The Lynchian David Lynch
Greetings, customers. Last week, the world lost one of our boldest creators, the one and only David Lynch. On this episode of the Video Store Podcast, I recommend four of David Lynch’s “most Lynchian” films. In the episode I explain why I didn’t pick anything related to Twin Peaks or some of Lynch’s more mainstream films, including The Elephant Man and Dine.In this episode you’ll hear me use the phrase “these films are not for everybody” which I want to emphasize does not imply any sort of film snobbery or elitism. As I say in the episode, I like both really expensive sushi and fried burritos from gas stations. Mmm, burritos. My point is, Lynch’s films aren’t necessarily better than other types of films, they’re just different and it’s okay to like one, both, or neither. Wait, if you like neither, why are you here? Watch more movies!Here are the four films I am recommending this week. ERASERHEAD (1977) is Lynch’s first feature length film and tells the story of Henry, a man who reconnects with his ex-girlfriend only to discover that she has given birth to their child, which doctors say “might be human.” The first time I watched Eraserhead I couldn’t make heads or tails out of it but after a dozen or so viewings, it makes total sense! It’s a slow burn, but worth a watch.BLUE VELVET (1986) is the most “mainstream” film on this week’s list, although "there’s a reason I keep putting “mainstream” in quotes. The film stars Kyle MacLachlan (fress off of Dune) as Jeffrey, a young man who, while walking through a field, discovers… a human ear. Jeffrey gains information regarding the investigation from Sandy (Laura Dern), a detective’s daughter, which leads him to the apartment of a lounge singer who happens to be dating a violent criminal named Frank (Dennis Hopper). Things turn dark and it soon becomes unclear whether or not Jeffrey will escape his encounter with both of his ears… or his life.LOST HIGHWAY (1997) is perhaps the most difficult film to follow from a narrative standpoint. It stars Bill Pullman and Patricia Arquette as as Fred and Renee Madison, a couple of discover a VHS tape containing footage of the outside of their home. Soon a second tape is delivered that contains footage from inside their home of them sleeping, and the third tape contains something much worse, for which Bill goes to prison. One day Bill is locked in a cell and the next morning, out pops Pete Dayton, a petty criminal who isn’t supposed to even be in prison. Pete is released and crosses paths with Alice… also played by Patricia Arquette. Sound weird? Trust me, we’re just getting started.MULHOLLAND DRIVE (2001) is the last film on my list and is considered to be the greatest “Lynch” film. The mystery begins when Betty (Naomi Watts) discovers a woman with amnesia named Rita (Laura Harring) inside her apartment. The two women form a bond as they struggle to determine Rita’s true identity, but by the end of the first act a dead body has been discovered and by the end of the second act everyone is playing different characters and your mind will explode. This film is like a dream that almost makes sense.David Lynch was a bit of an evil genius. He certainly did not march to anyone else’s drum, and his desire to not just make genre-bending films but completely destroy what “films” mean will be missed. As I say in this week’s episode, you may not like each of these films, but you’ll never forget having watched one of them. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.videostorepodcast.com
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