Can anyone here explain the appeal of David Lynch's works to me?
I've only seen two so far: Lost Highway and Twin Peaks, but I just can't find any reason to like either (especially the latter) yet there seems to be a fairly rabid cult following of his works.
I'm just curious because I'm a fan of various other cult phenomena such as Monty Pythong and Kevin Smith's works. And while I'm a fan I can also certainly see why many others are not etc... and there are various works that I don't like personally, but can see why others may enjoy them.
however, in my experience with his works I really haven't seen anything redeeming, yet a lot of people seem to view this stuff as manna from heaven or the like.
So, if you are a fan, or can see some of the reasons that people enjoy his works can you fill me in so I can mull over this further?
Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
For me, Lynch fuses great music (that perfectly fits the film), odd visuals, unique characters, and black humor into weird, moody films with a hypnotic style.
Plot is secondary to the above elements in Lynch's films, IMO.
Posted by camus (Member # 8052) on :
Not many movies have the amount of detail found in Lynch films. Each viewing reveals another layer, but there's always more to learn the next time you watch it.
The directing is very unique. It seems very surreal, like wandering through someone else's dream while trying to make sense of everything.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Watch Eraserhead. Talk about crazy.
-Bok
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
Plus, David Lynch has set up a foundation to save the world. Vote David Lynch for Miss America!
Posted by MightyCow (Member # 9253) on :
I've only seen Twin Peaks, Fire Walk With Me, and Dune, but I've really enjoyed all of them. He's quirky, and has a very strange, new way of looking at things. His characters are also so very odd and interesting. I especially love the backwards talking little man in the red room. Freaky-awesome!
Posted by BaoQingTian (Member # 8775) on :
I've watched Lost Highway about 3 times and still don't get it. I must be slow. To be honest, the only reason I watched it was because of the soundtrack. Is that backwards or what.
Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
Grimace, when you say you saw Twin Peaks, do you mean you saw the movie without seeing the TV show?
If so, your not liking it makes perfect sense.
Lynch's best film is probably Mulholland Drive. Lost Highway is in many ways like a much worse version of Mulholland Drive, though there are still some things to like about it.
Posted by Fitz (Member # 4803) on :
This thread reminds me of a short movie which made me laugh. It's definitely funnier if you've seen Mulholland Dr.
Erraserhead is best seen under the influence, btw.
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
I'd recommend "The Straight Story". David Lynch doing a G-rated movie for Disney. Which I do believe is one of the signs of the apocolypse.
And if I've heard correctly, David Lynch has admitted that even he doesn't understand Lost Highway.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
I'm pretty sure he understands it fine. Co-wrote it with Barry Gifford, the novelist. I've read many articles and interviews regarding Lost Highway. What David Lynch has said all along is that, although he has his own interpretation, he won't reveal it, because it's a subjective experience, like a dream -- he means for it to mean different things to different people.
My favorite David Lynch film is 'Blue Velvet.'
Well my favorite *film* is 'Blue Velvet'.
And if you don't like David Lynch, no amount of explaining can make you suddenly like him. The whole thing that makes him different from other filmmakers, is he works in a very surreal realm that sort of defies intellectualizaiton.
Posted by BaoQingTian (Member # 8775) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sterling: I'd recommend "The Straight Story". David Lynch doing a G-rated movie for Disney. Which I do believe is one of the signs of the apocolypse.
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
I had to go searching around online to have Lost Highway explained to me. And it did make sense after doing some reading. But even without the explanation, I still really enjoyed it. Like others have said, it's the style and mood and interesting ways he plays with narrative and such, that draws me to his films.
Mulholland Drive is probably my favorite of his movies though. The "silencio" scene still gets me every time.
Posted by ManWithNoName (Member # 8111) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sterling: And if I've heard correctly, David Lynch has admitted that even he doesn't understand Lost Highway.
Lynch has stated in interviews well after the movie's release that he wrote Lost Highway while watching the OJ Simpson trial.
He was basically trying to understand (and this assumes OJ's guilt) how someone could kill his wife (ex-or-otherwise) in cold blood and show no remorse.
MY THEORY: LH is suggesting he blocked his guilt and re-invented himself to cope with what he had done. After the Bill Pullman character is incarcerated, he fantasizes himself as a completely different person. But the guilt keeps pushing into that fantasy persona, as violence and danger keep intruding.
I read the final scene as Pullman slowly awakening from his fantasy, but still trying to escape his reality, represented by the last-night chase from the cops down the highway.
Posted by ManWithNoName (Member # 8111) on :
quote:Originally posted by TheGrimace: Can anyone here explain the appeal of David Lynch's works to me?
I've only seen two so far: Lost Highway and Twin Peaks, but I just can't find any reason to like either (especially the latter) yet there seems to be a fairly rabid cult following of his works.
You didn't like Twin Peaks?!!!
That is my all-time favorite TV series. It unfortunately aired well before its time. It would have fit perfectly on network TV now, with successful shows like Lost.
Part of the problem with that show is that ABC made then solve the Laura Palmer muder, but Lynch and Frost wanted it unsolved through the series run. Once it was wrapped up, the audience lost interest.
It'd be like Lost explaining why everyone is on the island, who Dharma is and what they do, and then trying to switch gears from that premise.
I'm in the minority of fans who actually liked the second season better. It's a shame it couldn't have continued.
"How's Annie? How's Annie? How's Annie?"
Posted by MightyCow (Member # 9253) on :
I didn't like Mulholland Drive at all. I know, all Lynch fans will want to kick me in the head and tell me how I just didn't get it, but to me, it was just dumb with a couple cute girls.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
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