[joshaube]

Originally Posted by fortunato

yeah, i feel pretty much the same way.
how did you feel about inland empire?

Inland Empire.

The runtime is what scares a lot of potential viewers. Clocking in at 180m... 12 minutes longer than Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End (which felt fucking endless)... it is quite iffy. That's not even factoring in the seperate feature-length extra on the DVD which includes further scenes and experiences from Inland Empire.

Once you sit down to watch the film, if you have a genuine interest in seeing it, the runtime feels a mere fraction of what it really is. That's partially a theme in this film. Lynch really plays around with the timeline, and the concept of time itself. So I wouldn't worry about that. The runtime actually works in it's favour (I thought.) You'll loose track of time quite easily.

Another off-putting aspect of Inland Empire would be the visuals. As you probably know, Lynch went from film to digital (and is apparently never going back.) Eek. Yes, the film looks ugly. If you've seen Lynch's portfolio of prior films, you know that what he shoots is often breathtaking (the colours pop, as the back cover of Mulholland Dr says... "Like a whore's lipgloss.) Not so much here. Characters and objects fade away into sets, and the sets themselves fade into shadows. Sometimes it's hard to even make out what's on-screen. The image is soft and undefined, and the colours are muted; often toned with blacks and blues. And yeah, it's handheld. It's ugly, to be honest. Not that it's a bad thing. Lynch knows how to work digital. Some of what he does in this film is simply not possible when using film. While it looks like the camera quality of your average low-budget movie, David Lynch's cinematography is not lost. Perhaps, it's enhanced. I don't think a shot was wasted; nothing is improperly framed. Honestly, I enjoyed it. It's such a distinct look, and it makes the film all the more eerie*.

* In my opinion, this is David Lynch's most fearful film yet. It's full of such a specific atmosphere; the entire thing is creepy. Think Lost Highway... the scene where you see the camera going through the house, or the scene with the man who tells the main character to call his house. It's that type of atmosphere.It's loaded with his typical weirdness. Watch it nearing midnight, in the pitch black, alone. Don't pause the film, don't look away. Just sit there, and let it wash over you.

Highly recommended if you a fan of Lynch.
As a reviewer on IMDb states: "Mulholland Dr. on acid."
Or more specifically, I's say... "A mixing pot of everything Lynch has done, with a touch of LSD."