The shorts of David Lynch

[B-side]

Which ones have you seen, if any? I just watched Boat, The Alphabet and Darkened Room. Boat was good, The Alphabet was amazingly disturbing and Darkened Room was fairly lame, I thought.

[Grouchy]

I've seen Six Figures Getting Sick, The Alphabet, The Amputee and The Grandmother. Although they're all genuinely unconventional and disturbing, only Grandmother I'd label as essential viewing. The Amputee is pretty boring.

[Russ]

Lynch has a very odd sense of humour. Darkly absurd and ultra-deadpan (to a fault, I 'spose); however, The Cowboy and the Frenchman is one of my favorite things by him. Harry Dean Stanton is perfect. Wonder what the French thought of this?

[Melville]

I've seen everything on the Short Films of David Lynch DVD. The Amputee is pretty funny, but I agree that The Grandmother is the only one really worth seeking out. The Cowboy and the Frenchman is more boring than anything I thought Lynch was capable of producing.

[Melville]

The Cowboy and the Frenchman is one of my favorite things by him.


The Cowboy and the Frenchman is more boring than anything I thought Lynch was capable of producing.
Heh.

[D_Davis]

Lynch has a very odd sense of humour. Darkly absurd and ultra-deadpan (to a fault, I 'spose); however, The Cowboy and the Frenchman is one of my favorite things by him. Harry Dean Stanton is perfect. Wonder what the French thought of this?

I agree.

I also love Lumiere. It's everything that is awesome about Lynch condensed down to a minute.

[Grouchy]

I forgot about Cowboy and the Frenchman. I love that short. Comedy gold, that is, and Dean Stanton plays the role to perfection.

[Russ]

Dean Stanton plays the role to perfection.
I'll always have this mental image of Lynch coaching some of the actors: No, louder...LOUDER!! :)

[balmakboor]

I was bored into a state of paralysis by The Cowboy and the Frenchman. It must be the ultimate in either you're tuned to the right frequency or you're not.

The Grandmother, on the other hand, is my favorite Lynch film.

[Russ]

Anyone seen Industrial Symphony No. 1? It's coming out on DVD as part of the David Lynch Lime Green Box Set (http://www.dugpa.com/images/2008/dllimegreen.jpg) (I am not kidding), which apparently also contains a "mystery disc" (contents unknown at this time).

[Yxklyx]

Anyone seen Industrial Symphony No. 1? ...

I saw it on Youtube - isn't it there anymore?

[D_Davis]

Anyone seen Industrial Symphony No. 1? It's coming out on DVD as part of the David Lynch Lime Green Box Set (http://www.dugpa.com/images/2008/dllimegreen.jpg) (I am not kidding), which apparently also contains a "mystery disc" (contents unknown at this time).

Rented it on VHS years and years ago. It's awesome. I've been waiting for this on DVD for some time, as I also love me some Julee Cruise.

[Derek]

I'm with Melville and fas on The Cowboy and the Frenchman. It's my single least favorite thing Lynch has done.

[Rowland]

The Grandmother is better than much of his later work. Darkened Room is a doodle, a flat, airless scribble unworthy of consideration.

What's the consensus on Dumbland around here?

[Spinal]

What's the consensus on Dumbland around here?

Possibly the most worthless thing he has ever done.

[Derek]

What's the consensus on Dumbland around here?

I've only seen one episode, but if that was anything to go by, it probably would be my least favorite of his.

[chrisnu]

What's the consensus on Dumbland around here?
I liked Dumbland. *shrugs*

Rabbits was a million times worse than Dumbland. Nothing happens. Ever.

I've also seen everything on The Short Films of David Lynch. The only shorts I liked were "The Grandmother", and "Lumiere", which I think is one of the best things he's done.

[balmakboor]

I liked Dumbland. *shrugs*

Rabbits was a million times worse than Dumbland. Nothing happens. Ever.

I've also seen everything on The Short Films of David Lynch. The only shorts I liked were "The Grandmother", and "Lumiere", which I think is one of the best things he's done.

Yes, Lumiere is pretty good. It really isn't long enough though to get off and running.

[B-side]

I've only just begun seeking out his shorts, and I'll surely view a few more tonight. I've yet to see Dune and Fire Walk With Me from his features. Dune I'm waiting on simply because of the awful reception its gotten, and Fire Walk With Me I'm waiting on because I haven't seen the series.

[balmakboor]

I've only just begun seeking out his shorts, and I'll surely view a few more tonight. I've yet to see Dune and Fire Walk With Me from his features. Dune I'm waiting on simply because of the awful reception its gotten, and Fire Walk With Me I'm waiting on because I haven't seen the series.

I'd say just go for it with Dune. It isn't all that bad. The interior monologues are pretty silly and it is probably the dirtiest and cheapest looking expensive sci-fi movie this side of Battlefield Earth and Lynch has as little talent for action as Boorman, but it does have its moments. Lynch initially wanted to film it in B&W as sort of a big budget Eraserhead and some fans insist that the best way to watch it is with the color turned off on the TV. I haven't tried that, but I can imagine it working. I'd also like to try turning off the sound and putting on some sort of industrial ambient music.

[Yxklyx]

I'm with Melville and fas on The Cowboy and the Frenchman. It's my single least favorite thing Lynch has done.

Hated that one too. I've also seen a few episodes of his TV show "On the Air" - that was awful too.

[D_Davis]

My biggest problem with Dune is that I am constantly reminded of what could have been had Jodorowsky directed his version with HR Giger doing the designs and Pink Floyd handling the score. As it stands, it is an interesting, if flawed, SF film; but man, if only...

[Raiders]

I have only seen The Grandmother and The Amputee as far as his short films go. I have also seen his Dumbland stuff and couldn't stand it. I don't think I'm into Lynch oddity enough to really be a fan of these.

[B-side]

I'd say just go for it with Dune. It isn't all that bad. The interior monologues are pretty silly and it is probably the dirtiest and cheapest looking expensive sci-fi movie this side of Battlefield Earth and Lynch has as little talent for action as Boorman, but it does have its moments. Lynch initially wanted to film it in B&W as sort of a big budget Eraserhead and some fans insist that the best way to watch it is with the color turned off on the TV. I haven't tried that, but I can imagine it working. I'd also like to try turning off the sound and putting on some sort of industrial ambient music.

Interesting. Yeah, I definitely plan on checking it out. I'm just having trouble getting interested in something with such a general negative consensus. Even the vocal minority that like it don't seem terribly enthusiastic about it. Still, I'm anxious to at least get his features covered.

[Ezee E]

His collection of shorts is gold.

His spot on Lumiere is the best of the whole bunch.

Dumbland is shit.