The Legacy of David Lynch

On January 16th, 2025, I was driving to go to the gym. While stopped at a red light, I see the notification on my phone at David Lynch passed away at 78. It felt almost like time stopped. This man who had such an impact on me and other film fanatics alike has died. Obviously, I did not know him personally, but his films and TV shows have dramatically changed how I view my life and the medium of film. What I came to realize as I sat in the parking lot trying to process my thoughts was that, as fans of film, we should take this time to remember why we love the man so much in the first place; we should take a moment to appreciate his catalogue of work over the years, and that is exactly what I am going to do.

David Lynch is someone who I wish I could understand. I wish I could understand just how he comes up with this fantastical ideas to portray very real feelings. His ability to create this feeling of other worldliness inside your own body is impeccable. I truly think that his best work comes from the first two seasons of Twin Peaks, which he created with Mark Frost. Watching it is an experience that I wish I could relive. One second you are laughing at the silly antics of Ben Horne, and then you are dropped right back into the heartbreaking tale of Laura Palmer, who I think is one the best characters in all of TV and film. Watching everyone slowly realize that while all they saw was a pretty girl, underneath was someone desperately crying for help. What makes it even more tragic is that the only person who seemed to understand her and hear her was too late, and that was Dale Cooper. I think that is what makes the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me so special.

Fire Walk with Me also plays with time in a way that is so distinctly Lynchian. Aspects of Laura’s past being interwoven with things that happened at the end of season two is so interesting to me. I still need to watch The Return season, but I still hold the show so dearly in my heart. Another film of his that plays with time is Inland Empire, which is one of the most insane things I have ever seen. Just like Laura Dern’s character Nikki, you as the viewer are trying to decipher when this scene is happening or if it’s even real. But the emotions that Nikki feels are so real at the same time. Her actions become so interwoven with the plot of the film, that she begins to live it. You can never really tell if what is happening is a part of the filmmaking process or if it is Nikki’s delusions. I think Inland Empire serves as an interesting take on the creative process and how artists become a product of their work by the end.

The last film I want to touch on is Blue Velvet. Now, I have talked about the film recently, so go here if you want to read my thoughts on the movie itself. What I want to say here is that I love how obvious that everyone who worked with David Lynch loved doing so, and that is seen by how many people he continuously worked with throughout his career. Both Kyle Maclachlan and Laura Dern have worked with him so many times after Blue Velvet, and cast members from Twin Peaks worked with him in Eraserhead (Jack Nance) and Inland Empire (Grace Zabriskie). It also says something that so many people from the original cast came back to work on The Return after 25 years. People knew how special Lynch and his vision were and that it needed to be continued, and I love that.

David Lynch is a filmmaker who changed the film landscape with his surrealist visions and elaborate stories. He inspired people through his work and his own words, whether it be him talking about the weather or tweeting about the moon. The world will be a bit darker without him for a while, but soon we will get to see those blue skies and golden sunshine and know his presence is still felt. I will think of him every time I have a damn fine cup of coffee.

My Favorite Non-2024 First Watches

According to my Letterboxd stats, I have watched 134 films this year. Of these films, only a small number of them were films released in 2024, some of which I have reviewed on here. So, a lot of the movies I watched this year were older ones I had never seen before. Some of them I loved, and some of them were alright.

So, to celebrate the end of 2024, I figured I would pick a couple of my favorite first watches and talk about why I loved them. These range from very, very old to as recent as 4-5 years ago. I tried to choose a variety of films just to showcase how much I expanded my viewing experience this year. Without further ado, here are some of my favorite watches of this year!

