Made by a man with a longtime devotion to the technique of “transcendental meditation,” Mr. Lynch’s films were characterized by their dreamlike imagery and punctilious sound design, as well as Manichaean narratives that pit an exaggerated, even saccharine innocence against depraved evil. Mr. Lynch’s style has often been termed surreal, and indeed, with his troubling juxtapositions, outlandish non sequiturs, and eroticized derangement of the commonplace, the Lynchian has evident affinities to classic surrealism. Mr. Lynch’s surrealism, however, was more intuitive than programmatic. If classic surrealists celebrated irrationality and sought to liberate the fantastic in the everyday, Mr. Lynch employed the ordinary as a shield to ward off the irrational....
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There are some brief segments of "Mulholland Drive" that I find endlessly attractive. The rest of his stuff . . .
Forget David Lynch. Bob Uecker died today at 90.
I loved his version of Dune, but I admit that you have to be a Dune fan to appreciate it. I also later came to understand that the studio hated his version and had it re-edited, which is the version that most people have seen.
Loved Mullholland Drive. Dune was an Ok attempt to adapt and Novel not suited for a 2 hour movie. Never saw Twin Peaks.
Always thought Lynch was English but he was born in Montana or Missouri.
Whoa, sad news. Twin Peaks was artistically formative for me, for among other reasons my parents didn't want me watching it so of course I had to watch everything he ever made. He will be missed.
Twin Peaks was "WTF" goodish for a while, but not the whole series. See the Log Lady scenes. The Twin Peaks soundtrack was excellent for what it tried to do: creepy-atmospheric-floaty.
The rest of his stuff...
Yes. The voice of Wisconsin summers for over 50 years.
I always thought Elephant Man was among his best efforts, and I generally admired his work, his eclectic strangeness - although at times I felt like I was missing something intended. None of it seemed phony.
It suffered from the trendiness of the era, and was too short / predated the necessary CGI quality of Lord of the Rings. Sting was a young rock star and somehow got cast in this film...compare this role to his later career in mellow adult pop...!?!
Also, don't put an arty-fartsy person in charge of a popcorn action film or it'll confuse critics and the audience. See Tim Burton's "Batman" and Ang Lee's "Hulk".
As high school kids we had unlimited access to the video store so wea watched everything. Eraserhead was weird but we were kind of freaked out by Blue Velvet. I admired there were people at ABC willing to air Twin Peaks. We watched...my parents (of all people) watched. He was strange but reassuringly calming in interviews. I'm sorry he's passed...
..juuust a bit outside. So sad...
“Lost Highway” was almost as weird as as weird can get (Ed.note: new champ in this category is the new “The Substance”). But Patricia Arquette was a sight to 😍behold😍!
And Robert Blake was in character… creepy, with teh Ramstein accompanyment.
Wild at Heart
The problem with the movie is that it had to compress a complex 400-500 page novel into 2.5 hours. The novel has lots of characters and various locations. And it had to use 80s special effects. I remember watching it when it came out and not knowing what the hell was going on. Later i went back and re-watched, after reading the novel. Its a good solid try.
Lots of people love Blue Velvet. Always thought it was creepy. It that it? "The film is now widely considered a masterpiece and has a score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 80 reviews with an average rating of 8.8/10."
Not sure was its so loved. Didn't get it.
Villeneuve, broke it into two parts, he did some race swapping, re liet kynes, others that made sense with the north african setting, a much more savage feyd in austin butler,
Blue Velvet was the only work that I ever enjoyed. Although I can't say I actually enjoyed that movie I was captivated by it. A tremendous work of art. He was able to harness the full depth of Dennis Hopper's bottomless talent. Well nowhere near his biggest fan I am nevertheless glad to live in a country that produces oddball artists like him who can become very successful and popular.
To start, I'd watch the pre-Eraserhead shorts (Six Men Getting Sick, The Grandmother, etc.) I've never had the opportunity to see them. These were the films that prompted the AFI to give him a $10,000 grant to finish Eraserhead.
First saw Eraserhead in high school, at a midnight showing in early 1980 in London, Ontario. I thought this film came closest to reproducing nightmare dream logic. This, and the dream sequence in Polanski's Rosemary's Baby.
I loved the casting, for the most part. Sean Young was absolutely the wrong choice for Chani thought. Cringey even. Hated the Alia character, although a couple of years ago I found out the actor (Alicia Witt) is quite lovely and I follow her on Instagram. Sting apparently hated the steambath scene and to get Lynch back for making him do it he decided to look as gay as possible. . . .which is exactly what he should have done, according to the book.
Anyway, love love loved Twin Peaks, mostly just the first season. The recent one was pretty good, if uneven.
