I speak often with people who believe the final shot speaks to the fact that all the action and language previously has all been in Sam’s head. While the notion is favorable, I disagree… I believe that Jack has broken Sam of his desires to dream and soar by way of torture under the direction of Helpmann to become the android like worker they all wanted him to be from the beginning… It’s all about the promotion and Sam’s reluctance to advance until it suits his personal needs, his private needs… his own “thoughts” and “dreams”. He sees an opportunity to meet the one desire he has in his dystopian world, goes thru unorthodox channels and gets caught. But all the while a Big Brother type entity known as M.O.I. has his fate sealed and is waiting to spring at the first sign of insubordination… In the world of BRAZIL, the sinister undercurrent is the oppressive 1984esq atmosphere supported by Gilliams’ brilliant sense of humor.
I love(d) INLAND EMPIRE… Maybe I was just thrilled to see a new David Lynch project but I got engrossed in it and the rabbit sitcom scenes scared the hell out of me… reminded me of nightmares I had as boy of the Sesame Street characters murdering my family.
So many films speak to many different levels but the few I return to often are:
Brazil – Terry Gilliam (I view it every chance I get in theatres)
Blade Runner – Ridely Scott (Ditto above)
The Fisher King – Terry Gilliam (Just makes me happy when the world is rotten)
Tideland – Terry Gilliam (The innocence of a child is AMAZING!)
Mulholland Drive – David Lynch (Still thinking about this one on a daily basis)
A Clockwork Orange – Stanley Kubrick (A beautiful, violent ballet)
2001: A Space Odyssey – Stanley Kubrick (Still blows me away)
The Matrix – Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski (Helped me grasp the concept of philosophy)
Only one film in my day… Mixed Nuts. Not one funny thing about that complete waste of celluloid. Since then, I’ll choke it out if necessary since I’m willing to give anything the benefit of the doubt… but if it’s a clanker, expect it to be ridiculed and stripped of dignity! “Waste of celluloid” seems to be a favorite statement of mine… take it, spread it around.
Just last night I enjoyed BURN AFTER READING and the Malkovich hatchet attack was a WTF moment for me. But always, no matter how many times I see it, the scene in BLADE RUNNER where Deckard is just about to let go and Batty grabs him at the last second… Intense.
I remember loving this film way back when… I think I saw it on HBO and was intrigued. I have it among my stack of films and think I’ll give it a view once again and will re-post with $0.02 worth… Thanks for bringing it to the surface once again.
It seems to me that it was more like Lynch’s nail in the coffin of the series that earned him notoriety. This is apparent in the opening scene of the blank TV set that gets the axe! While it was absolutely more linear than is to be expected of a David Lynch film, it also conformed to the TWIN PEAKS audience that was mainly a television audience, meaning they didn’t venture out to see ERASERHEAD immediately… they were content with the TWIN PEAKS universe. I enjoyed the film and found it to be a fitting end and was pleased they could take it a bit further in theatrical release than what could be shown on national television… But to answer your question, I believe the intended audience is that group that took TWIN PEAKS and dove head first into the world of Laura Palmer… They wrote books, made fanzines and speculated for almost two seasons who the killed Laura Palmer.
As for the DONNA reference, I assume you mean the different actress?
The suicide scene in MULHOLLAND DRIVE keeps coming to mind as well as the fainting singer lip synching… For the very reason Bob stated… caught me completely unawares.
Completely agree with Bob… When I first joined I was overjoyed that there was finally a forum to talk film and film production with intellegent people. No posting of “that movie sucks cuz it just does”… Ugh! Argument without conviction is inane and for the most part arguments on this site are constructive, with merit and valid. A few have popped thru and I for one would like to see some regulation on the threads in so much as catagorization. I love talking film with you guys and have learned valuable information and been turned on to some really great films and I thank you for that… Still in agreement with Bob, let’s keep it civil. Cheers!
L. Ron Hubbards BATTLEFIELD EARTH… Big book and big potential. Burn the previous inception and start over. (no offense to Travolta… He’s a fine actor but eee-gad what an epic flop). And I’ll throw in for Kubricks NAPOLEON. It would have been amazing.
I feel like it was film ahead of its time…. Not only is the subject taboo, it’s immoral and while these are great story springboards, I feel like the film alienated its audience because it was so “out there” in its delivery… It’s a film that would go over well in today’s society but out from under the Hollywood banner… perhaps Studio Canal since she might have some ties there? I think the legal battles that were among the films release also had much to do with its failure at the box office. I find it interesting tho as this Lynch tends to make the female the hero, a complete 180 from her father’s POV. One just cannot predict an audience… it was a gamble and it didn’t pay off at the time. Looking forward to Surveillance.
Such witty writing and brilliantly acted by all cast! LOVE Fawlty Towers and wish it could have gone on… (Occasionally answer the phone, “Hello? Fawlty Titties…”) Hotel Inspectors has to be my all time favorite. The ending makes me squee..!
Is it in his head or has Sam been Big Brothered..? over 3 years ago
I speak often with people who believe the final shot speaks to the fact that all the action and language previously has all been in Sam’s head. While the notion is favorable, I disagree… I believe that Jack has broken Sam of his desires to dream and soar by way of torture under the direction of Helpmann to become the android like worker they all wanted him to be from the beginning… It’s all about the promotion and Sam’s reluctance to advance until it suits his personal needs, his private needs… his own “thoughts” and “dreams”. He sees an opportunity to meet the one desire he has in his dystopian world, goes thru unorthodox channels and gets caught. But all the while a Big Brother type entity known as M.O.I. has his fate sealed and is waiting to spring at the first sign of insubordination… In the world of BRAZIL, the sinister undercurrent is the oppressive 1984esq atmosphere supported by Gilliams’ brilliant sense of humor.
