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Comment by thorin | Hacker News Reader

I love 2001, but Inland Empire was almost too much for me, I'm pleased I went to see it though. From Lynch watching Eraserhead or Mulholland Drive (heavily influenced by Ingmar Bergman's Persona) were much more pleasurable.

After leaving an afternoon screening of 2001 directors cut I felt like I'd been taking acid. I really respect Nolan as one of the best modern filmmakers, creating blockbusters with integrity is a big ask.

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I haven't seen Inland Empire yet. I discovered David Lynch in the last 5 years and it's taking me a lot of time to get through his movies because it takes a whole lot of processing to really understand every one of them. It creeps into your psyche and sometimes your dreams. And for me it takes time to muster up the energy to put myself through another one of those experiences.

Eraserhead was a trip, I still haven't totally figured it out. But in terms of pure cinematic enjoyment Blue Velvet would be my favorite.

Now that I hear other Lynch fans talk about Inland Empire I'm really excited to watch it.

I find Frank Booth utterly terrifying - I think he reminds me of some unpleasant characters from the high school I went to.... :-)

I wouldn't try to understand them completely, he is an artist and transcendental meditator. Try to appreciate them as painting not as a narrative and I think you'll enjoy them even more. Inland Empire is really a fan film in my opinion and should/can only really be watched which an existing knowledge of his background works.

I believe to have read Lynch himself say that Inland Empire doesn't have a deeper interpretation that makes sense. As far as I remember it's even largely made up of footage from other projects.

I agree with this - his works may have a logic of their own, or they may not, or the logic may not be a logic that can be understood by any human. For me, it helps to think of them as dreams - there's some normal looking stuff, but then there's that bit where you're cycling up a lane that looks like one you used to ride almost weekly, with the head of the sister of a teenage girlfriend looming large somewhere you can't quite place. It doesn't have to mean anything.

As a long time Lynch fan (I discovered Lynch from watching the original Twin Peaks series back when it was first broadcast in the early 90's) I'd probably put Inland Empire aside for a bit if you're just getting started.

What have watched so far?

Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, and Wild at Heart

Might be worthwhile taking a break and watching "The Straight Story". It's one of Lynch's films that you could uncharacteristically call "charming".

Then saddle up for "Lost Highway" :)

Looks good -- thank you!

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