[Death Proof]

Although I'm not a huge Lynch fan, Blue Velvet is undoubtedly my favorite film of his and one of my favorites in general. From the bizarre background characters to the mixing of "wholesome" America with its dark underbelly, Lynch weaves a tapestry of fear, horror, sadness, and innocence lost as our protagonist, Jeffrey Beaumont, crosses from the light into the dark.

Unlike Lynch's other films, where worm riders, goth Robert Blake or a family of freaky mother****ing humanoid rabbits don't exist in real life (for the sake of my sanity, I hope that's the case) the antagonist, performed by Dennis Hopper at his arguable best, is ****ing horrifying because it's likely that such a person could and probably does exist out there somewhere.

It's a lot more unsettling thinking that Frank Booth could be living next door, instead of a family of anthropomorphic rabbits.

This will probably take a while, especially since I'm also doing my 40k thread, but since DaMU is taking goddam months to do his Unbreakable shot-by-shot, if I can squeeze this thread into a month or so then I'll probably still finish before he can.


So I present to you... David Lynch's Blue Velvet (1986) starring Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper, Dean Stockwell and Laura Dern.

Also watch for cult favorite Brad Dourif and Eraserhead star Jack Nance as two of Frank's sidekicks.

[Death Proof]

00:39 Hopper's name never looked so classy.

Something I immediately notice about the opening credits is that the blue material in the background, perhaps meant to be a blue curtain, constantly moves and pulsates. Almost breathing.

Lynch does seem to have an ability to literally breathe life into his creations.

Also, the opening score by Angelo Badalamenti, is reminiscent of music one might hear in a vintage film noir.

[Death Proof]

01:38 - The swelling, undulating curtains transition to a clear blue sky. The camera then pans down...




01:50 to a white picket fence and red roses. A symbol of America... mom, dad, apple pie, and all that. One might even get the air of patriotism from the red white and blue colors. (or, perhaps, even anti-patriotism, since the colors went from blue then white to red, rather than the other way around)

The classic Bobby Vinton version of "Blue Velvet" plays.

[Death Proof]

01:58 dissolve to an old-timey fire truck, complete with fire dog, and a waving fireman. Symbols of a Normal Rockwell-inspired America. All this shot needed was a small child eating ice cream and waving back.





02:06 More flowers in front of a picket fence again, these are yellow. Interesting that the fence looks almost like bars here. Perhaps Lynch's way of saying that suburbanites lock themselves away from the harsh world behind their fences, flowers and garden parties? Or perhaps a subconscious way of keeping bad influences out of their neighborhood.




02:11 Innocence. Our youth being watched over by a trusted member of the community... blissfully unaware of potential dangers around the next corner.

[Death Proof]

more tomorrow night.

now it's dark.

[TripFontaine]

I want to tie you up to the bed posts and do you Basic Instinct style. Ice pick and all.

[billtheburger]

I'm on board.
Already I'd like to make a few points.

Have you seen Heart of Darkness: A filmaker's apocalypse? What I find interesting about Hopper in this case is it's now 2-3 years after filming Blue Velvet when he's interviewd and he is still styled like Frank Booth - haircut, suit and all. It must have affected his psyche hard, because he is the polar opposite to the man he was when he made Apocalypse, now!

Second point is regarding the blue velvet curtain and this corresponds with something I'm going to discuss later in my 6666 thread.
Lynch is an occultist. The gnostic altar is always hidden behind a curtain until it's time for the mass. In this case the gnostic mass is the dreamlike spell of the film.
Lynch also uses the red curtain (and black and white flooring) in Twin Peaks.

[ERotIC]

I'm interested.

Blue Velvet is also my favorite Lynch (tied with Mulholland Drive and his short films), although I'm not a huge fan of him in general either.

[Death Proof]

Originally Posted by TripFontaine

I want to tie you up to the bed posts and do you Basic Instinct style. Ice pick and all.

Still waiting for you to come to the Philly area, you slut.

[Death Proof]

Originally Posted by billtheburger

I'm on board.
Already I'd like to make a few points.

Have you seen Heart of Darkness: A filmaker's apocalypse? What I find interesting about Hopper in this case is it's now 2-3 years after filming Blue Velvet when he's interviewd and he is still styled like Frank Booth - haircut, suit and all. It must have affected his psyche hard, because he is the polar opposite to the man he was when he made Apocalypse, now!

Second point is regarding the blue velvet curtain and this corresponds with something I'm going to discuss later in my 6666 thread.
Lynch is an occultist. The gnostic altar is always hidden behind a curtain until it's time for the mass. In this case the gnostic mass is the dreamlike spell of the film.
Lynch also uses the red curtain (and black and white flooring) in Twin Peaks.

Have not seen it, but it's on my Netflix list.

Very intruiging about Lynch's occultism. I'm sure we will cross over into that aspect later in the film.

[therereturn]

Awesome.

[Dr. Lecter]

Good thread.
I will be following along.
I hope all the people on here that are complaining about there not being any movie talk anymore will be following as well.

[Dead and Messed Up]

Originally Posted by Death Proof

This will probably take a while, especially since I'm also doing my 40k thread, but since DaMU is taking goddam months to do his Unbreakable shot-by-shot, if I can squeeze this thread into a month or so then I'll probably still finish before he can.