Thelma and Louise (1991) - Dir. Ridley Scott

This film is the main reason I wanted to even make this list. Thelma and Louise is a film that has changed my whole perspective of the art form of filmmaking. What I find most engaging about it is how Ridley Scott portrays two very different reactions to trauma. For Thelma, she has just gotten sexually assaulted (that’s not a spoiler, it’s in the description of the film) and now is on the run as a refugee with her best friend, who killed her assaulter. She has no time to process what just happened to her at all; she immediately has to move on with her life and try to push it to the side. On the flipside, Louise had something traumatic happen to her in her past. She represents the demographic of people who have already tried to process their trauma, but still live with it day to day. While there are many other trauma responses to be explored, I think this film handles it with such care. The performances by Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis make this film feel so genuine and real. You could really believe that these two women are on the run from the law, and also happen to be best friends. Also, the cinematography is gorgeous, and the score is amazing. The ending scene (if you know, you know) actually changed me forever.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) - Dir. Michel Gondry

As of writing this, I literally watched this yesterday. So, I am just going to take what I wrote on Letterboxd and put it here.

After seeing people talk about how amazing this film is, I finally watched it. when I started this, I told myself “I probably won’t like this as much as everyone else does”. But man, it’s just that good. I think what gets me the most about this is that I would have this procedure done in a heartbeat. Having someone who is present in your mind that practically torments your memories kills me anytime I want to think about the past 3 years of my life. However, I know for a fact my life would feel like Joel’s at the beginning of the film. I would feel empty. I think that we need to embrace that our grief and pain shape who we are as people. would I ever rekindle a romance with said tormenting presence? Absolutely not. But do I think that experience in my life has somehow made me a better person? Yes.

This movie is just pain, but good pain. Jim Carrey is absolutely splendid in this, and Kate Winslet is amazing too. They both just have this believability with who their characters are that makes this work so well. no one else could have played these characters. All of the supporting cast was great too. They explore every aspect of the concept of erasing someone from your mind, and it doesn’t feel rushed. Everything plays out the way it should. All I could ask for is more David Cross, but I say that about every project he’s in.

Akira (1988) - Dir. Katsuhiro Otomo

Oh my God, this might actually be the most insane film I watched all of this year. What a wild ride of a movie. I still don’t think I fully understood what exactly happened in this movie, but I know enough to know that I loved it. What I find the craziest about Akira is that the main cast is pretty much made up of children. Tetsuo is a child when he gets turned into this monstrous creation. Kaneda is just a kid watching his life long friend become something he isn’t against his will. The animation is absolutely beautiful. Compared to the more popular Ghibli style of Japanese animation (which I will get to later), this feels so gritty and real. I just love the art of animation and what can be created with it. The world building just phenomenal. It’s honestly hard to describe just how great this film is without showing it, so take this as a sign to go watch it. Also, the bike slide is such an iconic scene, that it can live outside of the context of the film.

The Graduate (1967) - Dir. Mike Nichols

What an iconic film. From the soundtrack to the plot to the ending shot, this film felt like a puzzle that I slowly put together throughout my life and was finally able to finish earlier this month. I love that this feels like such a simple movie but also insanely convoluted at the same time. I think this is accomplished through the amazing script and the cinematography. There is very little dialogue throughout, which also helps add to the sheer amount of awkwardness of this film. Benjamin feels so out of place literally anywhere he is, even when he’s alone. He truly encapsulates the college student feeling of having everyone want you to be something, when in reality you just want to be allowed to exist without pressures. Coming back to the cinematography, I wish it was still feasible to use technicolor; it just makes everything look so vibrant. Especially in the modern era of so many movies looking so dull and colorless, it makes me appreciate the importance of color in film so much. Also, I know a lot of people complain about the overuse of Simon and Garfunkel in this, but I kind of love it. It feels almost like we are listening to the random songs that pop into Benjamin’s head as he navigates life. But maybe that’s just me since I love Simon and Garfunkel.

