tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post8879368733804499509..comments2023-10-05T13:13:52.933-04:00Comments on The Listening Ear: Understanding Inland Empireweepingsamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11885871104310819374noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-57767084476548574222012-06-23T13:06:00.228-04:002012-06-23T13:06:00.228-04:00Can't believe so few analysts say anything abo...Can't believe so few analysts say anything about what to me is the true climax of the film: the scene when Nikki sees the door labeled 47, then confronts the mysterious attacker and kills him. The reason I say this is the climax is because it's the emotional peak: when THAT FACE is seen, I felt more terror than I've ever felt from any other movie...<br /><br />But just seeing the image in its lonesome (say on Google Images) does not inspire terror, somehow Lynch sets it up with all his symbolism and stuff. If the whole film is just 3 hours of hypnosis to make that one scene more terrifying, it's well worth it.Xamuelhttp://www.xamuel.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-22468441369426316292011-06-28T07:02:27.743-04:002011-06-28T07:02:27.743-04:00I think David Lynch is pretty innovative as a dire...I think David Lynch is pretty innovative as a director and a writer because of his ability to make the audience play detective. It's their job to make sense of the images they're seeing, which seems to be one of the bigger issues being discussed here. It seems that certain viewers are trying to figure out how the film should come across to everyone as opposed to holding their own opinion of it, which is what David wants out of his work. That's why he very seldom, if at all, gives any insight into his work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-69070395880903447162011-03-24T16:23:31.426-04:002011-03-24T16:23:31.426-04:00New eBook reveals Lynch's INLAND EMPIRE. Chec...New eBook reveals Lynch's INLAND EMPIRE. Check it out on Amazon.com. Old World Politics, New World Prophecy: Understanding David Lynch's INLAND EMPIRE by Michael Lidstone. Here is the link:<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/World-Politics-Prophecy-Understanding-ebook/dp/B004LGS7I6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC&s=books&qid=1299972782&sr=8-1Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-70567313131556857942010-12-01T02:44:33.305-05:002010-12-01T02:44:33.305-05:00Inland Empire was terrible... just don't waste...Inland Empire was terrible... just don't waste your time with it. I mean literally its a waste of 3 hrs. However, Mulholland Dr. does have a meaning to it you idiots(except CultureSnob). watch it again. Mulholland Dr. is about a girl who fantasizes about, "what could've been".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-49856443942425856952010-11-29T21:04:03.027-05:002010-11-29T21:04:03.027-05:00I am currently watching this movie in the way one ...I am currently watching this movie in the way one might read a book. A section at a time, and sometimes repeating individual scenes for pleasure. I couldn't enjoy it more. Lynch's facility with film-making is incredible as he tells stories within stories, constructs moments that other people could never imagine, and gets unbelievable performances out of the cast. So beyond the plot and prowess I'm interested in seeing what Lynch is saying, and look forward to getting there.<br /><br />I initially found the movie high-pitched and disorienting but enjoyable for its challenges, and then found that (as the reviewer for this site has pointed out) the plot is really very straightforward, and the signposts to see it through foreshadowing of infidelity, jumbled time, unpaid debts, dual identities, and an old, Polish curse - are all provided. So there is a game to see which character an actor is playing at a given scene, and where in their story the scene is placed. The challenge therein is satisfying, but is also true to the experience that would result for the cursed characters having the experience that we witness. <br /><br />I am very excited about this movie, and am a bigger fan of Lynch's than ever having seen it. It's amazing. I'm going to keep watching it to pull more out of the experience.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12255181896333537000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-78506517584930538382010-08-05T21:37:25.795-04:002010-08-05T21:37:25.795-04:00his movies are strange, FACT!
this film is about ...his movies are strange, FACT!<br /><br />this film is about infidelity.<br /><br />if your unfaithful, you suffer!<br /><br />if your faithful you still suffer, thinking what might have been!<br /><br />its just his unique reflexion...<br /><br />ps just loved seeing Lodz on film!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-78197682229759532752010-05-15T17:38:48.562-04:002010-05-15T17:38:48.562-04:00if you though Inland Empire was boring then it jus...if you though Inland Empire was boring then it just went way over your headUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15688917886877258746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-17923975140796517052009-05-26T02:27:14.448-04:002009-05-26T02:27:14.448-04:00Thanks for your keen thoughts on Inland Empire. Wa...Thanks for your keen thoughts on Inland Empire. Watching Lynch and thinking about his movies is akin to having a strange and emotionally charged dream that makes you think throughout the following morning. <br />I agree with everything you say in your blog, except that I don't really mind those who would unravel M. Drive. I agree with another poster that doing this CAN detract from one of Lynch's key strengths---the treating of several realities as equally "real"----but I don't see the exercise of trying