I never going to finish that thread. Interest slowed to a trickle, my work hours increased, I get more readership on my blog, and I'm trying to write screenplays still.

It's over, DP.

I'm looking forward to this thread.

[Death Proof]

Originally Posted by Dead and Messed Up

I never going to finish that thread. Interest slowed to a trickle, my work hours increased, I get more readership on my blog, and I'm trying to write screenplays still.

It's over, DP.

I'm looking forward to this thread.

Yeah, well, yo momma.

[Crowley Christ]

If possible, you should really post 720p shots from the new blu-ray.

[paizlea]

Originally Posted by Dead and Messed Up

I never going to finish that thread. Interest slowed to a trickle, my work hours increased, I get more readership on my blog, and I'm trying to write screenplays still.

It's over, DP.

Well, fuck. DP wasn't the only one waiting for you to pick it up again. I guess a thread death notice is better than nothing.

[paizlea]

And thanks for the thread, DP. I haven't seen Blue Velvet in over 20 years. I'll be watching again soon to hopefully contribute something to the discussion.

[Viraus]

Baller thread DP.

[Rock]

Originally Posted by billtheburger

Have you seen Heart of Darkness: A filmaker's apocalypse? What I find interesting about Hopper in this case is it's now 2-3 years after filming Blue Velvet when he's interviewd and he is still styled like Frank Booth - haircut, suit and all. It must have affected his psyche hard, because he is the polar opposite to the man he was when he made Apocalypse, now!

I think he entered rehab and sobered up sometime between those two films, so that probably has something to do with it.

I probably should stop reading the thread soon, as I haven't seen Blue Velvet, but I've been meaning to for a while and this thread might inspire me to get around to it.

[Mariachi]

Subscribed and looking forward to this.

[dreiser]

Ah yes, one of my favorite films. This will be great to follow.

[Death Proof]

02:16 The atypical white suburban house with the picket fence. I find it a little interesting that there's 0 black people in this movie. A subtle message about the "pure" and "good" suburban existence without the coloreds messing things up? Or just coincidence?

(probably just coincidence)




02:20 Jeffrey's father, rocking the 50's fashion. I know I love to wear a fedora when I water the lawn.




02:24 Mrs. B enjoying some afternoon television. The red lamp shade seems to stand out in this scene for some reason. A hint of what's about to happen?




02:31 I know nothing relaxes me like watching a film noir on a sunny afternoon. Jeffrey's mom is a little weird.

[Viraus]

Originally Posted by Death Proof

02:16 The atypical white suburban house with the picket fence. I find it a little interesting that there's 0 black people in this movie. A subtle message about the "pure" and "good" suburban existence without the coloreds messing things up? Or just coincidence?

I think the setting was largely based on small town central Washington, where Lynch grew up. So yeah...pret-ty white.

[Death Proof]

02:32 not a lot of people can rock the string tie like Mr. Beaumont. I can't quite tell, but are those angel statues in the background? Again... perhaps foreshadowing what's about to happen...




02:37 I'm not sure why this image fascinates me. Perhaps it's the close-up of suburban life showing the the dirtier side of it. A splash of paint, a poorly-installed pipe, a busted hose, framed like a piece of modern art.




02:39 the old man is having problems with his hose pressure. I take pills for that.



02:42 foreshadowing. Papa Beaumont is about to have a heart attack and obviously the tangled hose teases at the inevitable lack of blood moving through his body.

[Death Proof]

02:51 - a bee string? No, Mr. B is having a stroke. But, by god, he'll finished watering that lawn if it's the last thing he does. Look at the death grip on that nozzle.




02:55 - ohhhhhhhhhh right in the mud. You can see string along the ground, presumably where they've planted fresh grass seed or something else. I always wondered about that. As it is, though, the string frames the muddy body of Mr. Beaumont nicely.




03:03 - innocence meets near-death. A running theme throughout the movie. The good side and the bad sides of life converging. A toddler inexplicably wandering away from its mother to stare at Mr. B and a Jack Russell terrier playing with the hose while this poor fellow lays moaning on the ground. The only thing more embarrassing would be if a pigeon flew by and dropped a deuce right on his shirt.

[Death Proof]

low quality pics


These are taken from a DVD. If you don't like it get the **** outta my thread. ****ing whiner.

[Justin Scott]

Originally Posted by Death Proof

01:58 dissolve to an old-timey fire truck, complete with fire dog, and a waving fireman. Symbols of a Normal Rockwell-inspired America. All this shot needed was a small child eating ice cream and waving back.

I've always liked this movie. Took a little bit to grow on me, but I dig it.

[Hipster Thor]

Hey Death Proof, do you know where the Stormwatch comics is, or All Things Fun? both are down Route 73. More info dependent on response.

[Death Proof]

Originally Posted by Hipster Thor

Hey Death Proof, do you know where the Stormwatch comics is, or All Things Fun? both are down Route 73. More info dependent on response.

Yeah, they're like 20 minutes away. I've been to both places but I don't get over there regularly because the comic store I use is only 5 minutes from me.

Let me guess - you're thinking about driving over to check them out and you wanted to hang out or something.

[Movie Maniac!]

WRONG! There are TWO, yes, TWO black people in the movie. Remember, worked at the tool store.