Off to the White Lodge he goes. . . . .
I don't see Wild at Heart on there! It's my favorite romantic movie. It's a toss-up between that and Lost Highway.
People should watch "Mulholland Drive"--multiple times, unless they are put off by it--and listen closely to the sound design in "Eraserhead" at least once.
"The Straight Story." Made a mundane trip across Iowa into Wisconsin an epic, with brilliant cinematography.
YES! WAH is my favorite romantic movie.
Loved M. Drive, but certain scenes from Lost Higway are among his all time best.
Well, that's a shame.
Twin Peaks exploded all ideas of what television could be. It reconfigured everything. There are things in there that are more disturbing than most (all?) R rated movies. When they made the prequel movie (Fire Walk With Me), the MPAA kept complaining about scenes (in an R rated movie, mind you) and Lynch and Frost kept coming back to them with "well we already did that on network television".
He was unique. He will be missed.
Watch "What did Jack Do?" It's only 17 minutes.
I'm more affected by the passing of Milwaukee's Bob Ueker! Here's a link to the Brewer's heartfelt statement:
https://x.com/Brewers/status/1879921141932044644
I'm more broke up about the Ueck passing.
It's funny. He's a directorial genius, yet nothing on that list appeals to me. Re-watched Dune recently and, as someone said, it's a strong effort. Ahead of its time.
Wait. Is the Richard Farnsworth movie available? I remember that as being very gentle.
Responsible for the creepiest scene ever filmed in the history of cinema. May his memory be eternal.
Okay. It's clearly been too long since I watched Lost Highway.
Sad news. I loved his movies and shows that I saw. Wild at Heart was my all time favorite. The scene where Cage is driving and Dern is a passenger who freaks out over the news on the radio. Cage pulls over, flips the station to a heavy metal song, and they proceed to vigorously dance. Classic. Also, loved David Foster Wallace’s short piece of Lynch.
Correction ,Dern was driving Cage was lounging in the back seat.
Yes, Wild at Heart is awesome. It is a reimagining of Wizard of Oz.
He's the poster child for giving up smoking. Last we heard about him, he was suffering from emphysema.
Oh, Crap. I didn't realize he did that one. I would have to put that slightly above blue velvet. What a cast at the peak of their youth. The editing was unspeakably effective.
RIP to what seemed to be a very full life and a very unique vision and the opportunity to share it. I mostly didn't get it. And, unfortunately he couldn't come up with anything to do with Naomi Watts and Laura Harring in MD.
. . . pity that : )
Years ago, while I was handling business affairs for movies and miniseries at ABC, Brandon Stoddard told me that he would hire David Lynch if he was pitching a movie based on the LA phone book. Given some of the names in that phone book, it would take real genius to keep it out of the horror genre. Stoddard made some big mistakes (think War and Remembrance), but he had a remarkable eye for assessing talent.
- Krumhorn
I like The Elephant Man.
Dune of course!
Lost Highway has a good soundtrack. He was ahead of his time in that movie in making dialog hard to hear.
The Straight Story, on Amazon (link goes through the Althouse portal)
This one hurts because it was so unexpected. I have been a big fan of his ever since I first saw The Elephant Man in 1980. Lynch swung for the fences with pretty much every film and television show he made.
You shouldn't go into a David Lynch film project expecting linear story telling- if you do, you will be endlessly disappointed. I have always thought of him as the film director equivalent of Philip K. Dick.
His works in the order in which I regard them:
(1) Blue Velvet
(2) Twin Peaks season 3
(3) Mulholland Drive
(4) Twin Peaks season1
(5) Wild At Heart
(6) Lost Highway
(7) The Elephant Man
(8) Inland Empire
(9) Eraser Head
(10) Dune but his cut of the movie, not the one from 1984.
In the NY Post article about Uecker, they mentioned that in 2005 at his 50th anniversary of his broadcasting for the Brewers, he had expressed that at his 100th, he wanted to be dug up out of the hole his body was in and brought back to the celebration. I couldn't help but think it was a play on "juuust a bit outside"! Uecker was a member of the 1967 WS Champs the St. Louis Cardinals, who defeated the Yankees.
The Elephant Man is, arguably, his best picture. It was nominated for multiple Oscars. And it holds up very well. Black and white, shot in the classical style, very sympathetic.
I love Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive. And Twin Peaks was a lot of fun.
Eraserhead was really creepy!
The number of really knowledgeable movie fans on this blog, given its focus, is one of the best things about it.
Goodbye, David. There will never be a more unique filmmaker. This is my favorite Lynch interview clip, where he talks about turning down George Lucas to direct "Return of the Jedi."
