This is the graduate studies level David Lynch film -- it's simply not for anyone who hasn't even been to Lynch High yet.

Inland Empire is, perhaps not surprisingly, very inside...

Laura Dern herself, turns herself inside out in the role of her (later self) lifetime.

David Lynch pulls out all the stops in this full-on runaway trip into the wormholes of the psyche-eeeee!

It's terrific.



10 out of 5. (Automatic best of 2007.)

I forgot to mention that this movie is seriously freakin' creepy -- way scarier than any of the current crop of purported horror movies...

Also, my favorite IE review quote: "Lynch's most impenetrable film yet."

Here's a thoughtful review of Inland Empire for those of you waiting for the August 14th DVD release...

To recap, while it is not a film for everyone and it might seem a bit self indulgent at times (as if David Lynch had pretty much created the film for himself) those willing to get lost in his world/vision will find the movie to be some kind of miracle. And it gets better as it goes along with the last hour being absolutely brilliant (it also makes less sense as it goes along, so those that require that their movies make sense might feel the complete opposite.)

But it is Laura Dern who really stands out. I really have no words to describe how good she is. Not only is it the best performance of 2006 but one of the best so far this decade. Laura Dern as a hooker on Hollywood Blvd with Beck music playing in the background is one of my all time favorite moments in film history.

So yeah. I really think this movie will develop some kind of rabid cult following. If/When, you know, more than the 5 people that have seen it so far seek it out. Which is why I've been pushing you guys to see it. So get to it already lol

A

More discussion on the film in the foreign and independent films forum. Ok, slight discussion and a few more people trying to get their hands on the film.

Tentatively, I give it a B+, but I should watch it a few more times before giving it a permanent rating.

Dern was robbed. Lynch deserves a special achievement award for creating such a bizarre, deft world out of realistic parts (it feels as lived-in as Middle Earth in LOTR). Only problem is that for a film as long and requiring as investment as it is and does, I didn't feel very moved towards the end, like I did with Mulholland Drive, so it was a bit unsatisfying when it ended. Maybe I need to watch it again. But the world it portrays, oh fuck...even his previous works had euphoria at the surface.

So I bought this today. Can't wait to find a free afternoon where I can dedicate 179 minutes to it. :o :O

It took until January 27th, but I did end up seeing this. After one viewing, I would have said its top 5 of the decade. I'm watching it now, and I might call it top 1 of the decade. Why does this thread have like, 3 posts?

Wooohooo!!!

Can we all dedicate a moment to ponder on the amazing-ness of Laura Dern and especially Laura Dern as a hooker on Hollywood Blvd?

At first, I was left to decide whether it was an absolute masterpiece or Lynch being as weird as he can(which is saying a lot) for 3 hours straight. I'm going with the former. It's truly unlike any movie I've ever seen. If nothing else, it deserves to be praised for that alone.

It's a 3 hour trip into insanity, and a stimulating unsolveable puzzle that makes Mulholland look like straight forward narrative. Throw that in with a spectacular performance from Dern and Lynch's perfect craft with the camera and lighting, and you can foresee its success.

Is it is best film? It's hard to say. But if there was ever any doubt that Lynch is cinema's true master of madness, this confirms it. I still have a few films of his to get to (Dune, Lost Highway, Elephant Man), but with each passing film I put him higher and higher on my favorite directors list.

the end credits are rockin'

KJ's best reviewed, least seen movie!

I am a pretty big fan of David Lynch.

I am not a fan of this film. At all.

Was expecting so much more. Maybe I have to watch it again.

For now though.....


F

If you can get over the fact that it looks ugly as hell (I'll take celluloid over low-grade digital any day of the week), it's a terrifying descent into madness. A nightmare that only Lynch can create.

Five long years since Inland Empire and another five years since Mulholland Dr. - - come back David, this planet needs more Lynch!

What a genuinely scary, surreal, deep, twisted movie. Every time I think I've figured it out, the rug is pulled out from underneath my feet. It's like one long, bad dream (in a good way). Seriously, the best thing I've seen thus far depicting dreams is the Buffy episode, but this tops it. I don't know if Lynch intended it (don't know if he knows) but that's how I took Dern's descent into insanity.

And the scares! Never mind the terrifying visuals towards the end, just the waiting for what's coming around the corner gave me the creeps.

I didn't expect to like it, at all, but I ended up really, genuinely enjoying it. I'd love to watch it all again, but three hours is taxing.

Even scarier? Bradley and I agree on something. A movie, no less.

i like the vote split for this one.

where are you? the right side, or F?

This is a powerful experience, but, honestly, I slightly prefer Lynch ever so slightly restrained/tempered (Wild at Heart, Lost Highway) to Lynch full blown with a digital camera.

the right side, duh.

Personally, I would prefer it if Lynch would make another feature film, any kind of film he desires.

...and it does appear there's faint hope that the drought will end...