Rainwater wrote:The nightmarish confusion that runs throughout Inland Empire reminds me of a few, for lack of a better description, almost-schizophrenic fever-dream episodes I've experienced. Certainly impressive, but I struggle to find humor in the particular kind of confusion this film envelops you in. I'm also puzzled when people call the film "hopeful" - I don't think the "good" ending offsets all the darkness that comes before.
But it's beyond hopeful--it's a celebration!
IE is all about honoring what actors do as artists. In the end, it's a rhapsodic celebration of their willingness to offer up their entire selves--their body and psyche alike--and dive into whatever dark holes are necessary to bring a character to life. And, by extension, it's a celebration of what artists in general do to bring ideas to life. It can be harrowing, to be sure, but it's all for art. There's a character, an idea, trapped and crying out to live and it is the actor who allows her to finally do so at whatever emotional cost. This is a holy act. IE is all about honoring that holy act--and the "Sinnerman" segment at the end is an ecstatic ceremony of thanks.
That's how I take it anyway.
Rainwater wrote:Anyway, I guess we're drifting off-topic..
True. Though IE was Lynch's most recent work in the medium, so...