INLAND EMPIRE (2006) - Movie Review
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Back in 2006 or 2007 i took off work on a Wednesday and flew to Austin Texas to watch Inland Empire at the beautiful paramount theater. Oh my God Bloody Hell this was the most wonderfully bizarre experience of my life. David Lynch was there to give opening remarks and answer questions afterwards. There was an actual curtain that opened during that powerfully hypotonic opening. There were dozens upon dozens of Little old men and women smartly dressed in period usher uniforms with white shirts, suspenders, and little red bowties to guide you to your seat. Everything top notch. The theater itself was gothic or baroque and seemed almost haunted.. Then you dive into that 3 hour plus dream ride. When the movie was over I felt like I'd been somewhere on some drug induced journey. There was even an after party with Chrysta Bell performing artsy music. Best Wednesday of my life.
The greatest achievement of this review is making me want to watch this film again, something I would never have thought possible. Thank you.
Laura Dern deserves a thousand Oscars just for the facial expressions throughout the film.
Yes, they were so funny🤣🤣😂
As a fan of Lynch, this is only film of his that felt like an actual dream. All the others are dreamy, but the use of liminal space and the digital image quality make this look actually like dreams I've had.
No - dreams always feel and seen real to us😂But he did make the most dumb pathetic, ugly unengaging piece of boring pretentious garbage, that he ever made in his entire career - he sure broke his own record😅 I recommend watching this pile of worthless crap, for anyone who wants to fall asleep quickly and have a deep good night sleep (as I had lol)😴You sure be living inside a dream..."living inside a dream"...🤦♂️😂🤣
Inland Empire is both Laura Derns and David Lynch’s masterpiece. This is my favorite movie of all time. Even though it can feel dreamlike I believe it’s very linear. It feels ethereal, dark and and yet all about light and extremely personal. Brilliant.
mine too
And there are actually a lot of interesting connections you can make between scenes by just understanding the overall synopsis; almost like waking up from a nightmare and making connections to whatever hardship is going on in your life at that moment
@@p0rnsynth 🤦♂️😂😂🤣🤣
I.E. is his film grand opus. TP the Return is his tv grand opus.
@@treetopjones737 Opus? 🤦♂️😅
I recently stumbled across your videos after watching Noé’s ‘Climax’ and desperately searching for any and all analysis of that wonderfully bonkers movie (really enjoyed your take on that one).
I think this video on ‘Inland Empire’ (a movie I also adore) really exemplifies what I love about your style of analysis - super eloquent, thoughtful, and both emotionally and cine-literate.
I think you’re one of the best film reviewers on this platform, and it’s criminal that you’re not more widely-known. Even when I occasionally find myself disagreeing with your views I still thoroughly enjoy your content. Keep up the great work 😊
Inland Empire was like experiencing a nightmare....and I loved watching it.
No - nightmares suppose to look real to us...and to scare us😂🤣🤣
Deep Focus Lens talking David Lynch is one of my favorite things!
What I love about this movie is despite how "film graduate" the technical aspect of the film looks, you can tell that this is a David Lynch film. That's a mark of a true artist, it's when your personal style is so strong that any media can be used to express it.
One of my favorites. Speaking of favorites: would you do a video talking about your favorite films?
Your review of The Return would be one of the greatest videos on the internet.
Agree
I saw every David Lynch movie for the first time recently. I'm not a big fan, but I do like his work overall. Honestly with Inland Empire I was as amazed as I was frustrated, but it did unsettle me very much😅😅😅
My favorite of his films would probably be Eraserhead or Mulholland Drive
@Buster Keaton awesome movie as well. I really loved it, just not as much as the ones I pointed out. Granted if Lynch never made those two then yeah Blue Velvet would be my favorite of his films 😁
David Lynch is a good singer too. I love his "Ghost of Love" song. What a mood!
Let's not forget that hilarious BBQ scene. This movie being filmed on cheap hand cameras gives it an early Internet feel, it's sort of bordering on something like a live action Salad Fingers. It's like diving into a very bizarre TH-cam channels 3 hour-worth of videos.
