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Reviews
Inland Empire (2006)
David Lynch Punked Us
The problem with Inland Empire isn't that it's hard to understand. In fact, unlike many of Lynch's other films, Inland Empire puts it all out there for us to see, up front. This is a disquieting thing for most Lynch-o-philes, who think "oh no-- there must be something more... I just have to wait for things to gel or reveal themselves..." Well, the problem is that it turns out Inland Empire is just David Lynch running Canadian hog-wild with a digital video camera. Seriously, who gave him that? That was a Bad Idea. OK, it was a mixed-results idea: Lynch has certainly shown us a thing or two about cinematography in DV, but at the same time DV has essentially ruined his film-making process by allowing him more freedom that he should have... essentially giving him more than enough rope to hang himself with.
This all becomes abundantly clear at the veeeery end (think credits) of the film when, through a shorthand juxtaposition of characters and tropes you realize: "holy sh--, David Lynch is mocking me! He is laughing his head off at the viewer's expense!" Briefly, Inland Empire can be summarized as: David Lynch plays around in a new medium by creating a quintessentially Lynchian film universe that is utterly boring because there's nothing new in it- he's just re-hashing old ground. But just when you start to feel sorry for the old guy, thinking maybe this is the best he can do any more, here comes the last-minute reveal that shows you that he's just having fun at your expense. Because he can. Because he's David m-f Lynch.
Really, Inland Empire should have a subtitle: David Lynch Punks Us.
Disclaimer: I'm not sorry I saw this film. If I knew now what I knew then, and was presented with the option to make the choice again, I'd probably still see it. I probably won't, however, willingly see it a second or third time, like I usually do with Lynch's films.
Urchin (2007)
We stumbled into an amazing world...
So I was doing the Saturday crossword puzzle in the NY Times. Another boring day, then I saw this little review on the top of the page. The reviewer Neil Genslinger spoke poorly of a movie that he said was shot illegally in the subways and sewers of New York. He said the film was unnecessary -- I was sold. I went online and bought out tickets and we found ourselves at the world premiere of this fantastic little gem, at a small little Lower East Side theater rubbing elbows with a couple of reviewer, some cast and crew, and other neighborhood denizens. It was at times creepy, frightening, funny, and moving. Everyone, but an older British gentleman left with a big smile on their face.
The above reviewer did a good job of summarizing the plot. But spoke nothing of the cool and unexpected effects, art direction, stirring performances, and rich soundtrack. Not to mention a gritty back alley tour of my New York. There was also a old school cartoon credit sequence that my girlfriend didn't have to hide her eyes from, not like the scary bits.
We look forward to adding this film to our collection.