Inland Empire
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Inland Empire is more of an experience than a film. A film is simply something you watch, this is something you must participate in. Only by incorporating your own fears, hopes and insight can you truly enjoy Inland Empire. While every synopsis you read will say it is about an actress who falls too deeply into her new role and begins to blur reality and fantasy this does not even scratch the surface of what Inland Empire is trying to say. It does not have a linear plot and instead jumps all over the place focusing more on conveying emotions than telling a story. While there are many theories circulating around the Internet Lynch leaves it open to interpretation, letting it mean whatever you want it to. "Surreal" doesn't even begin to cover this movie. It's absolute mind manipulation; Lynch has you in the palm of his hand and can make you feel however he chooses. The directing is beautiful and absolutely disturbing, with a great soundtrack as always. His lighting gives the film both gritty and dream-like qualities. It does what few horror movies have been able to: makes you feel like you're having a nightmare. This movie has the power to really disturb you and has been the first movie to genuinely scare me in a long time. It is a pretty long movie, going for about 3 hours, though no time is wasted and every scene is necessary. It gives you the feeling that it will never end adding to the intensity. Laura Dern says she "can't tell if it's yesterday or tomorrow . . . " and neither can you. She is one of the most versatile actresses I have ever seen, portraying a wide spectrum of emotions sincerely. Her character changes so many times and her performance is flawless and raw. At first she is a sheltered and naïve actress but by the end of the film she is a disturbed white trash prostitute and Dern makes of her changes convincing. She wanders around confused and disjointed like Alice in Wonderland on crack down techno color rabbit hole. If she doesn't win an Oscar there is really something wrong. The supporting cast is excellent as well and all the actors feed off each other letting the tension build. While it's rare for a movie to actually affect you these days, this one sure does and you leave the theater dazed wondering, "what just happened?" Everything begins to have an unreal quality to it for a while after viewing. While I have never taken drugs I can guess it would feel like watching this movie. It gets inside your head and stays there, haunting you for days after you have seen it because it works on so many different levels. This is absolutely the best film of the year if you enjoy movies that are open ended and unorthodox at all, I urge you to see Inland Empire.
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