Probably one of the most disturbing scenes in the movie is Laura manically going around looking for any way out of this nightmare realm screaming "FUCKING KILL ME". That shit made the hairs on my neck stand. By the time this movie was over, it literally felt like being on a rollercoaster for three hours straight
Honestly this was my first David Lynch movie and I genuinely fucking love it. It seriously is one of my Top 3 Favorite Movies in general
my theory is the terry crews scene was only done to troll terry crews. look at his face in the scene. he has NO idea whats going on
Great review! I love this movie. When we are watching the 'spectator' crying while she is watching TV, the song is so hauntingly beautiful and packed with emotion. It gets me every time. You mentioned in your review a 'rabbit hole' without ever talking about rabbits!!! LOL Keep up the great work.
I was looking through your playlists, I didn’t see Wild at Heart being reviewed yet? I look forward to your complete Lynch reviews. I agree that Inland Empire is very much a dream of a film.
when will we get our FIRE WALK WITH ME review?
Another piece of pretentious garbage 🤣🤣🤣
I fell asleep watching this and when I woke up, I had no idea if 2 hours or 30 seconds had passed. And it was impossible to tell going by what was happening in the film. Trippy.
I stayed awake and still found it impossible to tell what was happening.
first time viewer, I love your review! Your analysis and thoughts were insightful and interesting, well presented and articulate. LOL one thing though, at one point you referred to this film in as an outlier in Lynch's Filmography because it wasn't as "dark" as the others? I'm currently 1 and a half hours into this on a 2 part viewing, and I can confidently say this is the darkest, most unsettling Lynch film I've watched thus far. Something about the snuff film like appearance of the digital footage, and the random jump scares with crazy audio mixing and haunting visuals, every fame of this film thus far has felt unsettling and tense. It really seems to double down on that hollywood nightmare feeling from Mulholland Dr. I will see where the rest of this madness takes me but I'm just surprised to see someone not interpret this film as "dark" lol.
This is an incredibly beautiful review. So thoughtful, balanced, and well-done. I also very naturally respond to the abstraction and meditative, imaginative flow of Lynch’s. It’s so, so emotional and deep and just from the heart. I’ve always connected with dreamlike and surreal narratives without really trying because that intuitive, emotional storytelling just makes sense to me :). I absolutely love this movie for how genuine, nightmarish, deeply creative, oddly meditative, truly dreamlike (it does feel like a deep slumber), and full of light it feels. It really does feel spiritual and like there is a compassion and salvation that makes sense only from a heart level :). Laura Dern is amazing in it, I love the cinematography and visual style, and it’s just such an experience. Thank you for this review!
This is the most challenging film in his filmography I think. It took me two attempts to watch it. I don't like it very much, but I like certain ideas in it. I felt like falling asleep half the time.
More Things That Happened is also a must-see for fans of this one!
Great review Maggie. I had similar feelings about that movie. just could not articulate as well. I love to see how much fun you are having doing these reviews, too. More, please.
Mulholland Drive is the perfected midway spectrum of Lynch’s craziness, Lost Highway being a lighter work and Inland Empire going above and beyond that.
Lost highway is pretty damn crazy
I thought Mulholland Dr. was easier to understand tbh, lost highway is pretty wild
@@EnderSpy358 There’s to “understand” about a Lynch film.
@@Jackp2003 true, we can only get so far with conjecture. It’s fun to think you know what Lynch was thinking
@@EnderSpy358 Are you saying that I’m saying that I know what Lynch was thinking?
I personally think this film was made as his magnum opus, sort of an epilogue of his film career when it comes to the things it explores. I'd heard you mention this film from time to time but nowhere near as much as most of his other films, and never really said how you felt about it so I assumed you didn't like it. I agree Mulholland Drive finds a perfect balance, but I really love this movie, it's just such a unique experience. The first time I saw it I watched it with no subtitles, and I really enjoyed it that way, it makes the polish language scenes feel much more abstract. Glad to see you finally reviewed this one.. Maybe Eraserhead sometime too? :D
I had the great privilege to see the premiere at the Cinerama in Seattle and the Director was there. They set up a microphone at the front of the main aisle facing the stage and everyone was invited to come up and comment after the viewing. The audience was so stunned it took quite a while for anyone to come up, and gradually a queue did develop but no one could really say much about the film itself. It was mostly questions about his work in general. I think he really wanted to hear how it bounced back in different ways and he must have been annoyed. For me I got a clear vision of bubbles of consciousness drifting and overlapping in a way that couldn't be described in my native language so I didn't go up. Perhaps it could be better described in Sanskrit where there are things and not-things. I found the experience incredible and haven't been able to bring myself to watch the film again. I think at home among distractions, it wouldn't work.
