“INLAND EMPIRE”
Much has been made of David Lynch‘s decision to shoot his follow-up to the beloved Mulholland Drive on HD, and then self-distribute his three(!) hour surreal opus. With a promotional campaign involving standing out on freeways with a hand-painted sign and a cow, it’s easy to see why many people assumed he’d lost his last marble.
But make no mistake: behind the painfully affected “golly gee-whiz, aren’t I just so weird” shtick, hides a shrewd business man. If you don’t believe me, just log onto www.davidlynch.com and buy some David Lynch coffee. Or a mug. The line between art and commerce blurs, does it not?
Basking in the warm after-glow of Mulholland Drive‘s critical success, he knew that if he was ever going to make an unweildy, non-linear narrative film fly, this was the time to experiment. And what an experiment it was.
Inland Empire (Rhino Entertainment, $29.98) explores themes previously touched upon in MD: identity, role-playing, a movie within a movie. Laura Dern stars as a fading actress who has just gotten the plum role in a new movie. Almost immediately, there are bad omens: a creepy neighbor, disturbances on the set, threats.
It seems the script is based on an old cursed Polish folk-tale, and the last attempted film adaptation ended in the deaths of both leads. This hokey premise (related in a talking-head scene that is pure shameless exposition), is treated with deathly seriousness, we never really know if Lynch is kidding or not. 20 minutes in, things fracture and any semblance of narrative is quickly lost. What we get is a series of abstractions and visuals that invite viewers to take away their own interpretation. It works much the way a Rorschach ink blot does, touching upon our deepest desires and fears.
Rhino’s DVD is a nice, two-disc set that includes a plethora of extras; from deleted scenes to making-of footage. Best of all, it’s a stunning transfer, looking even better that it did in theatres. If you’ve already seen the film, it’s well worth a second look on DVD.
Those looking for more traditional storytelling will be sorely tested, but for those willing to take the ride, Inland Empire has a wealth of ideas, and even beauty, that makes for a rewarding viewing experience.
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