LYNCHIAN RHAPSODY

Today is my favourite Movie director’s birthday, David Lynch. Not only has he made an indelible stamp on Cinema he’s also excelled at subversion on The small screen with the ground breaking Twin Peaks Season 1 & 2 and his magnum opus Twin Peaks The return.

The term Lynchian has entered the cinematic language and the talented people he has worked with says a lot about the esteem in which he is held. He has worked with a plethora of acting talent.

Established big names like Antony Hopkins, John Gielgud, Anne Bancroft, Max Von Sydow, Patrick Stewart, Sissy Spacek, William Hurt, Sian Philips and Jürgen Prochnow and Jeremy Irons.

Independent actors like Jack Nance, Brad Dourif, Isabella Rossellini, Willem Defoe, Grace Zabriski, Harry Dean Stanton, Patricia Arquette and Bill Pullman.

Musicians like David Bowie, Sting, Billy Ray Cyrus, Marilyn Manson, Henry Rollins, Chris Isaac and Julee Cruise.

Wildcards like Nicolas Cage, Mink Stole, David Patrick, Richard Pryor, Gary Busey and Crispin Glover.

Lynch’s work is as loved as it is loathed. Many critics simply say that they don’t understand his work. For me having to understand something does not preclude liking it; I don’t really understand Rothko’s paintings but I like them.

One thing that has to be said is that he is an uncompromising film maker. I love his work as i feel I am entering a singularly unique world when I watch it. He is a renaissance man as he is a talented painter , writer and now it seems, Weather-caster.

I’ve placed his films in some sort of order of preference which is hard as it’s a bit like selecting a favourite child. If you've never entered Lynch's world you may want to grab a cup of damn fine coffee, a piece of Cherry pie and find one of these to take you into a parallel universe.

1. Mulholland Drive
2. Lost Highway
3. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
4. Blue Velvet
5. Eraserhead
6. The Elephant Man
7. Wild At Heart
8. Dune
9. The Straight Story
10. Inland Empire