I think that this is his best (most precise) film. Hypnosis is the recurring theme here. There are a lot of important details that you can mistake for imperfections due to the video quality. One cue is the scene of misunderstanding between the director and Bucky J played by David Lynch. There is a squeal of the door as the old witch enters the house and says hello. A bird flies right above as Nikki enters the studios. And so on and so on. Btw I hated it the first time I saw it.
Your reviews could make The Fanatic look like an enjoyable watch, Always articulate well done as usual.
Just found your channel a few days ago and was really hoping you’d review Inland Empire!!
Loved your review!
To me, the film (or I guess it wasn’t film lol) makes perfect sense in my head, and then when I try to verbalize my interpretation of it, I can’t. It totally works with my subconscious but if I were asked to explain my theories I would sound like an insane person. Great job at making a concise review out of a movie that is not straight forward at all 🤣
Great video, and what a movie....I couldn’t stand it the first time I saw this. Now I LOVE it. I might even put it in my top 3 Lynch movies even though I have a light grasp on it. It’s very dark and disturbing. Id call it his true horror movie, the scene when Laura Dern is on the street crying and then begins laughing with everyone is so horrifying to me
Really cool video, I love inland empire. I feel you on that scene with the homeless, gets me every time. “You just dying that’s all”
One of the very few reviews of this film on youtube. I wouldn't know how to describe it or review it. I really liked it, that's all I can say, it made me feel in a surreal dimension, I love movies that make me feel like that. I am particularly obsessed with the Grace Zabriskie scene, I know all the dialogue to it, and every now and then I find myself saying ''BRUTAL FUCKING MURDER'' god, it's just so addictive because there's really nothing like that and david lynch in general in any other movie. I'm also obsessed with Laura Dern's performance in this.
I also LOVED the song they used near the end which is actually by david lynch (and chrysta bell) called ''Polish Poem'', incredibly beautiful and haunting song that fits perfectly in the scene.
It was extremely weird, and then to top it off you have the super random credit scene which I am also obsessed with, I mean, the woman lip syncing to Nina simone, simply addictive.
Hi Maggie your reviews are so detailed and descriptive and i love it. I will have to check this out as i haven't seen it.
Aint no bus to Pomona
@@rong2912 what does that mean
@@Daniel-pg5gd It's a line from a scene of the movie.
@@rong2912 oh ok sorry didn't know
@@Daniel-pg5gd It's from the death scene she described. Check it out!
*THIS* is what I need during these times. Maggie videos.
Somehow this ended up being my first Lynch movie- talk about jumping in at the deep end! I think it’s great, but sort of more an echo/development of ideas in Mulholland Drive than a great in its own right. Thanks for your thoughts on Lynch maggie!
I had only seen Twin peaks and Blue Velvet before I saw this. I thought I was so cool and pretentious for liking David Lynch, then I watched Inland empire and... 17 year old me was thoroughly confused, anxious and not sure about anything. Truly a great experience, but not one I have really wanted to have again.
Sorry, is no one gonna talk about how Terry Crews was just there when Laura Dern was dying in the street in this movie?
that was spectacular
Inception was the Bambi version of Inland Empire.
Upon leaving the theater after seeing Inland Empire I was torn between it being really good or really bad. I decided it was really good and the work of one doing what he wanted not what others wanted. That's being true to yourself & your craft. 👍
Excellent review, I agree with so many of your points deeply. You articulate things so well. Sharp mind!
Your reviews are spot on. You don't invest ego in them, which makes them very good indeed. Thank you.
Absolutely agreed with opinion expressed it this review, but that feeling of being drifted along with the story is through and through terrifying. A masterpiece.