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Films you love but most people hate. over 3 years ago
I love(d) INLAND EMPIRE… Maybe I was just thrilled to see a new David Lynch project but I got engrossed in it and the rabbit sitcom scenes scared the hell out of me… reminded me of nightmares I had as boy of the Sesame Street characters murdering my family.
Maybe I ought to stop watching Lynch films…
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Which film has changed your life forever? over 3 years ago
So many films speak to many different levels but the few I return to often are:
Brazil – Terry Gilliam (I view it every chance I get in theatres)
Blade Runner – Ridely Scott (Ditto above)
The Fisher King – Terry Gilliam (Just makes me happy when the world is rotten)
Tideland – Terry Gilliam (The innocence of a child is AMAZING!)
Mulholland Drive – David Lynch (Still thinking about this one on a daily basis)
A Clockwork Orange – Stanley Kubrick (A beautiful, violent ballet)
2001: A Space Odyssey – Stanley Kubrick (Still blows me away)
The Matrix – Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski (Helped me grasp the concept of philosophy)
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Which Movies Have You Walked Out On? over 3 years ago
Only one film in my day… Mixed Nuts. Not one funny thing about that complete waste of celluloid. Since then, I’ll choke it out if necessary since I’m willing to give anything the benefit of the doubt… but if it’s a clanker, expect it to be ridiculed and stripped of dignity! “Waste of celluloid” seems to be a favorite statement of mine… take it, spread it around.
Go to Comment
Which scenes have made your heart beat a mile a minute? over 3 years ago
Just last night I enjoyed BURN AFTER READING and the Malkovich hatchet attack was a WTF moment for me. But always, no matter how many times I see it, the scene in BLADE RUNNER where Deckard is just about to let go and Batty grabs him at the last second… Intense.
Go to Comment
Films you love but most people hate. over 3 years ago
One more addition: Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man… It’s a guilty pleasure.
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Peter Weir's Fearless over 3 years ago
I remember loving this film way back when… I think I saw it on HBO and was intrigued. I have it among my stack of films and think I’ll give it a view once again and will re-post with $0.02 worth… Thanks for bringing it to the surface once again.
Go to Comment
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me over 3 years ago
It seems to me that it was more like Lynch’s nail in the coffin of the series that earned him notoriety. This is apparent in the opening scene of the blank TV set that gets the axe! While it was absolutely more linear than is to be expected of a David Lynch film, it also conformed to the TWIN PEAKS audience that was mainly a television audience, meaning they didn’t venture out to see ERASERHEAD immediately… they were content with the TWIN PEAKS universe. I enjoyed the film and found it to be a fitting end and was pleased they could take it a bit further in theatrical release than what could be shown on national television… But to answer your question, I believe the intended audience is that group that took TWIN PEAKS and dove head first into the world of Laura Palmer… They wrote books, made fanzines and speculated for almost two seasons who the killed Laura Palmer.
As for the DONNA reference, I assume you mean the different actress?
Go to Comment
Favorite Moment In A David Lynch Movie over 3 years ago
The suicide scene in MULHOLLAND DRIVE keeps coming to mind as well as the fainting singer lip synching… For the very reason Bob stated… caught me completely unawares.
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SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE CURRENT FORUM POSTING MECHANISM FOR THREADS & FORUM ETIQUETTE over 3 years ago
Completely agree with Bob… When I first joined I was overjoyed that there was finally a forum to talk film and film production with intellegent people. No posting of “that movie sucks cuz it just does”… Ugh! Argument without conviction is inane and for the most part arguments on this site are constructive, with merit and valid. A few have popped thru and I for one would like to see some regulation on the threads in so much as catagorization. I love talking film with you guys and have learned valuable information and been turned on to some really great films and I thank you for that… Still in agreement with Bob, let’s keep it civil. Cheers!
Go to Comment
The Greatest Movies Never Made... over 3 years ago
L. Ron Hubbards BATTLEFIELD EARTH… Big book and big potential. Burn the previous inception and start over. (no offense to Travolta… He’s a fine actor but eee-gad what an epic flop). And I’ll throw in for Kubricks NAPOLEON. It would have been amazing.
Go to Comment
Jennifer Lynch over 3 years ago
I feel like it was film ahead of its time…. Not only is the subject taboo, it’s immoral and while these are great story springboards, I feel like the film alienated its audience because it was so “out there” in its delivery… It’s a film that would go over well in today’s society but out from under the Hollywood banner… perhaps Studio Canal since she might have some ties there? I think the legal battles that were among the films release also had much to do with its failure at the box office. I find it interesting tho as this Lynch tends to make the female the hero, a complete 180 from her father’s POV. One just cannot predict an audience… it was a gamble and it didn’t pay off at the time. Looking forward to Surveillance.
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Where are you from? about 3 years ago
Austin, TX. Since 91 by way of Dallas… Came for the music, stayed for the film. Would love to do a stint in Seattle tho…
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Any Fawlty Towers fans out there? almost 3 years ago
Such witty writing and brilliantly acted by all cast! LOVE Fawlty Towers and wish it could have gone on… (Occasionally answer the phone, “Hello? Fawlty Titties…”) Hotel Inspectors has to be my all time favorite. The ending makes me squee..!
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