Blue Velvet (1986) - Dir. David Lynch

If you know me at all, this should come as no surprise. This year was all about me falling in love with the insane world of David Lynch, and Blue Velvet is the end of that adventure until next year when I finally watch Inland Empire and his version of Dune. I chose this specifically because of just how unique it feels compared to the rest of his work. Much like the rest of his work, it feels like you are in a different universe, one that is very similar to ours, but just slightly off. However, there is no supernatural element to the plot, rather a mystery that Jeffery, Kyle MacLachlan’s has to solve. It’s like if you took everything about The Black Lodge out of Twin Peaks and it was just a murder mystery show, Kyle and all. Blue Velvet feels very real, especially with how it portrays Dorothy Vallens, played by Isabella Rossalini. She is by far the character you feel the most sympathetic for, and for valid reason. She has been treated horribly for so long that as soon as someone treats her with the tiniest bit of respect, she immediately latches on to them. She hurts, you hurt, everybody hurts. Back to this feeling unique, I just love the way David Lynch chooses to tell what could be a very simple story in the most absurd way as possible. A mother whose son and husband are being held captive? Let’s throw in a weird sadistic, sex club aspect into the mix. It makes watching his films a wild experience, and this is no exception.

Whisper of the Heart (1995) - Dir. Yoshifumi Kondo

This movie is just so loveable. I do not know how anyone could hate this. This was probably my most related to watch of this year. I see myself so much in Shizuku, both her personality and her aspirations. I grew up writing my own little stories and creating imaginary worlds. Now as an 18 year old, the love is only coming back now. I wish that when I was around Shizuku’s age I had someone (aside from my parents because I love them) to inspire me to continue to write like she did. Her story just serves as an inspiration to anyone who wants to pursue their dreams. I think another reason I love this so much is how different it feels from the rest of the Studio Ghibli catalogue. Unlike the Miyazaki films, the main character is creating the fantastical world rather than living in it. It feels so refreshing to see a character just live a normal life and still be just a relatable as a character like Chihiro from Spirited Away or Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle. Speaking of relatability, the romance in this feels so real to the teenage experience. I love how Shizuku and Seiji both inspire each other in different ways, it’s adorable.

A Few Honorable Mentions

Before I wrap up, here are a couple films I also loved, but felt I didn’t have a lot to write about them:

Fargo (1996) - Dir. Joel Coen

This is a film that grew on me as the year went on. I found myself thinking more and more about it and just how great it is. I think my appreciation for it grew as I delved more into the Coen Brothers work, so I have to give it props for being my first of their films. It’s a very fun crime comedy that has so many memorable moments. You betcha I’ll be rewatching this one soon

The Lighthouse (2019) - Dir. Robert Eggers

God this movie is WILD. It’s so funny but disturbing at the same time that you can’t help but love it. I love the use of black and white; it really emphasizes the grittiness of the setting to me. Both Robert Pattinson and Willem Defoe are amazing in this. They are both some of my favorite actors at the moment. I think about the lobster scene far too much to be normal.

The Favourite (2018) - Dir. Yorgos Lanthimos

Dare I say, this might be my favorite Yorgos film. It’s right up there with The Lobster. I think what draws me to this one so much is the absurdity. Just the idea of a weird love triangle between an 18th century queen, a duchess, and the duchess’ cousin is so strange, but it somehow works. I love that everyone takes themselves so seriously, but the film doesn’t. It’s just a fun, surprisingly sapphic watch.

And that’s all! Be sure to check these films out, I highly recommend all of them

Also, check out my 2024 movies ranked list on Letterboxd. I might make something related to it soon, so stay tuned.

Why Queer People Love Oz : The Wizard of Oz and Wicked

Throughout history, the grandiose land Oz has peaked the interest of the LGBTQ+ community old and young. From Judy Garland becoming an icon for the gays to queer people “holding space” for the lyrics of Defying Gravity, the magic of L. Frank Baum’s creation has had a lasting impact for many. But why exactly is that so? In this article, I will delve into the aspects of the location and character development that make both films so magnetic to the queer community.

