Frank Booth[/i]
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bkFIPLIOGL8/SLbc0zb6-pI/AAAAAAAART8/KTTFg0bywrs/s320/Frank+Booth.jpg[/img]
The film is presented in a dreamy, slow, Americana style. A peaceful little town with neighbours who talk to each other and everyone knows each other...with a dark secret. This would be a theme which Lynch would explore with more obscure methods later in his career. The movie also sees [i]Eraserhead[/i] actor [i]Jack Nance[/i] in a small role (another recurring Lynch motif).
[b]1990: Wild At Heart[/b]
[img]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00062IVM6.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/img]
Lynch's next movie is the quirky [i]Wild At Heart[/i]. This stars [i]Nicholas Cage[/i] and [i]Laura Dern,[/i] the latter of whom also stars in Blue Velvet. Lynch sure knows who he likes. This is a sort of silly film, bizarre in its hyperbolic characterisation but with a remarkably 'normal' story. Most people say it seems to be more like a [i]Coen Brothers[/i] flick. Most people just find Nicholas Cage annoying. It's an average film, not to be taken too seriously.
[b]1990: Twin Peaks[/b]
[img]http://headbangersblog.mtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/twin-peaks.jpg[/img]
[i]Twin Peaks[/i] was the TV series that made Lynch a household name. [i]Kyle McLachlan[/i] returns as agent Dale Cooper investigating the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer. The first series, of seven episodes, was highly successful. The second series, which was about three times as long, was slated and even withdrawn from broadcasting. If it weren't for this series, there would be no [i]Lost[/i] or [i]Dexter[/i] or any modern TV shows; this one broke the mould. Also stars Lynch regulars [i]Jack Nance[/i] and [i]Grace Zabriskie[/i]. The series is peppered with bizarre, surreal dreamlike sequences set in what is known to fans as [i]The Red Room[/i]
[img]http://www.thebostonbachelor.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/twin-peaks-red-room.jpg[/img]
It's bizarre and I've just started watching it; highly recommended.
[b]1992: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me[/b]
[img]http://natsukashi.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/twin_peaksfirewalk.jpg[/img]
This movie serves as a prequel to the television series, but also gives away the story for the entire series! Don't watch it before you see the series ;)
It is also considered the first genuinely surreal of Lynch's works; a transition many fans found hard to swallow.
[i]Singer cameo: David Bowie[/i]
[b]1997: Lost Highway[/b]
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1a/Lost-Higway-01.jpg[/img]
[i]Lost Highway[/i] is often called 'modern film noir' with surreal overtones. A bizarre story about a jazz saxophonist apparently framed for murdering his wife, as he is sent to death row he inexplicably changes into a young mechanic. A dark, nightmarish tale, this is truly the stuff of dreams. People cease to be where they were, rooms change into different places, and there is a general disregard for time-space, as characters seem to defy these laws, appearing in two places at once and coming back to life...one of the finest of Lynch's films.
[i]Singer cameo: Marilyn Manson, Henry Rollins[/i]
[b]1999: The Straight Story[/b]
[img]http://www.elite-view.com/art/Movie_Poster/Dramas/204922~The-Straight-Story-Posters.jpg[/img]
The title genuinely says it all; for once Lynch makes a 'normal' film about an old man travelling across America to see his brother, who is dying (played by Lynch regular [i]Harry Dean Stanton[/i]). It is of little interest to the fans of Lynch's usual works but is generally considered an excellent film by the mainstream.
[b]2001: Mulholland Drive[/b]
[img]http://a44paco.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/mulhollanddrive.jpg[/img]
Lynch's true masterpiece. His most surreal work thus far, [i]Mulholland Drive[/i] deals with an amnesiac trying to remember who she is, confronting jealousy, mistaken identities and a myriad of nightmarish characters. Dreamy, non-linear and seemingly endless, this is what Lynch does best. People change identities, locations cease to be, and you will laugh, be scared, confounded, fascinated and sucked into the dark side of Hollywood. You will NEVER forget this film.
[i]Singer cameo: Billy Ray Cyrus[/i]
[b]2006: INLAND EMPIRE[/b]
[img]http://subtitlestocinema.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/81.jpg[/img]
Probably the scariest film ever. Essentially a three hour long nightmare, about a woman in trouble. An actress making a movie begins to realise her life is starting to mimic it - people forget who they are, identities crumble away, people disappear...this is the usual Lynch fare, but spread out and expanded to a terrifying level. Shot on DV camera, it feels like a student film with A list actors. Very hard to sit through but fascinating and vast, many view this to be Lynch's magnum opus. What is this movie about? Rabbits trapped in purgatory? A curse over a movie that was never finished due to an unnamed tragedy? Who knows? Watch it and make up your own mind.
[i]David Lynch[/i] is notorious for not revealing the meaning for any of his movies. He likes to hear people's interpretations, but will never tell you if you're right. To this day he says he hasn't met a single person whose interpretation of [i]Eraserhead[/i] matches his own.
