This review covers only the extra content on the 2-DVD set.
(2007, 211 minutes of extras) As any David Lynch fan would agree, quality bonus features in regards to his DVD releases have been few and far between. Tight lipped about his projects, Lynch isn’t the most candid subject when it comes to insight into the genesis of his films. However, with the DVD release of Inland Empire, Lynch himself is in the driver's seat, and the two-disc set comes loaded with goodies.
The most intriguing for fans of the Inland Empire feature would be the 75 minutes of bonus footage not included in the theatrical release. While these extra scenes reveal no new insight into the complexity of Inland Empire as a story, they do provide more instances of damaged interpersonal relationships which are the heart and soul of this (and really any) Lynch film. Be sure to catch the scene between the character known as The Phantom and a young prostitute for possibly the creepiest, most predatory scene yet in the Lynch filmography.
Also included are just over seven minutes of photo stills backed by a beautifully ominous white noise-cum-industrial-terror soundtrack. Most of these are screen captures from the film itself, however, there are some nice behind the scenes shots as well.
Beautifully, Lynch walks the viewer through a cooking lesson in the fine art of preparing quinoa. How this relates to Inland Empire in any way is beyond me. However, this peek into Lynch’s home and his retelling a story of traveling from Greece through Yugoslavia in the late summer of 1965 should be on any Lynch fanatic’s must see list.
In Ballerina, what seems to be an experiment using the new digital format medium, Lynch features a single dancer in a red dress dancing to the now very familiar Inland Empire score while fading in and out of smoke. While not completely satisfying as an extra, it does provide some time for me to stop and wonder when Absurda might release Industrial Symphony, No. 1 on DVD.
Stories, similar to an inclusion on the Eraserhead set, provides Lynch an opportunity to tell several stories about the creative process while opening up about his opinions on many of Hollywood’s inner-workings. Definitely some great stuff included here. Make sure you check out Lynch’s rant on the technological advances in films being streamed via the Internet and over hand-held devices. Classic.
However, the most valuable of the extras would have to be the Lynch 2 micro-documentary that provides a true behind the scenes look at the production of Inland Empire. As opposed to a prepared and thoroughly edited BTS, this documentary shows a cross section of the director at work and reveals the depth at which Lynch is willing to go for his art. From his true hands on production nature, to his frustration in trying to do it all Lynch is by all definitions a renaissance man capable of speaking in many mediums to present the vision he has as an artist.
As a whole, the Inland Empire two-disc set is a real treasure for fans. While a complicated and challenging film, the set is worth every penny and should be added to your collection.
© TLA Entertainment Group
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