Finally someone has pointed out how brilliant that homeless scene was. Never seen or felt anything like it, I thought I was alone there. I think I.E even surpasses MD as Lynch’s masterpiece.
Thanks for your excellent and deeply thoughtful review. I’ve watched many of your videos, and I’m never less than impressed by the depth of your honesty and insight.
I’ve been wanting to see IE for years, but it’s been unobtainable in Australia for love or money until I was finally able to track it down on a website that specialises for the most part in disturbingly unenlightened material.
May I offer a few specific comments. You seem to suggest that Lynch’s Russian-doll artistry is intended to expose the manipulative nature of film. I would suggest, rather, that it’s intended to expose the misleading and multi-layered nature of what we normally mistake for reality. In a similar vein, I disagree that Lynch is manipulative. Manipulation implies evoking feelings to achieve a hidden agenda. That is surely different from evoking feelings to communicate deep truths about, or compassion for, the human condition.
That point where the death scene is revealed to have been staged doesn’t tell us (or tell me, anyway) that the scene was any less honest, or that it was staged just for the sake of being ‘art’, or even to reveal a truth about art. That scene WAS art, pure and unalloyed. Like you, I found it intensely touching and beautiful. As Picasso once said, ‘Art is a lie that makes us recognise the truth’. I would no more call Lynch manipulative than I’d call Van Gogh or David Gilmour manipulative.
The same goes for the phrase ‘self-indulgent’. Van Gogh wasn’t self-indulgent; he created what his sense of love and wonder compelled him to create. Ditto Lynch.
My take on the sequence after the death scene is that it depicts the possibility of life after death. I found it similar to the after-death journey in Enter the Void; I’m a little surprised you didn’t mention this. After Laura Dern gets up, the first person who tries to minister to her is dressed like an angel. Dern goes through various states, in which her past (life) is revealed to her as a projection…and ultimately as a story witnessed by a seer on a higher plane.
As for the final ‘party’ scene, it reminded me of the final scene in Peter Brook’s The Mahabharata, where the protagonists who had previously been engaged in brutal and apocalyptic battle meet cordially together and play a game of dice.
One last thing. A weakness of much of Lynch’s work is that one rarely sees people of colour, especially not in leading roles. It’s interesting then that Lynch should choose a woman of colour to sing the final, exultant song, supported by Black dancers. (And it's a Black woman who shows Dern the light.) A cynic might call it tokenistic, but it’s as if Lynch finally saw the light (dark?!) and gave people of colour centre stage at the conclusion of his final feature film.
"The same goes for the phrase ‘self-indulgent' " - YES. He is creating his art the way he wants, that's what artists do. The original TP show was more widely accepted by the mainstream because it was mainstream commercial tv of the era, and each important moment they hit the audience over the head with what was happening.
I still can’t believe I missed out on these awesome films by an amazing director. About 4 months ago started watching one of his films for first time every time I do a little mushroom 🍄 trip. Just got done watching inland empire tonight. Love em all especially this one
As far as I’m concerned, ‘Inland Empire’ is Lynch’s ‘Finnegan’s Wake.’ And while I admire its pure, raw, honest, and uncompromising nature (I bow to it actually), I recall my extremely visceral reaction to it.
It was one of the most demanding, challenging, and frustrating experiences I’ve ever had attempting to absorb a work of art. It tried my patience to no end. However, out of respect for Lynch, I forced myself to endure it.
I remember taking it all in afterwards, and being very split about it.
Either...
(a) This is an indulgent, solipsistic exercise in which Lynch has finally disappeared up his own asshole...
or...
(b) Lynch is a genius and ‘Inland Empire’ may be a masterpiece, but I sure as hell haven’t caught up to its wavelength yet.
But as always, your insights have opened up new windows and possibilities to this film for me.
