David Lynch fans-an entreatment

[chickenscratching]

being only aware of 'mulholland dr' and the 'twin peaks' series where should i go from here?

[leftofthedial]

1. Blue Velvet

[Tweed]

2. He has 'fans'?

That's kind of odd.... Then again, I guess someone is checking his stuff out.

[chickenscratching]

5. what kind of film are you interested in?

[Tweed]

40. Good ones

Like Amelie, Millons, Millon Dollar Baby, Fargo, Hudsucker Proxy, O Brother Where Art Thou, a bunch of Hitchcock classics, Red Violin, like I said, good movies.

[skypilot]

3. ERASERHEAD!!!!

Tell me you've seen Eraserhead.

On edit: Did you see the Twin Peaks movie, "Fire Walk With Me"??

[chickenscratching]

4. i have not!

(seen eraserhead)

but i have (seen fire walk with me) wait, was that the prequel made after the first season?

[skypilot]

8. Fire Walk With Me.

Yes, that was the prequel. I think I'm one of the three people who liked it. I thought it was brilliant and terrifying. I have to watch it at least once a year.

As for Eraserhead, you should have STARTED there. Watch it at night. Preferably at midnight.

[ghostsofgiants]

15. Wow, another Fire Walk With Me fan?!

That makes you, me and George from Alexisonfire.

It's actually one of my favourite Lynch films, and I'm a HUGE Lynch fan.

[skypilot]

16. You, me and George.

Those are the "three" people I was talking about.:) It's a pretty exclusive club.

[ghostsofgiants]

18. Clearly, we rule

Such an underrated film. I think the problem most people have with it is that it isn't as lighthearted as the series was. Keeping in mind that the film is recounting the last days of Laura Palmer, I don't think it SHOULD be lighthearted.

[skypilot]

20. I know people who loved the series but hated the movie.

I never understood that. I think of the movie as a concentrated version of the series. Sure, we didn't get any silent drape runners in the movie but who needs it? And that scene in the Canadian night club was one of the most nightmarish things I've ever seen--or heard.

[progmom]

24. make that four

:hi:

[skypilot]

26. DUDE!!!!

Way cool!!! Welcome to the club, Progmom.

On edit: I'll have to check with the other two but I'm pretty sure we can let a girl into the club.:evilgrin:

[Tyrone Slothrop]

32. I must be the third then

I dug that movie.

On edit: or rather, the fifth!

[mr blur]

41. Make that 6!

[cassandra uprising]

43. count me in for #7 -I think

I haven't seen it in a long time, but I dug it.

[valis]

11. Seen it many times... Awesomely creepy!

[skypilot]

12. It took Lynch five years to make that film...

...yet it looks seamless.

[Magrittes Pipe]

6. AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!

You only know... I mean... YOU, of all people....

Blue Velvet. Watch it. Then watch it again. Have you seen the TP prequel, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me? If not, watch it next, as you are already familiar with the basics.

Then on to Eraserhead. It's a more challenging movie (actually, in my opinion, it's more of an art-school project than an actual film, but seeing it is necessary if one wishes to understand Lynch). Then The Straight Story. Then Wild at Heart and Lost Highway.

The Elephant Man is an exceptional film, but it is FAR from textbook Lynch -- too straightforward. Dune is also atypical. If you wish to understand the man and his work, these should be the last places you look.

[chickenscratching]

14. ME of all people?

[cassandra uprising]

44. perhaps that was what I like to call a

back handed compliment. :)

[chickenscratching]

50. from hedges?

compliment? pshaw!!!! he wouldn't dare whilst he's taken.

[dolo amber]

52. Here's a synopsis of Blue Velvet:

"Kyle McLaughlin finds an ear."

There. I just saved you 2 hours of your life you'd never get back. ;)

[tigereye]

37. but what about On the Air?

That was a truly and wonderfully weird TV series, my husband saved a lot of those on tape. I suspect he was the only one... I rarely have heard any one else talk about it. Linearity meets surreality?