to "explain" the movie by subordinating certain portions and making one "dreamer" drive the narrative as a necessarily useless activity. The mistake would be to think you are "done" after doing this. You've merely shown the pliability and possibilities available in the wonderful network that Lynch has created, and you've done it only by subjecting it to certain conventions and preconceptions. But that people can do this at all reminds me of the "network" that Freddy talks about in Inland Empire, which he says is full of infinite possibilities, just before asking for a couple of bucks (I think his name was Freddy). "Enjoyable," he says, is "exactly" the word for all this role playing. And one of the joys that people have is trying to make a narrative out of it---just one of many that the films can be manipulated into sustaining. They are not the "solutions" to his films by any means, but they are still helpful as angles through which the films can be approached for discussion's sake.<br />As for Inland Empire, I really loved it. I just saw it last night, and your comments sound really, really right. I didn't see anyone else mention that the Blue Tomorrows film is explained in the movie as a "remake" for which the original could never reach completion (apologies if someone else commented on this)---in many ways, Inland E. seems like a remake of all of Lynch's previous films (which significantly also resist pat explanations and unifying theories). This, in addition to the "consequences for adultery" conflict, seems to be a hub around which much of the film revolves. Thanks for all of your posts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-14376609999735898382009-04-24T15:37:00.000-04:002009-04-24T15:37:00.000-04:00Thanks for that insight about the film. I've been ...Thanks for that insight about the film. I've been trying to figure it out for ages, and this is really helpful to me. My only qualm about the movie really is the DVD and the use of sound; some things are too loud, some things are too silent. (Note: This is talking about the US DVD of the film)Donaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01836399180267927376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-31014417079388201522009-03-10T08:34:00.000-04:002009-03-10T08:34:00.000-04:00A really interesting review of the movie, I will h...A really interesting review of the movie, I will have to watch it again now that I've read it. Actually I've always understood in his movies that it didn't have to be entirely coherent, but on this one I really had problems understanding the thread of story as I was asking myself too many questions (what's real, etc. ). But I hadn't got it in the surrealism way, that subconscient changes characters and places but keeps developping the same idea (it's a shame that I didn't get this as I'm a big surrealist fan). Thanks a lot for this article. <I>Timorite</I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-43307264843314056242008-12-09T02:53:00.000-05:002008-12-09T02:53:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-28818656334895781832008-03-24T03:56:00.000-04:002008-03-24T03:56:00.000-04:00This film is probably the most self-indulgent of L...This film is probably the most self-indulgent of Lynch's work. At around the two hour mark I got increasingly agitated as another series of seemingly random and unconnected scenes flashed by. The question that comes to my mind is, "why subject the viewing public to this?" if the plot and themes are so subjective, convoluted and abstract that nobody can really get that much out of the film then surely Lynch must come to the realisation that he has truly disappeared up his own a** and is screenwriting for himself and a small cabal of backpatters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-22410947577520320072007-10-20T15:33:00.000-04:002007-10-20T15:33:00.000-04:00Hi thanks for trying to explain this movie. I say ...Hi thanks for trying to explain this movie. I say trying because I think in all honesty, thats all anyone can do. I have never give up on trying to watch a movie entirely but this one was different. I must say i love the parallels, between the two characters Dern and Lynch play each, but I could not stand the rabbit stage puppetry. If anything the movie is brilliant in that it not just keeps us baited for more, but because it gives a confusing storyline, the viewer is made to scratch his or her head to what could be the possible connections between the scene, and more importantly, if there is something that they may have missed out. Beyond that all I can say is that given a choice ANYONE with a camera and a reel can make 'fantasy' a confused state of mind. Credit for that does not needingly go to Lynch for that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-32702867996103401512007-09-15T13:12:00.000-04:002007-09-15T13:12:00.000-04:00I still can't argue with boredom, or the lack of i...I still can't argue with boredom, or the lack of it. Whether Inland Empire makes any sense or not, I found it absolutely mesmerizing from beginning to end - and more enthralling every time I've seen it since. What's on the screen - the pictures, the light, the spaces show, the people, what they say, what they do, everything about it is completely engaging. Making sense of it is secondary. But I don't see much hope of convincing anyone who's bored not to be bored, or of any of you convincing me I should be bored.<BR/><BR/>I should add: lots of films get hyped as being love it or hate it experiences - way too many of them turn out to be bland, take it or leave it affairs - Inland Empire though really does seem to inspire people to extremes. Judging from the posts and comments I keep seeing, it really is as divisive as it's hyped to be. I don't know why - I could watch three hours of Lynch's lamp footage and be happy.weepingsamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11885871104310819374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-33440976703249074002007-09-15T04:03:00.000-04:002007-09-15T04:03:00.000-04:00Sorry for my writing mistakes, but spanish is my f...Sorry for my writing mistakes, but spanish is my first language.