in memoriam David Lynch
"one day the sadness will end, but I don't think today's the day..."
When you finish a Lynch film, you will undoubtedly end up searching for answers online. But Lynch was a true auteur, creating stories that “get down and thrill your soul” (Lynch on Lynch, 2005). You seem to get all the pieces, but no puzzle emerges. The game is in the inspection.
My viewing of the Lynch Dune was in error — my parents and I were attempting to stream Villeneuve’s rendition. Even though we quickly identified that this wasn’t the “right” adaptation, the fantastical pre-CGI effects were a spectacle to behold that kept our attention throughout the film. Lynch’s one and only blockbuster (for better), this first screen adaptation of Dune remains a relevant cultural touchstone for bibliophiles and cinephiles alike. As Lynch’s first collaboration with future longtime artistic partner, Kyle MacLachlan, I thought this quote best honored its contributions to the film industry: “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…”
This was my first intentional Lynch film, and I watched it, appropriately, in the summer. They teach you a lot about sub-text when you’re an English major, and as a recent grad, I had lots on my mind throughout. This is a movie with inexplicable mystery and unsettling intrigue, leaving you questioning, as all surrealist works do, what actually happened and what it all meant. I’m still not sure about either of those things, and I think that’s okay.
“Bring back the neo-noir!”, I shout into the void of The Rock action films and Disney live-action remakes. Max has a “Celebrating David Lynch” section on the Home screen, starting with Blue Velvet.
If you’ve been to Boston’s Independent Film Festival, you’ve probably scene that intro clip of Julianne Moore saying she watched Eraserhead at the Coolidge Corner Theater.
Fear and confusion aren’t usually presented as positive things, but their combined presence is a hallmark of Lynchian film, all of which have captured audiences for decades.
Thank you, David Lynch. Your contribution to motion pictures is immeasurable.
It is so sad, that sometimes only the death of an artist is what makes you finally dive into their incredible life's work. I heard great things about Lynch yet only yesterday I started watching Twin Peaks. I wanted to experience his mastery and it feels kind of bittersweet that I only get to do that when he's no longer here. Rest in peace.
It is so sad, that sometimes only the death of an artist is what makes you finally dive into their incredible life's work. I heard great things about Lynch yet only yesterday I started watching Twin Peaks. I wanted to experience his mastery and it feels kind of bittersweet that I only get to do that when he's no longer here. Rest in peace.