Inland Empire
"A Woman in Trouble"
An actress (Laura Dern) is preparing for her biggest role yet for a director (Jeremy Irons), but when she finds herself falling for her co-star (Justin Theroux), she realizes that her life is beginning to mimic the fictional film that they're shooting.
Adding to her confusion is the revelation that the current film is a remake of a doomed Polish production, 47, which was never finished due to an unspeakable tragedy. And that's only the beginning. Soon, a seemingly endless onslaught of indescribably bizarre situations flashes across the screen: a sitcom featuring humans in bunny suits, a parallel story set in a wintry Poland, a houseful of dancing streetwalkers, screwdrivers in stomachs, menacing Polish carnies, and much, much more.
Member Reviews
One of LYnch's Best - Elston
This is probably the weirdest film David Lynch has ever made in his career, eclipsing both Eraserhead and Lost Highway, or any other example you want to pluck (I mean, he fucking DEALT in weird films, didnt he?). And while I think it's a brilliant movie, I don't consider it the crowning acheivment of his illustrious career. That would go to something like Mulholland Drive or Blue Velvet (maybe Eraserhead). However, despite being very rough around the edges (filmically), I think he's written a very interesting script, which rivals his best social commentary in the two films I just mentioned (or was it three?). This film has loads to say from the perspective of women, something he's been touching on more and more. The realization a woman has of her place in society, the recognition that everything she does will be judged by the standards that men judge themselves (and that she won't add up), nor will she amount to much. She will be just a clown for their amusement. And being an upper class success won't change that a bit. This fatalistic feeling of being tied to the past, inextricably bound to something outside our control runs throughout the film's length. Don't get me wrong, Lynch has all kinds of interesting tricks up his sleeves, but I would have really liked to see what he could have done with a professional crew (and apparently he's not going back). Nonetheless, he has once again captured the mysterious unknown in completely unimagingable ways, something he's quite good at. So, give this film a try. Get lost in it's mystery. Look past it's sometimes questionable filmmaking and you will discover an experience few can match. I wonder what this fucker will do next?3 Hours In The Mind Of David Lynch - JasonTHX
Laura Dern certainly has grown up. It's a strange, long trip that her and Director David Lynch have been on ever since she represented the essence of purity in his masterpiece "Blue Velvet". Four Years later lynch took that rosy-cheeked young adult and turned her into a wild, trashy young temptress/nympho busting with passion in his violent hyper-realistic "Wild At Heart" now 16 years later they pair up again in "Inland Empire" - Lynch's most bizarre (and that says something) brain-wracking piece of cinematic sight & sound he has ever assembled.
Shot on DV camera and not on film, Lynch is finally free from the limits of film (and film politics) which makes "Inland Empire" his most fierce and boldest work since "Blue Velvet". Shot over 3 years, on a minimal budget Lynch has put together a movie with moments of heartbreak, terror, uneasiness and confusion. The story is as disjointed and fragmented as has probably ever been made - in fact what little story there is, really doesn't matter. If you think the show "Lost" is confusing - this movie will have you clawing your face with your fingers.
The movie follows an actress (Dern) undertaking filming of a strange and secretive project that is being remade under strange circumstances. While falling for her co-star (Justin Theroux) she is suddenly beset by strange visitors and soon her existence becomes one of extended nightmares and unsettling occourances copulated by low-lifes, dancing prostitutes, women that stab with screwdrivers, circus men, and multiple roles/personalities. All puncuated every now and then by a family of rabbits living/watching a sitcom. The movie crawls into your senses, it's often silent puncuated by moments of loud tremendous fright. Many former Lynch actors turn up here (Zabriskie, Stanton, Ladd, Dern, Theroux, Harring, Watts) that will please die-hard fans (like me) of Lynch's work. It's a cold splash of water to the face of moviegoers - Original and invigorating."Brilliant.... I have no idea what's going on" - chunkrock
While this title is a simpsons quote refering to the absurdity of "Twin Peaks" (which isn't really that absurd) it is very revelent to this film.
The first hour of this three hour epic starts off fairly normal and easy to understand (at least compaired to the rest of the film), but then about an hour in something gets triggered and you're left scratching your head. These two hours are rather dreamlike, it's essentially a 2 hour long nightmare. These two hours to me seemed like one big climax. There are some real frightening images that leave you with a really uneasy feeling. You're always waiting for something to happen, and when it doesn't you kind of calm yourself down a bit and then it happens.
Before seeing this film I had heard about you ugly the film was because David Lynch went from film to digital. At some parts I fully agree but there are definatley sections of beauty in there and the general aesthetic to the film is perfect. I beleive that filming digital was a great choice for this.
All in all I would say it's not my favorite of Lynch's work but it's definatley up there. For those unlucky enough not to be able to see it in a theatre my advice is turn the volume up loud. This film really benefits from the audio and general sound design in it.
Member Reviews
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One of LYnch's Best - Elston
This is probably the weirdest film David Lynch has ever made in his career, eclipsing both Eraserhead and Lost Highway, or any other example you want to pluck (I mean, he fucking DEALT in weird films, didnt he?). And while I think it's a brilliant movie, I ...3 Hours In The Mind Of David Lynch - JasonTHX
Laura Dern certainly has grown up. It's a strange, long trip that her and Director David Lynch have been on ever since she represented the essence of purity in his masterpiece "Blue Velvet". Four Years later lynch took that rosy-cheeked young adult and turned ..."Brilliant.... I have no idea what's going on" - chunkrock
While this title is a simpsons quote refering to the absurdity of "Twin Peaks" (which isn't really that absurd) it is very revelent to this film.
The first hour of this three hour epic starts off fairly normal and easy to understand (at least compaired ...