He is a truly strange man, eats the same food every day, leaves Isabella Rossellini!!??? after many years. But I have to say a lot of us stopped everything we were doing at the time to watch Twin Peaks.

[cassandra uprising]

45. you are a real find tigereye

:hi:

[tigereye]

48. hmmm - I just have no desire to be like everyone else!

Thank you cass. ;)

:hi:

[Tyrone Slothrop]

7. Blue Velvet would probably be the next step

In my opinion, that and Twin Peaks and Mulholland are his masterworks.

That being said, I'm kind of partial to Wild At Heart also.

And The Elephant Man is pretty good (albeit not so much "Lynchian").

[cindyw]

9. Wild at Heart!

[lenidog]

10. Where ever you do start make sure it isn't his version of Dune

Every director is allowed his one movie where he goes insane, does a little too much drugs and alcohol or for various reasons creates a disaster. Lynch;s version of "Dune" was his and he made it into a epic disaster which almost killed his career. So don't ever watch the movie. I would recommend "Blue Velvet" and for something different than his usual type of film "The Elephant Man."

[chickenscratching]

13. thank you thank you to your help

a list has been formulated and i am set!

[ghostsofgiants]

17. If you want some really weird shit, track down his online series Rabbits

One of the weirdest, most interesting things I have ever seen. Pure Lynch.

Twin Peaks (both the series and Fire Walk With Me) are high on my list. Lost Highway and Mulholland Dr. are definite must-see films. Blue Velvet ranks really high too. I've only seen Eraserhead once, and I loved it, but it weirded me out to the point that I need to prepare myself before I can watch it again, haha.

[ghostsofgiants]

21. Oh, I also really recommend his short films

There's a "Short Films of David Lynch" dvd available that's really worth checking out. Features all of his short films with introductions by Lynch.

[patcox2]

19. An "entreatment?" from here, its off to anti-pretension camp.

Entreatment? forsooth, methinks assuredly you must be joking?

[chickenscratching]

23. you love it. entreatment is a GREAT word

[patcox2]

51. Oh, I forgot to answer the entreatment: Eraserhead.

A movie so incredibly bizarre and disturbing it will make you ashamed to be a human being simply because as a human, you are a member of the same species that thought it up.

[progmom]

25. this reminds me of the letters to the editor....

...where some maroon busts a reviewer for using "big words".


Never fails to crack me up.

[patcox2]

49. Big difference between "big words" and pretentious anachronysms.

Fowler writes wittily and concisely about the subject in his entry for "polysyllabic humor" in English Usage.

I hope I don't fall into the category of the "morons" who complain about "big words," that would certainly be embarrassing for someone who holds two postgraduate degrees and writes for a living, wouldn't it?

[Zuni]

54. huh?

[Susang]

55. I guess that would depend on what your degrees are in and what you write

I am acquainted with many professional writers whose work I wouldn't paper my cat's litterbox with, so earning money by writing doesn't mean that you actually know any more about the subject than anybody else. Just that you're better at selling yourself than others.

Thought I'd mention that, since we're being so condescending to our fellow DUers and all. Hope you can forgive this plebeian with a mere B.A. in English Lit.

[asthmaticeog]

56. You misspelled anachronism.

[Susang]

57. Oh no!

Is that possible when you have two postgraduate degrees and write for a living? :shrug:

You must be wrong! }(

[swag]

22. I'd say "Blue Velvet" is your next move

and then "Eraserhead" if you can find a copy. Last I knew, the Eraserhead DVD was only available from David Lynch's web site. The package is certainly worth ordering, though.

"Wild at Heart" was pretty good.

"The Straight Story" wasn't a favorite.

Happy viewing.

[progressoid]

30. Wasn't Straight Story was a project his wife (SO?) talked him into?

Weird seeing Lynch direct a Disney movie.

