Movies that make you go WTF are special movies indeed. Just ask (or read) this Whatculture contributor who's viewing habits make Hollywood focus groups cringe in fear that she has such influence on main stream culture. While we all bitch about the current state of cinema with it's popcorn predictability, dumbed down mass releases and beating on the usual dead horses, let's instead take a look at a visionary director that has such influence on cinema that his contribution cannot be overlooked at a time when our attention span is so short that we want to just jump into the main part of this article, so much so that it's difficult to follow to the end of this sent
David Lynch is an oddity within himself. A non-mainstream visionary who hit the mainstream right in it's American nutsack. His film genre CV reads like a student itinerary with 'Undeclared' written all over his class choices. Nothing wrong with that. Yet at a time when 'family connections' play such a large part in Hollywood's next generation of film-makers, Lynch is the strange uncle at the family Christmas Party that nobody ever talks about yet you found he was the most amazing person in your family.
He was first 'noticed' for his critically acclaimed student art film, Eraserhead (1977), the quintessential WTF film. For you burgeoning film writers and directors out there it is interesting to note his script came in at 21 pages, which he stretched into an 89 minute film of WTF. It followed the father of a mutant baby, was shot in grainy black and white and became a cult midnight showing in New York and Los Angeles, back in a time when Midnight showings were the greatest thing going (so before the internet gave us insomniacs a reason to stay home).
From that he was noticed by a big-time Hollywood producer, known for working with Mel Brooks at the time and who enjoyed Eraserhead so much, he funded Lynch's next project, The Elephant Man (1980). Starring John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins, it was about a disfigured man at first ostracized then coveted by Victorian society. Call it a pre-cursor to Edward Scissorhands. This led to an offer by George Lucas to direct Return of the Jedi, which Lynch refused. Read that again. Lynch was offered and refused to direct Return of the Jedi. WTF to what could have been...
Instead he chose to direct Frank Herbert's Sci-Fi epic novel Dune (1984), starring David Bowie, Patrick Stewart and a soon to be frequent favorite collaborator with the director; Kyle Maclachlan. Lynch had difficulties in the creative control the studio had with the final cut and which would lead him away from the big budget movie trajectory he was on back into territory more to his liking; low budget films with (mostly) complete creative control.
Blue Velvet (1986) So what do you do after you jumped from art house director to creepy drama to science fiction? Return to kick small-town Americana in the balls with Blue Velvet; one of Dennis Hopper's creepiest movies and featuring one of the creepiest WTF moments of popular cinema in the eighties. It's stellar cast included Hopper, Isabella Rossalini, Dean Stockwell and Kyle MacLachlan and was a quasi-mystery/crime-thriller of unusual style and finish.
Wild At Heart (1990) There was a time when Nicolas Cage was going toe-to-toe with Johnny Depp for 'oddest character choices'. Following a string of unusual roles, Cage fell into the Lynch mentality by getting involved with Laura Dern's mother and his inner Elvis with this odd little love story. It again fell into that 'love it or hate it' category of film critics and Cageophiles everywhere. Willem Defoe brings his usual menace to his role and once again, David Lynch made audiences leave the theater going "WTF?". Yet, they talked about it and that word of mouth is what made more people see it, with more people either loving it or hating it.
So after 5 cult films under his belt by the mid-eighties, what was next? American television. Back at a time when American television wasn't threatened by HBO, Netflix or Showtime, ABC television took a chance on a 'small American town prime time soap opera' called Twin Peaks. Perhaps ABC executives didn't know who David Lynch was but either way, Twin Peaks and the story of the WTF secrets of a small logging town in the American Northwest hit television sets to critical acclaim and increasing decreasing viewership as the 2 seasons went on into storyline chaos. Loosely centered on the death of All-American girl Laura Palmer, it soon spiralled it's way into WTF territory with dancing midgets, a alternate universe Red Room, a demon named Bob, a lady who carried a log and a cross-dressing FBI agent played by the yet to be famous David Duchovny. Kyle MacLachlan returned to working with Lynch again as the hub that held all these different storylines together as Special Agent Dale Cooper.
Despite it's early cancellation, Lynch was able to find enough support to direct a special feature film of Twin Peaks; Walk With Me (1992) for the die hard fans that needed some closure on the show. Being Lynch, instead of concentrating on the 'After cancellation' part, like Serenity did with Firefly, he went with a 'Before and After' mix of storytelling to show what truly happened to Laura Palmer.
Again, reception was mixed. So now he's hit nearly every major genre except for Action in the movie canon, tried his vision on the large screen and the small. Nothing for him to do but take a break, lick his wounds and come back swinging with another major WTF movie called...
Lost Highway (1997) - I remember watching this and seriously thinking 'What. The. F@#k.' This movie was a schism of epic proportions that was near unheard of as a Hollywood release and a foreshadowing of what was to come from Lynch. Starring Bill (don't call me Paxton) Pullman, it was another story that jumped jarringly into another direction with the appearance of a pale Robert Blake. It has an amazing soundtrack featuring David Bowie, Marilyn Manson,Rammstein, Nine Inch Nails and The Smashing Pumpkins and at the very least introduced a whole new generation to Lynch and showed that Lynch's signature musical style was not in danger of becoming a stereotype within itself.
Then to further the WTF he goes as close to normalcy as David Lynch can get with with...
The Straight Story (1999) - a rather bland drama (for David Lynch) about the true story of a man who drives his lawn mower 300 miles across America to make amends with his ill brother. It starred Hollywood legends Richard Farnsworth and Sissy Spacek and for a brief moment in time, Lynch's confusing career trajectory looked like it was heading for 'After School Special' territory. It was the only Lynch movie ever to be rated 'G' to the viewing audience. WTF?
Muholland Drive (2001) - To most, this is David Lynch's crowning glory. A beautifully shot film that shows elements of his past movies blended into this seamless modern film noir of a struggling Hollywood actress played by a yet-to-be-discovered-by-America Naomi Watts. When the WTF moment hits, it's pulled with such subtlety that it should make you want to go back and watch the movie again with this new knowledge. To think that this to be a pilot for another 'back to television' project astounds.
Inland Empire (2006) was his last major theatrical work, clocking in at around 3 hours. It follows the same WTF of Lost Highway and Muholland Drive and follows the descent into madness of an actress who believes her latest film project is cursed. Of special note, just in case anyone was thinking Lynch was perhaps becoming predictable in his WTF ideas, that in an effort to promote the film, Lynch made appearances with a cow and a placard bearing the slogan "Without cheese there would be no Inland Empire". Make of that what you will. Yet again, critical acclaim and ticket sales were mixed. In a world of increasing predictable money makers, Lynch has proven again and again that he is at best a long shot to win the box office weekend.
Thankfully, the internet was created where David Lynch is able to continue his pursuits musically, artistically and cinematic-ally through whatever he chooses to edit together. He was one of the first auteurs to truly take to the medium and the creative liberty it gave him. I won't bore you with the details. Just go to davidlynch.com and see what the man has been doing in the world of music, paint and film.
Then go download some classic David Lynch and relax.
Other films/directors that remind you of David Lynch? Please add them in the comments below so I can schedule my weekend!