<BR/>I have seen Inland Empire today, I´m a HUGE fan of D. Lynch (specially Mulholland Dr).<BR/>I found VERY profound, interesting and creative, this new film, but i really agree that it almost is a "test" to see if you can endure boredom...<BR/>Even I could "understand" the logic of the message... but i get frustrated by the boredom.<BR/>Even with this criticism, I enjoy when movies remarcably distinctive are released... and this one, is brilliant.Mariano Peralta, T-PROD Films.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16866448877631113051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-7830008116494600682007-09-15T00:59:00.000-04:002007-09-15T00:59:00.000-04:00I have just completed watching Inland Empire, I a...I have just completed watching Inland Empire, I as the past poster am a huge Lynch fan. I am an avid watcher of Twin Peaks even as it is off the air and have seen most of his major works. However, this movie as good as it is just is too long and complicated after about an hour and a half. I became lost and as i watched the rest I started to drift off into space. I thought the ideas and concepts used within the scenes were terrific, but I was unable to place it withing the context of the plot and this might just have to do with my loss of interest. <BR/>I am only writing here because I came across this blog, while searching for answers to this movie. Thank you for your explanation as it helps me a bit to understand what is going on within Inland Empire.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-48071420751218257522007-08-29T15:55:00.000-04:002007-08-29T15:55:00.000-04:00As a big Lynch fan i had high expectations of INLA...As a big Lynch fan i had high expectations of INLAND EMPIRE. I wanted it to excite and captivate me as much as his previous work. It is probably very clever but it is also very boring. Whether or not it can be explained is beside the point. I may feel different after 5 viewings but i doubt i will live long enough to accomplish this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-31455267206698418782007-07-15T16:51:00.000-04:002007-07-15T16:51:00.000-04:00i agree with an earlier post, that about 2/3 of th...i agree with an earlier post, that about 2/3 of the way in the film it begins to get boring, and the number of random and seemingly unrelated and pointless scenes continue..by the end i didnt even know what the film was actually about, however your explanation is pretty good at dealing with the basic plot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-48017082640095148862007-05-19T10:17:00.000-04:002007-05-19T10:17:00.000-04:00Edward: I guess there's no answer to boredom. Exce...Edward: I guess there's no answer to boredom. Except, I wasn't bored - it did take a while to get going, it seemed, but by about the hour mark, I was sold, and never looked back.<BR/><BR/>culture snob: that Salon explanation of Mulholland Drive is a prime example of what bugs me about a lot of Lynch commentary. Not because it doesn't make sense, or doesn't work, or doesn't help understand the film, but because it is presented as if it is the explanation of the film. And because it takes away one of Lynch's distinctive devices, the way he flattens out different levels of a story (dreams/hallucinations and reality, stories and stories in stories) into one level - everything is equally "real". And - the way Lynch turns it around, to be about story telling in general: not as obviously as, say, Rivette (I was tempted to offer my misreading of MD as a remake of Celine and Julie go boating for this blogathon as well...), but it's still there - life as a kind of fiction, improvised in real time...weepingsamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11885871104310819374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-49605449774506581722007-05-18T18:25:00.000-04:002007-05-18T18:25:00.000-04:00Thanks for contributing to the blog-a-thon. I thin...Thanks for contributing to the blog-a-thon. I think you've done a better job explaining the recent Lynch style/method than anything I've seen before. (Full disclosure: I haven't seen <I>Inland Empire</I>.)<BR/><BR/>But ... my recollection is that <I>Mulholland Drive</I> can have a clear, stable explanation. The movie eluded me the first time I saw it, but <A HREF="http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/2001/10/23/mulholland_drive_analysis/" REL="nofollow">Salon's explication</A> clarified it immensely.<BR/><BR/>Of course, it's been several years since I watched the movie, and several years since I read the Salon piece. Perhaps my impression — that the frame is solid and prominent, while the details are liquid — is simply a less-elegant (and less-thought-out) re-statement of your premise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349866.post-87642077818829088692007-05-18T12:51:00.000-04:002007-05-18T12:51:00.000-04:00My biggest problem with Inland Empire wasn't wheth...My biggest problem with Inland Empire wasn't whether or not it meant something, it was that it the end didn't justify the means. Mulholland Drive probably doesn't make any more literal sense than Inland Empire does, but it's compelling enough to hold your interest whereas Inland Empire seems designed as dare to see if you can stay interested. If it were a dare, I lost because Inland Empire just bored me.Edward Copelandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12463676135131274426noreply@blogger.com