Wow! You are so beautiful and have such intriguing and distinguished taste in film and the filmmaking you choose to discuss, I'm continually impressed & sometimes challenged by your insights. I've actually commented on past videos making some reference to Inland Empire once in awhile and being aware of your love and devotion to Lynch I knew you'd have seen it but wasn't sure if you had or would ever do a review or your thoughts on it. Still to this day one of the only films that actually scares me or gives me real visceral & cerebral fear! I haven't watched it in quite awhile but have been thinking of putting it on. Just kind of a deep commitment as, with the Director's Cut and extra scenes, test footage, rabbits etc, I think it can be close to 4+ hrs long. I do remember the last time I watched it, hoping to expose a friend at the time, I about nearly tear up and melt when the first shots of the girl sitting at the end of her bed staring at the tv screen come on, and how the music & general abstract ambivalence creeps in . . . It can get to be fucking overwhelming! Thanks again for this channel and I am more motivated to see one of my favorite movies again soon, as well as another viewing of The Ring.
PS. I know you seem to have uniquely different opinions on Christopher Nolan than some folks and can be provocative when expressing them, lol, but I'd love to hear your take on Tenet at some point in the future.
David Lynch works are interesting for me. His dreamlike works that deal with gangsters can be a bit cartoonish in some scenes. However they reminds me of Tarkovsky's poetry films and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Have you review any Apichatpong W. yet? Each one is different but there are poetic and mysterious vibes in their films.
Loved the film I watched it twice, and the real message of the film is... The medium of film is very powerful that it leaves an impact on the audience, maybe for a couple days or a couple months but a great film leaves an impact on a viewer forever!
inland empire is the perfect, most lynch, most impenetrable bookend to the trilogy
You mentioned Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive, and this as forming a kind of trilogy. I definitely agree, but I'm also curious what you think of The Straight Story, which came between the first two. Maybe Lynch making a G-rated Disney film is perhaps the most Lynchian thing he's ever done.
Those three films are "The L.A. Trilogy." I think The Straight Story was somewhat of an anomaly. It's possible he took it on because the money was right, and he could then use that money to pursue other things. I also think his friendship with Sissy Spacek may have played a role in getting him the job.
@@adamant5550 It was written by his partner and collaborator Mary Sweeney, and he said it was one of very few scripts he's ever read that he actually wanted to make.
I agree with you RE: Mullholland Drive. That movie is just perfection to me.
To me this is Lynch´s magnum opus, although it is a close call with MD. It is very scriptic and surreal, but I can see a clear narrative or rather the imagining of a certain situation with interlocking symbolism. It is the inevitable continuation from LH and MD. Sure, people can take different things and meanings from it, depending on one´s personality and experiences. The beauty of it is that the meaning isn´t fixed and there´s always room for more interpretation and doubt.
Yes ! You nailed it. 😎 That’s how I remember it and I agree with everything you said. Excellent review. You made me want to rewatch it.
wow, wonderful review. very articulate and well thought out . 10/10
I couldn't help but noticed that your video image is reversed (because of the books). What was the reason behind that?
Where do you stand on taking psychedelics and watching movies? I dosed a (weak) hit of acid the first time I watched this film and I'm still not sure if it was a good idea. It certainly added to the weird vibe, but in a way I think it made keeping track of the thematic elements harder.
Well, now you have to do The Elephant Man. It's streaming on Criterion Channel this month.
Ooo, I’ve wanted to watch this movie for long now. Somehow haven’t gotten around to yet 😞 -Have only seen clips, & those clips were super intriguing.
I absolutely agree with alot of what you said, and its so nice to hear. also, the Pomona scene where Sue/Nikki dies on the street is sooooooo tramatic for me as well. "You dyin' lady" ...how absolutely devastating.
Hollywood Blvd. scene, they just MENTION Pomona.
Tangent, DL has never worked with Bucky J. again. 😉
After a few watches this film has definitely grown on me. I think it needs to be seen on the big screen to get the full effect.
Aren't we the protagonist here? After all, as the movie begins, the light is on us, as if we were the stage and our psyche (our inner empire) was the main character in this unfolding spectacle.. but that's just one layer, and there are 3 of those;]
Great observation about the light being on us. Thanks!
Dern deserved to win Oscar for this film, but unfortunetly she didn 't
She definitively won the Oscar for the wrong movie. But Inland Empire was too abstract and indie for her to possibly win for it, even if she deserved it.
thank you for this, now I really need to see this!!
Great review as always!
