@avclub-22f737e47d8261297d774f773ea41105:disqus : I didn't know that Ebert liked Inland Empire.  That surprises me a good deal actually, since it seems like that would fall right in the areas where he's criticized Lynch in past.  And as you point out, that was hardly a movie that was universally praised either.  Huh.

Well, but all movies are bullshit really— it just comes in different flavors.  Lynch takes a dream-logic approach to moviemaking, and while that works for me, it's never going to work for everyone.  My wife can't watch his films because they get under her skin too much— she's genuinely upset by them.

Well, but all movies are bullshit really— it just comes in different flavors.  Lynch takes a dream-logic approach to moviemaking, and while that works for me, it's never going to work for everyone.  My wife can't watch his films because they get under her skin too much— she's genuinely upset by them.

That's a great example of a movie that shows nothing, yet (through Lang's shot selection and Lorre's performance) gets everything across.

That's a great example of a movie that shows nothing, yet (through Lang's shot selection and Lorre's performance) gets everything across.

Not at the same level, certainly.  But The Pianist, Oliver Twist, and The Ghost Writer at least would mark him as a major talent.

Not at the same level, certainly.  But The Pianist, Oliver Twist, and The Ghost Writer at least would mark him as a major talent.

Rosemary's Baby is a far better movie than it has any right to be.  It should be a template for every psychological suspense/horror film made since.  When Rosemary has locked herself in her apartment and is on the phone and you catch just a glimpse of them sneaking by behind her, it's really terrifying.  Polanski's an…

Rosemary's Baby is a far better movie than it has any right to be.  It should be a template for every psychological suspense/horror film made since.  When Rosemary has locked herself in her apartment and is on the phone and you catch just a glimpse of them sneaking by behind her, it's really terrifying.  Polanski's an…

Absolutely.  I think it was Truffaut that claimed that Hitchcock filmed sex scenes as murders and murders as sex.

Absolutely.  I think it was Truffaut that claimed that Hitchcock filmed sex scenes as murders and murders as sex.

Blue Velvet is simply majestic.  Every time I watch it I admire it more.

Blue Velvet is simply majestic.  Every time I watch it I admire it more.

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot black coffee."

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot black coffee."

The consolation here is that's he's going to make a truly fascinating older character actor.  When Kyle's in a movie — good, bad, indifferent — I tend to watch it.

The consolation here is that's he's going to make a truly fascinating older character actor.  When Kyle's in a movie — good, bad, indifferent — I tend to watch it.

That's a really nice performance.  Murray made Shakespeare's lines sound like something Bill Murray would say, and that's no small achievement.

That's a really nice performance.  Murray made Shakespeare's lines sound like something Bill Murray would say, and that's no small achievement.

Why are there people like Frank?