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David Lynch has died

(variety.com)
1190 points wut42 | 4 comments | 16 Jan 25 18:20 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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handfuloflight ◴[16 Jan 25 19:04 UTC] No.42729452[source]▶
"My childhood was elegant homes, tree-lined streets, the milkman, building backyard forts, droning airplanes, blue skies, picket fences, green grass, cherry trees. Middle America as it's supposed to be. But on the cherry tree there's this pitch oozing out – some black, some yellow, and millions of red ants crawling all over it. I discovered that if one looks a little closer at this beautiful world, there are always red ants underneath. Because I grew up in a perfect world, other things were a contrast."

David Lynch

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ryandrake ◴[16 Jan 25 19:09 UTC] No.42729514[source]▶
Reminiscent of the opening scene of Blue Velvet.
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PittleyDunkin ◴[16 Jan 25 19:49 UTC] No.42729991[source]▶
I find it interesting how much Ebert hated that movie. I'm not sure how I feel about it myself, tbh, but I am certain I don't have his conviction to state it clearly and unambiguously. The film certainly made me feel things no other movie has.
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1. havblue ◴[16 Jan 25 20:26 UTC] No.42730454{3}[source]▶
I think if you're giving original opinions about movies it guarantees that you're going to be on the wrong side of history eventually. His reviews aren't any less interesting even when you disagree with him.
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2. PittleyDunkin ◴[16 Jan 25 20:49 UTC] No.42730715[source]▶
I'm not really convinced he's on "the wrong side"—we're entitled to strong opinions about the role of film in society and this is either value-oriented or subjective. But I emphatically do admire his willingness to stake his claim without ambiguity.

> His reviews aren't any less interesting even when you disagree with him.

100%

3. ddellacosta ◴[16 Jan 25 22:42 UTC] No.42731831[source]▶
Agreed. I disagree pretty vehemently with him wrt Blue Velvet but he's one of the few reviewers I trust(ed)
4. ascagnel_ ◴[17 Jan 25 17:09 UTC] No.42740484[source]▶
I think Ebert didn't grasp what Lynch was going for with the Dorothy character, because I don't think anyone else in Hollywood was thinking like Lynch at the time.

Blue Velvet challenges you as a viewer to look at the abuse Dorothy suffers and to be a witness -- and that's hard to do as a viewer because it is ugly. Ebert did what a lot of people did and attempted to defend Isabella Rossellini, who had signed on to the movie knowing full well what would be required.

Lynch made two other movies in that same "the audience needs to bear witness and empathize" theme (Fire Walk With Me, Lost Highway) before Ebert caught on with Mulholland Dr.