"He showed me these things called Wookies."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJQ4vCu-S0U
His long time editor and short term wife is Sconnie raised Mary Sweeney, I worked on her feature "Baraboo".
This is the one that means more to me and I'm not even a sports fan, just a Bob Uecker fan. When I get a parking space close to the building, I say, "I'm in the front roooow!" It finally occurred to me this past year that my kids had no idea what I was referencing, so I showed my daughter the old Miller Lite commercial.
As anyone who grew up in the Madison area you know there are many, many Sweeneys’ in the area. My son, with a bunch of friends, went to a Sweeney family reunion with a Sweeney he went to high school (Edgewood) with.
They were going to make a movie so were “filming” at the reunion and David Lynch stepped in to help “set scenes” with the “director”. These young guys were thrilled and fun with him the whole day. A real memorable experience.
War and Remembrance was good!
I watched the David Lynch biographical documentary. Much of it was about his growing up years out west. I kept wondering when they were going to get to his Talking Heads years. Wrong David, I realized by the end of the film.
Heh… that Alia character (Alicia Witt) really got our kids when she began speaking with that deep, croaky voice. They thought she was a scream.
Kyle MacLachlan wrote a lovely tribute:
" Forty-two years ago, for reasons beyond my comprehension, David Lynch plucked me out of obscurity to star in his first and last big budget movie. He clearly saw something in me that even I didn’t recognize. I owe my entire career, and life really, to his vision.
What I saw in him was an enigmatic and intuitive man with a creative ocean bursting forth inside of him. He was in touch with something the rest of us wish we could get to.
Our friendship blossomed on ‘Blue Velvet’ and then ‘Twin Peaks’ and I always found him to be the most authentically alive person I’d ever met.
David was in tune with the universe and his own imagination on a level that seemed to be the best version of human. He was not interested in answers because he understood that questions are the drive that make us who we are. They are our breath.
While the world has lost a remarkable artist, I’ve lost a dear friend who imagined a future for me and allowed me to travel in worlds I could never have conceived on my own.
I can see him now, standing up to greet me in his backyard, with a warm smile and big hug and that Great Plains honk of a voice. We’d talk coffee, the joy of the unexpected, the beauty of the world, and laugh.
His love for me and mine for him came out of the cosmic fate of two people who saw the best things about themselves in each other.
I will miss him more than the limits of my language can tell and my heart can bear. My world is that much fuller because I knew him and that much emptier now that he’s gone.
David, I remain forever changed, and forever your Kale. Thank you for everything."
I’ve actually been thinking recently about rewatching “Lost Highway”, probably because I saw an article about Lynch’s health problems, so the sad news wasn’t exactly a surprise, but…still sad. What a range he had! The same person did “Blue Velvet” and “The Straight Story”, wildly different in almost all ways except both are great. Rest in peace Mr. Lynch and see you “In Dreams”…
I ask AI for commonalities between Bob Uecker and David Lynch.
Bob Uecker and David Lynch, while coming from vastly different backgrounds—sports and film—share some intriguing characteristics:
Unique Personalities: Both Uecker and Lynch have distinct, memorable personas. Uecker is known for his humor and self-deprecating wit, often using comedy to connect with audiences. Lynch, on the other hand, has a surreal and enigmatic presence, often leaving audiences intrigued and puzzled.
Storytelling: Both are exceptional storytellers in their fields. Uecker's commentary brings games to life with engaging narratives and anecdotes, while Lynch's films often weave complex, layered stories that provoke thought and emotion.
Cult Followings: Each has cultivated a dedicated fanbase. Uecker is a beloved figure in baseball, particularly among Milwaukee Brewers fans, while Lynch has a cult following for his unique films and television shows, such as "Twin Peaks."
Innovative Approaches: Uecker revolutionized sports commentary with his engaging style, blending humor and insight, while Lynch is known for his unconventional filmmaking techniques, creating a distinct aesthetic and narrative style that challenges traditional storytelling.
Cultural Impact: Both have made significant contributions to American culture—Uecker through baseball and entertainment, and Lynch through film and television. Their works have resonated with audiences, influencing generations in their respective fields.
Enduring Careers: Both have had long, successful careers, adapting to changing times while maintaining their unique voices. Uecker continues to be active in broadcasting, while Lynch remains a prominent figure in the film industry, exploring new projects.
In essence, while their mediums differ, Uecker and Lynch exhibit a shared ability to engage, entertain, and leave a lasting impact on their audiences.
"florid"? Most English words ending in -id are adjectives based on a root noun ending in -or. Rigid/rigor, liquid/liquor. Stupid/stupor. But no floror or solor. Or terrid. Horror/horrid.
"Look..a few props could really help. I have a list here.."
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