Raymond, Tim, and Frank finish their discussion about David Lynch’s filmography. They cover WILD AT HEART to TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN. Please visit Raymond’s website for more information on his latest novel and where to order it!
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Podcasting Them Softly 
Excellent podcast, men. LOVED that you started with a quote regarding the greatest filmmaker of all time (Kubrick, of course) and talked about Industrial Symphony (yes, it WAS first). WAH was his best film and I thank you for taking the time to analyze it. It was, to paraphrase you, Lynch’s most dynamic love story. True Magic on screen. The fact that the Symphony started with an ‘alternate ending’ of WAH (although I don’t think it was an alternate ending, more a stream of WAH consciousness) speaks volumes.
Btw Sherilyn Fenn’s character in WAH had a *very* specific purpose. She was, as Lula points out, the curse of the journey, the turning point of it all, if you will.
Regarding Johnny (“He could find an honest man in Washington”) Farragut? He wasn’t the worst detective. He was blinded by his all-encompassing love for Marietta. Remember the title of the film. Wild at HEART. THAT’s why all the fuck-ups. THAT’s why so many mistakes.
You spoke of the other “happy endings” in Lynch’s oeuvre? All the others, WAH, excepted, were at a price. Henry’s baby is dead. Dorothy is scarred, as is her son (who probably saw his father killed). The only purely happy ending is WAH. Sailor is free. Well, on probation. 😉 Lula has broken the chains of her mother. Bobby Peru is dead and Perdita is not the type to come looking for bloodlust. They are reunited and going to be married. Roll Credits.
Wait. TIm — you watched FWWM beFORE TP? Heathen! As Lynchian as that may seem, in my mind (I say this with a wink and a nod, amigo), Lynch would say, “So you didn’t watch my show when it was first on… so you were part of the reason it got cancelled? Fuck you, fella!” 😉
If FWWM was hard to take, then Lynch did his job. You missed the point: Lynch wanted to see Laura ALIVE. And yes, it is TP. With a horror frame, yes. But I still do not consider it a horror. I know it’s splitting hairs, but I have nightmares and night terrors. Nightmares are, simply, nightmares. Night terrors are horror movies. FWWM is a nightmare. Do what you will with that statement.
Temporal traveling. Nice. That is exactly what Jeffries was doing once he discovered how to do it. But the Steampunk imagery of what Philip Jeffries became — I do believe had more to do with David Bowie’s death. Just a theory.
And to further stir the pot… Lara Flynn Boyle not coming back? A blessing.
The Lodge scenes? “Weird to be weird” He wasn’t constrained by TV any longer so of COURSE he went “out there.” I do agree SO strongly that the scene with Annie wearing the ring in hospital being cut was an horrific cut.
Now. One note regarding misogyny. No one would ever say that Lynch outright hates women but he certainly doesn’t treat us with the respect we deserve. What you didn’t discuss — even though you addressed the Bad Guys getting theirs — is that women don’t just magically heal once we’re victimised. And Lynch’s addressing of that? Questionable. Laura dies, Sarah becomes a demon vehicle… and we’re just supposed to believe because of a musical cue and reunion that Dorothy is OK? WRONG. Yeah. I know. Only so much time in a film and obviously not what Lynch cares about addressing in said film.
Oh. What does THAT say about his attitude towards women?
Don’t get me wrong. Love his films. But I do know how he treats the women in his life and I do not go in with blinders on when it comes to fan adoration. I just hope he ‘commits something to celluloid’ once more instead of another cheese head for insects.
Thanks for the infotainment. 😉
I have to go, my feed is acting up… thus ends my commentary for Part I of Part II.
Vive la Impressionista!
😉
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Suzanne! Thank you very much for listening and for your comments! We obviously love Lynch! 🙂
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Yes, dreams are quite important to David Lynch. Apparently he gets a lot of ideas from them.
Interpreting Lynch is not easy, a lot of disagreements even among fans. For years I read a lot of arguments on the IMDb message boards. I offered my share of interpretations. It’s fun though. Lynch has repeatedly said people interpret his work the way they want and it’s just as valid. He likes inspiring ideas in people, one of the goals of art really. I noted several disagreements even among you fellows.
‘Lost Highway’ for instance. I viewed that in the same way as Twin Peaks. Fred was haunted by a couple of demons, who came out of his house via some sort of portal. He thought his wife Renee was possessed by one causing him to kill her. Apparently to me anyway, another of the demons haunted Pete causing the transfer of their personalities, and also their bodies. Difficult concepts for sure, so the dream theme is a good substitute. I wondered that if it was all a dream why the details, Pete’s parents, Sheila trying to save Pete from disappearing. ‘There was a man with you’, upset hearing Fred’s music, etc. ? Lots of disagreements about all that.
‘Mulholland Drive’ was another controversial movie. I agree with Raymond that it is set up in the first few moments. The real events all concern Diane. Betty is a dream figure. But after many views I thought that Camilla is also dreaming, as is Dan. You see Dan watching Diane and Joe in Winky’s. The ‘city of dreams’. The Adam story is real. The ‘Cowboy’ is some sort of enforcer. Yeah, they’re probably still arguing about that somewhere.
And of course ‘Inland Empire’ is nothing if not controversial. Lynch really delved into the paranormal for that one. The concept of the curse is the central theme. The curse is based on the concepts of sympathetic magic, trying to relive past events by emulation. In the case of a curse the past events infiltrate your life. In playing parts of a cursed tale Nikki and Devon’s lives started to resemble the tale, ‘Axxon n’. Parts of the remake ‘4/7’ were also shown, and effects of the curse. Apparently Nikki finally figures how to break the curse. I thought the Rabbits were figments of Nikki’s imagination caused by the curse, them being in Room 47. Fascinating movie for me. Loved the soundtrack also, some Penderecki included.
As to ‘The Return’, I enjoyed it a lot. They could easily do another season. Apparently the number of episodes restrained their abilities. I imagined with maybe 6 more hours they could have resolved a few things. It sure looked to me like Steven killed Becky and himself. I’m just imaging Shelley’s reaction, and will probably have to be content with that. It never occurred to me that nuclear explosions might have some paranormal effects, but it sure is conceivable. After learning that Margaret’s husband died in a forest fire and she took a log from the site as a totem I imagined that the ‘Woodsmen’ were ghosts of other loggers who died in forest fires. I also thought that the ‘Dutchman’s’ was a store that burned in one. I’m sure Lynch would not dissuade me from that notion. At any rate, Major Brigg’s ‘listening station’ had major effects on Twin Peaks and presumably much of the country. I wonder what effects contacting another dimension might have? Or has had? There certainly are legends about it.
I have to thank Lynch for informing me about Penderecki and Witold Lutoslowski, real favorites now.
And you fellows for a nice thought provoking show.
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Thank you very much for your insight and listening, Gary!
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