Review of Inland Empire (2006) by Minnow M — 09 Jun 2010

An artist's statement of life that, while dark and at times disturbing, is an affirmation of hope and possibility.

Lynch plumbs the deepest questions of the human experience in grand cinematic scale--creating a doorway for film analysis, art criticism, self reflection. The film invites the viewer to a possible stance of situating one's experience of suffering in not 'meaning' but acceptance and celebration.

Desire, suspicion, sin, self deceit, violence, class struggle, and the exploitation of women are all present as the haunting phantoms here, but they are present in not only our 'hero' (Dern) but the film achieves a porousness that involves the viewer, breaking the dividing wall of 'viewer' and 'viewed' and implicates us as well.

The film beckons us to languish in and give into the dark but resolves the tension with a soaring of possibility and points a finger at a im/possible grace of peace.

The record needle tells the story of an Eternal Return, a cycle or repetition in life, where we all are one and in one journey that is caught in one sin and one spiral of violence and unquenchable desire.

That desire is couched often in a critique of class and suburban middle class mirages but the walls of tenements and mansions are all shown to be thin and cheap stagecraft and poor masks for our manifold lusts.

Lynch is pulling out all the stops here. Wonderful camera play, lighting, sets, soundscaping...It is very difficult to pull of a mythic 'dreamlike' tale such as this and have it all come together. The triumph of the film is Dern though. Her gravitas and realism ground the film in a way that in the hands of any other actor would most likely spin the project out of control.

I understand that the length of the film and at times strained connections between 'storylines' could be frustrating, but I really believe that if one accepts the mythic journey that Dern is on, and trusts Lynch even a little the payoff will be an appreciation for what the medium of film can (rarely) be.

I'm just sad I saw Inland Empire on DVD and not in the theatre with others for it is one of the very few films in recent years that celebrate the filmhouse in a unique and important way (Inglorious Basterds being an even more recent example).

I can agree with those who will find themes of feminist cultural critiques and libratory motifs for those whose gender and bodies have been marginalized. However, I would state that I see Lynch as having sin writ large in view and class, domestic violence, jealousy, control, and dehumanization are all equally found exposed.

A fine film that pulls you into each frame. Delicious.