[davsand]

27. Lynch is a LOT of fun--well "fun" as in a real mind f@#k...

I admit to liking Lynch. I also admit to admiring his work--which is a REAL stretch for all but the most devoted.

Lynch is one of those guys that makes films that you are not really SUPPOSED to like. He makes films that are supposed to creep you out, and he does it SO very well!

Blue Velvet left me so creeped out that I felt like I'd been dragged thru the belly of the beast and out the back end--ya know? It is a slice of life that you just don't EVER want to see in RL, but you just know that that there is somebody out there who is really that screwed up. Lynch WANTED you to feel slimed and he did a super job of it. He showed you the nasty underbelly of life.


Eraserhead... I always wondered if Lynch was commenting on his own life there. Do see it if you haven't already.

Wild at Heart. Wow. The ONLY movie that I ever looked at Willem Dafoe and said "EW" about the thought of getting near him. That dental appliance he had on in that flick was one of the GROSSEST things I have ever seen, and I thought the rest of the movie was just about as creepy. Laura Dern is amazing in that film because she looks so "fresh" next to the rest of that cast.

Lost Highway. Simply Amazing and I still don't feel like I "got" it all. DO see it if you can, but I am serious when I say don't expect to get all of it on the first viewing or maybe even the second. That movie is one that I'm not convinced anyone SHOULD ever really "get." The ties to the Wizard of OZ are majorly cool.

The Elephant Man and Dune were probably my least favorite Lynch offerings. Dune just annoyed the crap out of me because that continual "inner voice" thing was used WAYYYY too much. It was like Lynch suddenly felt he had to explain EVERYTHING a character was thinking feeling and doing, and it was just not in character with any of his other movies. I really just wanted to smack them all and yell "SHUT UP, ALREADY!" at times.

Sorry--I got too long winded here, but I really do like Lynch. He's amazing and original.


Laura

[ghostsofgiants]

33. That's exactly what I love about Lynch, his ability to creep me out

And overall just fuck with my head. I absolutely love it.

What were the Wizard of Oz references in Lost Highway? I know there were some in Wild At Heart (Glenda, the good witch and so on) but I remember none from Lost Highway.

[davsand]

38. Ooops! That was supposed to go at the end of the previous paragraph!

Figures that the one time I'm rushing to finish a post I'd add something at the end of the wrong paragraph--and not realize it.

Yes, Wild at Heart was the movie with the Wizard of Oz references...

Sorry!

Laura

[Az]

28. Start from the beginning: Eraserhead (if you can find it)

This will have an impact on you. It will either intrigue you or distance you from Lynch. But you should start here.

[Rabrrrrrr]

29. Straight to Eraserhead!

Or you can stop at Blue Velvet on the way to Eraserhead.

Wait until you've seen everything else before picking up Dune. It's a good film, in it's way...but it's also not a very good film.

[progressoid]

31. I remember my first viewing of Blue Velvet

There were some frat boys behind me all shroomed up and giggling through out the film. Kinda ruined it for me.

[valis]

34. Lost Highway? That is Lynch, right?

[ghostsofgiants]

35. Yep, sure is

Outstanding film.

[valis]

36. Yup, I have the DVD. Blake is awesome in it...

I watched it probably 10 times. Still fascinating...

[ghostsofgiants]

46. I was going to buy the dvd...

Then I found out that the only dvd available in North America is a crappy full screen version. So I decided to take the copy I have on my hard drive and make a custom dvd outof it. Turned out pretty cool.

[Huckebein the Raven]

39. Stay the hell away from his version of Dune

for your own good my dear

:scared:

[ghostsofgiants]

47. Dune was sub-par, but I don't think it was as bad as most people say

It is definitely Lynch's worst, not doubt about that, but I found it pretty entertaining.

[Bridget Burke]

53. His Dune has a few good bits....

And a bunch of nauseating ones.

But--the good ones are really good.

[PittPoliSci]

42. Lost Highway was my favorite...

But I'd recommend that you should watch Blue Velvet or Eraserhead first.