David Lynch: The Art Life

Much like a David Lynch film, the documentary on said subject "The Art Life", mixes surreal tales, uncomfortable silences, and gorgeous photography.

Sure to befuddle many, this moody documentary concentrates on Lynch's visual art, barely touching on his filmmaking claim to fame. Revealed solely through his smoking words, "The Art Life" presents absorbing childhood recollections as Lynch creates his stark art pieces. It's beautifully shot, methodically paced, with a rather unsettling quality.

There is no external opinion to be had, as the film exists entirely in Lynch's world. We see him making art, talking art, pondering art, and then making more art. He is obsessed, focused, but friendly and charming, whether in the midst of molding a creepy canvas, groping his shock of white hair, planning his next canvas move in a cloud of smoke, or interacting with his tiny daughter. The mystery of Hollywood's extreme outsider remains deliciously intact.

Unforgettable.

I watched the second movie of Lynch and then I watched Mulholland Drive and Lost Highway. I liked very much his other movies without Lost Highway. I used to think always he is a mysterious man but after watching this film I think he is very friendly. I liked his workshop. I think he had hard youth times but that is why he is a successful director and artist. I really liked Lynch's story. It's a very successful documentary. Be always yourself and don't give up your dreams.

As far as documentaries go, there have been more substantial and significant, affecting ones that have come out about artists' work. However, considering that David Lynch is one of the most enigmatic directors who fully represent and defy what art means, of course any film revolved around him would get the job done. This film takes a pretty simplistic approach in examining him and it's a collection of stories he gives about his childhood, but they're all worth it. This would be a fascinating documentary for any die-hard fan as well as any other film buff in general. Definitely recommended.

As "David Lynch The Art Life" (2016 release; 89 min) opens, we are introduced to some of David Lynch's paintings. We see Lynch at work in his art studio. Then Lynch starts talking about his roots and upbringing. At this point we are 5 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: I sought out this movie after the recent passing of David Lynch. I really didn't know much about this documentary. As it turns out, this is not a conversation with Lynch about his various movies, so if that is what you are looking/hoping for, you may wish to reconsider. Instead, "David Lynch The Art Life" is an almost abstract documentary about Lynch's upbringing and his view on the arts in general. In essence, this documentary shows the road that led David Lynch to Eraserhead, his 1977 brilliant debut feature length. The way that Lynch talks about Eraserhead makes very clear this movie is dear to him, perhaps more than any other of his films? (That is speculation on my part, as this documentary makes no mention of any Lynch movie after Eraserhead.) In the end, while this was not exactly what I had expected, I quite liked this documentary.

"David Lynch The Art Life" is currently streaming on Max, where I caught it the other day. Since his recent passing, I want to rewatch some of his films, perhaps none more so than Eraserhead. If you are a fan of David Lynch's art works, be it movies or paintings or whatever else, I'd readily recommend you check this out, and draw your own conclusion. RIP David Lynch.

OMG! I fell asleep!!! Having David Lynch tell his own story in his soft MONOTONE voice makes a fascinating story, a yawner. NOT the stories themselves, but the way the tone in which they are told.

I am a David Lynch film fan and his art, while fascinating, isn't my "taste". I appreciate the visuals along with his stories.

He is a fan of home movies - which helped. And he is honest about his family.

But this movie is by far mostly about his art and his life, not his films. That was a bit of a disappointment. 95% of this is about the first 22 years of his life.

Not wasted time at all. But just not what I had hoped for.