Inland Empire (2006)

Director: David Lynch
Writer:   David Lynch
Cast:     Laura Dern, Justin Theroux, Jeremy Irons
As an actress starts to adopt the persona of her character in a film, her world starts to become nightmarish and surreal.

If you consider the trilogy of David Lynch films set in LA-'Lost Highway', Mulholland Drive' and 'Inland Empire', all of them can be interpreted that events depicted are similar to the short story, by American author Ambrose Bierce, 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Occurrence_at_Owl_Creek_Bridge

In Lost Highway, the reality part occurs in the beginning and the dream part, possibly when Fred Madison is about to be electrocuted, happens possibly in the second part of the film but it ends up as a cyclical loop. In Mulholland Drive, the most accessible and straightforward of the three, we start with the dream/fantasy and ends up with reality. In Inland Empire also we mostly see the fantasy and in between we are shown the presumed Reality of the Susan character.

The film was shot without a script and David Lynch used to give the dialogues daily to the actors. There are deleted scenes available as extras with which more sense can be made of it. The themes are infidelity, woman in trouble, redemption from  purgatory and kind of very spiritual in  nature. There are very detailed interpretations done along these lines available in internet for those interested. Seen some interpretations wherein which Lost Highway with its cyclical and eternal nature compared to 'Hell', Mulholland Drive as 'Purgatory' and 'Inland Empire' as redemption from the purgatory. Kind of make sense.

It is a challenging watch but a must watch for David Lynch fans. For those who haven't seen  any Lynch films, it is better to leave 'Inland Empire' as the last one to watch because of its level of mindfuckery.

Rating: 4/5

Lost Highway (1997)

Director: David Lynch
Writers:  David Lynch, Barry Gilford
Cast:      Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette, John Roselius
After a bizarre encounter at a party, a jazz saxophonist is framed for the murder of his wife and sent to prison, where he inexplicably morphs into a young mechanic and begins leading a new life.

Watched it for the third time and is my favorite David Lynch film. Film is non-linear with respect to time and space. It is also cyclical. Is it? You won't get a near neat explanation like Mulholland Drive, but is much more complex and greater.

Rating: 5/5

Wild at Heart (1990)

Director: David Lynch
Writers:  Barry Gilford, David Lynch
Cast:      Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Willem Dafoe
Young lovers Sailor and Lula run from the variety of weirdos that Lula's mum has hired to kill Sailor.

Its essentially a comedy film. There isn't much complexity to the plot like is usual in a Lynch film. Very enjoyable watch.

Rating: 4/5

Mulholland Dr. (2001)

Director: David Lynch
Writer:    David Lynch
Cast:      Naomi Watts, Laura Herring, Justin Theroux
After a car wreck on the winding Mulholland drive renders a woman amnesic, she and a perky Hollywood-hopeful search for clues and answers across Los Angelesin a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality.

If you consider Lynch's 'Lost Highway', 'Inland Empire' and "Mulholland Drive', the latter is the most accessible and there is a coherent plot that the audience can interpret. In that sense this is the most satisfying experience you would get from Lynch if you are particularly keen on to have a coherent plot. The first part of the film was filmed as a pilot for ABC which they rejected. After getting further funding to turn it into a film, Lynch proceeded to shoot the remaining part. Film draws inspiration from Bergman's film 'Persona'.

Rating: 5/5

Eraserhead (1977)

Director: David Lynch
Writer:    David Lynch
Cast:       Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph
There is not much point talking about plot in a David Lynch film. Eraserhead is Lynch's first feature film and it was produced with a $10,000 grant and as the money ran out he completed the film over five years. It was a midnight classic than ran as a cult classic in several American cities and London. Mel Brooks asked Lynch to direct 'The Elephant Man' after seeing this film and Eraserhead is a favorite for Stanley Kubrick as well. Kubrick showed it to the cast of Shining before the shoot began to convey to them what mood he was looking for in his film.

A notable feature of Eraserhead is its soundtrack. Throughout the most duration of the film it sounds like the one we get when we tune radio and at other times he uses industrial sounds.

Rating: 4/5