The Location’s Implications

The idea of Oz itself seems appealing to just about anyone. Leaving your boring, regular life for a colorful land with talking animals, Munchkins, witches who float in on bubbles, and a wizard who grants you whatever you want sounds just like a fairytale (which it is, but let’s not focus on that). But, think if it through a queer perspective. Escaping from a land filled with bigotry and hatred for being yourself to a where, at least in The Wizard of Oz, there is no discrimination and freedom to express who you truly are is remarkable.

This perspective also stems from how Dorothy views Oz originally. The song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is all about her wanting to leave Kansas and discover where she might really belong. Now, you can not try to deny that is not a representation of the queer experience. Also, taking it more literally, the rainbow is now a very common symbol for the LGBTQ+ community. While not intended to be a queer anthem when first written, this newfound symbolism demonstrates how as time has passed, the meaning of the film has evolved into something grander.

As for Wicked, the portrayal of the Emerald City is where the idea of a far off land where one can be free really shines through. Elphaba and Glinda sing in “One Short Day” about feeling like this is the place where they truly belong, where they feel safe. In the case of Elphaba, she has lived her whole life feeling like an outcast, and now she is finally somewhere that people will accept her, and with someone who already does.

Pink Goes Well with Green

The story of Glinda and Elphaba is complex in more ways than the fight for good and evil, or, should I say, wickedness. The two start off with clashing personalities, and soon become enemies. “What Is This Feeling” is a song all about how much these two loath one another, but it does not come off as so at first. The build up into “loathing, unadulterated loathing” at first comes off as the two might admit feelings for one another. Whether this was written like this on purpose is unknown, but many people involved with Wicked have implied there might have been something more between the two. Gregory Maguire, the author the novel Wicked, has stated before that he believes there were some romantic feelings between the two, but it is not a driving force in the plot.

Ariana Grande also mentioned recently that she believes that Glinda could be queer. This puts Glinda as a character into a whole different perspective. Her attitude and need for approval could be caused by her not feeling secure in her own sexuality. Whereas someone like Elphaba is insecure but still presents herself outwardly. She cannot hide who she is, but only be ashamed for how people react. This might be why Glinda feels so drawn towards her wicked companion. Many people view Glinda as the one who had feelings for Elphaba, but those feeling are not reciprocated back. This is due to her attractions being on someone else, someone more brainless.

A Swankified Soul

Fiyero Tigelaar exudes sensuality. Since he is not very smart, he relies on his good looks and charm to make his way in life, which is not lacking (especially with Johnathan Bailey playing him). Throughout the film, Fiyero is able to flirt just about anyone at Shiz, except for Elphaba at first. He is able to embody what others around him can’t: his sexuality. He knows who he is and uses it to his advantage. Unlike Glinda and Elphaba, he has the privilege to outwardly showcase his attractions, which is a possible reason for the two women being so drawn towards him. Fiyero’s charming personality convinces his fellow students to come with him to an off-campus club, the Ozdust Ballroom.

At the Ozdust Ballroom, you are free to express yourself however you want with whoever you want. The setting mirrors aspects of ballroom culture and drag outlets seen in America during trivial times for queer people. Fiyero is bringing his newfound friends to a place of acceptance, somewhere he knows your differences are embraced. However, this is challenged when Elphaba arrives in the hat Glinda “gifted” her. In a situation where some would run away from embarrassment, she instead chooses to stay and showcase who she truly is. After Glinda joins in her dance, the rest of the Ozdust attendees soon follow. This scene showcases the unity that comes from embracing your differences, and it is beautiful.

Defying Standards

It now becomes clear why The Wizard of Oz and Wicked have both had a long lasting impact on queer people. Elphaba’s self discovery and embracing of her quirks provides a role model for queer people young and old to follow. Though she is deemed wicked for following her heart and doing what is right, she still follows through with what she believes in. She knows the only opinion on her that truly matters is hers, and hers alone.

Gelphie shippers and friends of Dorothy alike have all joined together to celebrate the spectacular story grows more and more crucial so time goes on. In political climates like these, we need more than ever stories that showcase the strength in embracing your identity and defying the gravity of social standards.