After Eraserhead Lynch’s films were stalked by the fever nightmare that slipped in and out of scenes before leaping out and bearing down a main character in the finale. Inland Empire was returning full circle to the main character having already been swallowed by the mad dream.
No offense, but nobody knows Lynch "quite well", maybe not even himself.
Lynch is understanable on a story level pretty easy. Maybe not all his references to the story but the stories are easy.
I just completed my own analysis of the film and decided to poke about and see what other perspectives there were out there, and there's startlingly few videos on this film. It really is for a niche audience. I view its idea as sort of the anti-Mulholland Drive, where the protagonist hits the brakes before being devoured by Hollywood. I do think it does have a very definite narrative, though.
In regards to creative control, I do have to point out that while he definitely tangled with TV networks, he's had final cut on every feature film starting with Blue Velvet.
Mulholland Drive was originally going to be a tv show, but after seeing a rough cut of what he had started making, ABC killed that plan. Then he came up with ideas to make it into the film we know.
Tangent, ABC suits said Laura & Naomi were "too old for the parts." #Morons
Glad i finally got to see this on the big screen
I’m very curious about your opinion on Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
I wish this would stream somewhere. I can’t find it on any platform.
Emovies.io
My favorite part was recognizing Terry Crews as one of the homeless people towards the end. Just had this whole confusing watching experience, then T. Crews appears
same!
Any chance of a complete Lynch Retrospective inclusive of Twin Peaks ?
I absolutely love this movie, and also hate it. Only Lynch could make me feel this paradox.
Great review!
I love every David Lynch film except this and Dune. Inland Empire to me delivers some great abstract and innovative sequences that pique my interest...but its just way too tedious and scrapped together as a full experience. There's times where it feels like he's just making it up as he goes along and loses any sort of cohesion or throughline for me to identify with.
the death scene is superb.
Hits hard
Tenet is Christopher Nolan at his Nolaniest. Inland Empire is David Lynch at his Lynchiest.
I loved that movie, the first two hours anyway.
I think this is your best review ever.
Inland Empire trippy,,flippy interestingly art meets cinema Love it .......is a nickname I believe for an area in California ...love the insight thank you
Soporific. I don’t think I had ever read or heard the this word before watching this video. Vocab +1 so thank you for that! It’s been 15 years since I last watched Inland Empire but I clearly remember the incredibly disorienting feeling when Grace Zabriskie’s character tells Laura Dern’s character that if it were tomorrow, she’d be sitting on a couch across the room. The camera pans and we’ve plunged down a rabbit hole. Watching I.E. is one of the most unique movie-viewing experiences I’ve ever had. I hope there’s a criterion release of this someday!
Its coming out criterion this march
Pretty Woman: "Welcome to Hollywood, what's your dream?" DL Inland Empire: "You just dyin', girl, that's all." 😉
What was your thoughts on “What Did Jack Do?”
Been waiting for this
Where did you watch Inland Empire? It’s not available on DVD or for rent digitally. As a Lynch fan, I’ve always wanted to watch it. I guess I could get it off some shady website.
It's on youtube I think.
I have Inland Empire on DVD. I live in a Region 2 country, where I believe it is easier to get hold of a physical copy. I bought it from HMV about a decade ago.
This movie felt like an emotional colonoscopy. I loved it.
I'm a Lynch fan and I enjoyed this film.
I really hope Inland Empire doesn't end up being Lynch's final movie. I love most of his work, but I just can't get into this movie.
Those rabbits though...
I always tend to focus deeply when I watch you. Heeey, wait a minute....
How'd you do that?
I could not get into it. The scenes were done very well but absolutely no story at all. That’s the trademark of his stuff is symbology and metaphor but Inland Empire had no direction. The first forty minutes were very well and after the hotel room scene the film goes in fifty different directions
This lady .. knows, her shit.. and, has a vocabulary... I don’t comment often...stay loquacious... enjoy, the channel
have you experienced these things to see them so wellor just a yeah thia ia what it is cause have a great vocabulary and intellet
Lost highway isn't half baked though , its baked just fine. You just don't like it as much.
Is it as good as “Ain’t them bodies saints”? Laura dern is in every fucking movie.
Nailed it. Definitely a tough one to describe hahah!!