David Lynch in Chicago
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:01 am
I've been such a frequent visitor to dugpa.com for so long, I thought I'd try and do my part to get discussions rolling in here...
I live in Milwaukee, WI, and drove down to Chicago last Saturday to see INLAND EMPIRE at the Music Box Theatre. It was my first time at the theater, and I thought it was a great place to see a Lynch movie (it reminds me somewhat of the Oriental Theater here in Milwaukee).
I actually caught two showings - I was there in time to see the 4:00 show, and I also had a ticket for the sold out 8:00 show, where David Lynch was going to make an appearance.
I thought the movie was fantastic, and I'm glad I had the chance to see it twice. It is far more abstract than most Lynch films and the second viewing offered some insight to me in making sense of it all, but not as much as has been the case when I've viewed Mulholland Dr, Lost Highway, etc. This movie felt like a 21st. century Eraserhead to me - perhaps not quite as claustrophobic, but a similar abstract style which built upon many of his previous themes.
Mr. Lynch came out just after 8:00, and had someone start things off with a short improvisation on the Music Box's organ at the front of the theater. He then gave a quote, which I've seen posted before on the IE messageboard, so I'm assuming he does this often:
"We are like the spider.
We weave our life and then move along in it.
We are like the dreamer
who dreams and then lives in the dream.
This is true for the entire universe."
After the movie, he came back out for a Q&A session. Much of it was material he's addressed before (ideas, consciousness, etc.), but there were a few interesting stories. I had not previously heard the story about where the title "INLAND EMPIRE" came from. He said he had been talking with Laura Dern, who mentioned Ben Harper (her husband) and the Inland Empire area of California. When he heard her say that, he thought that would be a great name for the new movie. Shortly after that, his brother had been cleaning up a (family?) cabin, and sent David a journal. It was David's journal, from when he was a child. When he opened it, the first thing he saw was a picture of Washington (state), with the caption "Inland Empire". He said he saw that as a good sign.
The questions had to be cut off, since there was also a midnight screening, and they had to clear the theater to get the next group in. As people left the theater, the long line of people outside started to cheer, because it was COLD outside! I felt sorry for them, but I'm sure it was worth it.
Can anyone here give any insight into how the midnight show went? Was there another Q&A?
Anyway, glad to see a forum here on dugpa.com - keep up the great work, and thanks for so much info over the years! This has always been my "go-to" place for Lynch information.
garmonBOZia
I live in Milwaukee, WI, and drove down to Chicago last Saturday to see INLAND EMPIRE at the Music Box Theatre. It was my first time at the theater, and I thought it was a great place to see a Lynch movie (it reminds me somewhat of the Oriental Theater here in Milwaukee).
I actually caught two showings - I was there in time to see the 4:00 show, and I also had a ticket for the sold out 8:00 show, where David Lynch was going to make an appearance.
I thought the movie was fantastic, and I'm glad I had the chance to see it twice. It is far more abstract than most Lynch films and the second viewing offered some insight to me in making sense of it all, but not as much as has been the case when I've viewed Mulholland Dr, Lost Highway, etc. This movie felt like a 21st. century Eraserhead to me - perhaps not quite as claustrophobic, but a similar abstract style which built upon many of his previous themes.
Mr. Lynch came out just after 8:00, and had someone start things off with a short improvisation on the Music Box's organ at the front of the theater. He then gave a quote, which I've seen posted before on the IE messageboard, so I'm assuming he does this often:
"We are like the spider.
We weave our life and then move along in it.
We are like the dreamer
who dreams and then lives in the dream.
This is true for the entire universe."
After the movie, he came back out for a Q&A session. Much of it was material he's addressed before (ideas, consciousness, etc.), but there were a few interesting stories. I had not previously heard the story about where the title "INLAND EMPIRE" came from. He said he had been talking with Laura Dern, who mentioned Ben Harper (her husband) and the Inland Empire area of California. When he heard her say that, he thought that would be a great name for the new movie. Shortly after that, his brother had been cleaning up a (family?) cabin, and sent David a journal. It was David's journal, from when he was a child. When he opened it, the first thing he saw was a picture of Washington (state), with the caption "Inland Empire". He said he saw that as a good sign.
The questions had to be cut off, since there was also a midnight screening, and they had to clear the theater to get the next group in. As people left the theater, the long line of people outside started to cheer, because it was COLD outside! I felt sorry for them, but I'm sure it was worth it.
Can anyone here give any insight into how the midnight show went? Was there another Q&A?
Anyway, glad to see a forum here on dugpa.com - keep up the great work, and thanks for so much info over the years! This has always been my "go-to" place for Lynch information.
garmonBOZia