Lynch on Lynch [Paperback]

David Lynch (Author), Chris Rodley (Author)

Book Description

Series: Directors on Directors | Publication Date: April 1999

David Lynch is one of the most original and distinctive film-makers of contemporary cinema - best known for "Twin Peaks", "Blue Velvet" and "Wild at Heart". This book presents the career of cinema's greatest surrealist, told in his own words.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You know David Lynch as the director of terminally weird movies such as Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, and Wild at Heart, as well as the bizarre and highly influential television series Twin Peaks. But did you know that it was Mel Brooks who gave him his first big break? That the idea for Blue Velvet grew out of a fantasy Lynch had about sneaking into a private room and learning the secret to a murder mystery? That Twin Peaks came about because co-creator Mark Frost was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe?

In Lynch on Lynch, a 250-page interview book, editor Chris Rodley does a superb job of getting Lynch to talk at length about the high and low points of his life and career. Their conversation covers his early work as a painter through the making of his major films of the 1980s, the fiasco of Dune ("It is what it is."), and the recent and very obscure Lost Highway ("I just *loved* this title.").

Lynch is particularly interesting when he talks about the creative process: "I don't want to give the impression that I sit around thinking up horrible things. I get all kinds of different ideas and feelings. If I'm lucky, they start organizing themselves into a story--then maybe some ideas come along that are too eerie, too violent, or too funny, and they don't fit that story. So you write them down and save them for two or three projects down the road. There's nowhere you can't go in a film--if you think of it, you can go there." Lynch on Lynch is a treat for Lynch fans of all shapes, sizes, and fetishes. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Chris Rodley is also the editor of Cronenberg on Cronenberg.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Faber & Faber (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571195482
• ISBN-13: 978-0571195480
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #910,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Movie Directors

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, insightful book on a living legend, May 9, 2006

By 

Terrence Aybar "cinemaparker@twitter" (New York City, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lynch on Lynch, Revised Edition (Paperback)

This is a great book written by Chris Rodley that is basically a series of interviews with living legend David Lynch. If you're not into Lynch or his movies at all, I doubt you'll find anything insightful in here but if you appreciate the man at all, this is definitely a must read. It covers a lot of ground on his upbringing, film and art projects. What makes this book such a good read is that Rodley asks great questions to which Lynch answers in a very entertaining fashion. Reading this is probably the closest thing to actually speaking to him and he has an incredible, warm personality. While he doesn't give up his secrets too readily, he does share personal opinions on art in general (film, painting, photography, etc.) and what makes art powerful. He offers invaluable insight on the filmmaking process and some details on what it took to get his films made. He talks about his successes and debacles with equal parts candidness as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates Lynch and anyone who digs offbeat filmmakers.

(NOTE: Make sure that if you pick this up, you get the edition that has been revised and updated to include "Mulholland Drive")

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The one to get, July 19, 2006

By 

Vladimir Miskovic - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lynch on Lynch, Revised Edition (Paperback)

In this revised edition of "Lynch on Lynch", two new sections have been added: one on the Straight Story and one on Mulholland Drive. As with the rest of the book the updated sections consist of Chris Rodley interviewing David Lynch. While some of the dialogue does become a bit repetitive, the questions really are well posed. In his answers Lynch gives a glimpse of his creative process and more; for example, he discusses the links between Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard and Mulholland Drive, talks about both his frustration with the TV medium and his attraction to it, as well as divulging more about his partnership with composer, Angelo Badalamenti (one of the most productive relationships between director and composer since Fellini and Nino Rota). Black and white photographs from sets are also included throughout.

Considering the book in its entirety, it is a very comprehensive work, covering everything from the aforementioned material to Lynch's childhood, his early work in painting and the first experimental films he directed. This book is still THE one to get for fans of David Lynch. Reading it one comes away with the sense of having actually met and talked with the man himself -- none of the other books on Lynch really capture this feeling.

Those who already own the old version of the book may want to think twice about purchasing the revised edition. The sections added are not all that lengthy and much of the material has already been discussed elsewhere.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For artists experiencing an inspiration block..., December 18, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lynch on Lynch (Directors on Directors) (Hardcover)

LOVED IT! If you are an artist no matter what medium, this book unravels more inspirations than your mind can possibly hold. David Lynch, known for his inability to express himself in words, ironically sends tantilizing pieces emerging into (in my mind) a complete puzzle. The essence of a great artist. Doesn't matter if your style differs from his, its a fundamental uniform feeling we tend to forget. Simplicity is good. Recommendation: Read this book slowly...what's the rush?