If you are looking for something other than the usual anaemic fare of contemporary cinema, watch something by David Lynch. He'll suck you in, and you'll either love him or hate him for it. Nightmarish, allegorical and timeless. One of the finest directors of our day.
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pIz-Xi0Vayo/Si6ZeDs1q_I/AAAAAAAABfo/TUla8bJpZPU/S1600-R/david-lynch01.jpg[/img]
Please feel free to discuss and ask questions, just use appropriate tags for spoilers!
I love Eraserhead.
Lost Highway and Muholland Drive are classics.
Peter Berg is busy remaking Dune, and hopefully won't fuck it up like Lynch did. Lynch's "Dune" was an abomination to what the books originally intended. Dune was brilliant, his film was not
Yeah, Lynch isn't cut out for making that sort of film. George Lucas even asked him to make Return of the Jedi, imagine if he did that!?
Is... Is that a chicken?
Inland Empire cover made me lol.
I've only seen Eraserhead and Mulholland Drive, all the rest (besides the TV show related ones) are on my list of movies to see.
Watch them all! If you love Mulholland drive, you'll love Lost Highway just as much.
I really like all the rich symbolism in Mulholland Drive. It really is a great movie. I wonder, if I saw it high...
It might make more sense, or it might juut be scarier. The winkie's man...
[QUOTE=Publius;16776154]Watch them all! If you love Mulholland drive, you'll love Lost Highway just as much.[/QUOTE]
Agh, but I haven't got the time to get into another TV show! Maybe in the spring time or next summer I'll check it out. With all of the shows I watch returning to the air for the fall I can't be assed to get into another TV show.
It does look good though.
[QUOTE=Publius;16776210]It might make more sense, or it might juut be scarier. The winkie's man...[/QUOTE]
I just call him the shit-covered hobo, because that's what he looks like. A shit-covered hobo.
Eraserhead was sort of like a horrible car wreck. It was terrifying, but I just couldn't peel myself away from it.
Fuck you, David Lynch, for murdering Dune.
[QUOTE=ventilated;16776227]Agh, but I haven't got the time to get into another TV show! Maybe in the spring time or next summer I'll check it out. With all of the shows I watch returning to the air for the fall I can't be assed to get into another TV show.
It does look good though.[/QUOTE]
It's not a show, just a movie! 2 hours of your time ;)
Lynch didn't murder Dune. He just made it his own, and the result is a perfectly fine movie.
Nice thread, if a mod sees this they might make it a megathread. Just a short suggestion, you might wanna add some of his better short films to the list.
[QUOTE=Publius;16776299]It's not a show, just a movie! 2 hours of your time ;)[/QUOTE]
Thought you were talking about Twin Peaks, got the names mixed up!
[QUOTE=DeadMollusk;16777093]Lynch didn't murder Dune. He just made it his own, and the result is a perfectly fine movie.[/QUOTE]
He should not have and no it is not.
Seen Twin peaks, M. Drive, Eraserhead, Lost Highway, Blue Velvet and half of Inland Empire. Seen some of his more early works also. And Idiot land or what it's called.
[QUOTE=DeadMollusk;16777093]Lynch didn't murder Dune. He just made it his own, and the result is a perfectly fine movie.[/QUOTE]
It really isn't. Heck, if you haven't read the novel, most of the film doesn't even make a great deal of sense.
Don't forget the interview project he's doing at the moment.
[url]http://interviewproject.davidlynch.com/[/url]
Blue Velvet was such a great movie. I remember watching it with my dad when I was little, although Dennis Hopper's role was pretty fucked up. But I've seen all of his movies so far, I'm looking forward to any new ones coming out when he releases them.
[editline]11:51AM[/editline]
Oh and Inland Empire was partly taken in my area, which also makes Lynch a cool guy.
Blue Velvet and Mullholland Drive are incredible movies.
He did a cigarette ad
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vor65mNB8Uk[/media]
I've seen a couple of his movies now, and I gotta say, I don't really enjoy him as much as the rest of the internet seems to.
I honestly thought Eraserhead was terrible and quite boring. =/
[QUOTE=Publius;16775825]Yeah, Lynch isn't cut out for making that sort of film. George Lucas even asked him to make Return of the Jedi, imagine if he did that!?[/QUOTE]
If he did Return of the Jedi, I imagine it would be some sort of weird sci-fi flick that has nothing else to do with the rest of the movies. Either that or he would just include some really fucked up characters in it.
This man is brilliant. One of my favorite directors of all time.
David Lynch on product placement:
[Media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4wh_mc8hRE[/Media]
[Media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiP85kdyRLo[/Media]
David Lynch on watching movies on your iPhone:
[Media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKiIroiCvZ0[/Media]
The Elephant Man scared the shit out of me for some reason when I was young.
It also made me sad :'(
[QUOTE=Alex9325;16778258]If he did Return of the Jedi, I imagine it would be some sort of weird sci-fi flick that has nothing else to do with the rest of the movies. Either that or he would just include some really fucked up characters in it.[/QUOTE]
[URL=http://img23.imageshack.us/i/lynch.png/][IMG]http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/601/lynch.png[/IMG][/URL]
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