Inland Empire Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of David Lynch's "Inland Empire," encoded in MPEG-4 AVC with a 1080p transfer and preserved in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, showcases an honest endeavor by Optimum Home Entertainment, courtesy of Studio Canal, to maintain the integrity of Lynch's unique vision despite inherent challenges. Filmed using a standard-definition Sony camcorder, the movie's intended aesthetic is faithfully replicated, embodying both its strengths and limitations. Close-up scenes reveal a surprisingly satisfying level of fine object detail, yet the transition to motion exposes the footage to varying degrees of judder, affecting overall clarity. Night scenes exhibit fluctuating contrast levels, albeit with a color scheme that surpasses the visual fidelity of previous DVD releases. Notably, many artifacts present in the Region 1 DVD version are either absent or significantly reduced, enhancing the viewing experience.

However, the technical constraints of Lynch's original filming methods are glaring, with the upconverted footage suffering from a soft, smeary appearance and lacking in detail. The decision to shoot under low-light conditions without an appropriate camera introduces excessive noise and other digital anomalies such as jaggies and banding, detracting from the visual quality. This aesthetic choice, while potentially artistic in Lynch's view, may not resonate with all viewers, leaving some to question the artistic merit behind the presentation's technical deficiencies.

Despite these criticisms, it's evident that significant effort was put into this Blu-ray transfer to align with Lynch's artistic intentions. While the picture quality exhibits both endearing qualities and egregious flaws — ranging from clean, fresher images in places to pervasive issues of posterization and edge ringing — it's a faithful representation of a film that defies conventional cinematic norms. This Region-B locked Blu-ray may not rectify all of the source's imperfections, but it provides an experience that is closer to Lynch's controversial vision than ever before.

The audio presentation of "Inland Empire" on Blu-ray boasts two distinct tracks: an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and an English LPCM 2.0, which intriguingly includes snippets of Polish dialogue, accompanied by optional English subtitles for these sections. A key highlight is the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track which emerges as a powerhouse of sound quality. Its robust bass, judiciously utilized surround channels that avoid overactivity for a clean auditory experience, and supremely handled high frequencies contribute to its top-tier status. The ambient effects, notably during key scenes such as Nikki's discovery of the gun, showcase the lossless audio's capacity to enhance the film's immersive experience. Dialogues are crisply presented, ensuring clarity and engagement throughout.

Additionally, the LPCM 2.0 track stands out for its effective delivery, particularly surprising with its robust rendition of piano solos and Krzysztof Penderecki's compositions, offering a testament to its high-quality stereo sound, albeit with a stronger bass found in the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. This delineation in sound quality underscores the Blu-ray's ability to cater to diverse viewer preferences while maintaining a high standard of auditory detail and texture.

Despite David Lynch's shift from traditional surround sound, opting instead for a more forward-focused sound mix, the Blu-ray's sound design retains a compelling edge. Fidelity and clarity, especially in subtle sound details, stand out across both audio formats offered. However, the soundtrack's slightly monotonous nature due to Lynch’s own compositional work rather than his usual collaborator contributes a distinct flavor to the audio experience, which may not align with all preferences. Nonetheless, this feature underlines the unique auditory landscape that "Inland Empire" presents on Blu-ray, driven by its technical excellence and creative sound design choices.

The "Inland Empire" Blu-ray extras deliver a comprehensive insight into David Lynch's creative process, offering a mix of enlightening interviews and intriguing content. Viewers can delve into a diverse range of topics, including Lynch's perspectives on transcendental meditation, his love for digital video, and the genesis of "Inland Empire." The disc features conversations with Lynch at various locations—from the National Film Theatre to the Cartier Foundation in Paris—offering a rich exploration of his filmmaking philosophy, albeit with some interviews appearing on other releases as well. Notably, the quality varies, with most extras upconverted from standard definition to 1080i resolution at 50 Hz, reflecting the director's affinity for digital video despite its limitations. However, the absence of the DVD edition’s supplementary materials, such as deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes footage, may leave some enthusiasts wanting.

Extras included in this disc:

• Guardian interview at the National Film Theatre with David Lynch: Addresses a range of topics including earlier films and meditation.
• A short Interview with Mr. Lynch: Discusses the conception of "Inland Empire," Hollywood, and his unique marketing methods.
• Interview with David Lynch and Mike Figgis: Offers insights into the transformation of ideas into film.
• A Masterclass with David Lynch: Explains the decision to shoot on DV, the story, and characters of "Inland Empire."
• Interview with Mr. Lynch by Michel Chion at the Cartier Foundation: Covers Lynch's paintings and early film work.
• Trailer: A brief look at the film's atmosphere and themes.

David Lynch's "Inland Empire," presented on Blu-ray by British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment, stands as a polarizing cinematic exploration into the depths of the psyche and the porous boundaries between role-playing and reality. The film, featuring Laura Dern in a compelling, multifaceted performance, dives deep into the fragmented existence of actress Nikki Grace. Grace's endeavor to portray Susan Blue, a character in an ostensibly cursed film project, spirals into a disorienting journey that blurs her identity with her role's. This disintegration is mirrored by the movie's ambitious structure, oscillating between various planes of reality and abstraction, framed within a narrative that aggressively challenges conventional storytelling.

"Inland Empire" marks a departure into digital filmmaking for Lynch, employing digital video to capture a raw, immediate aesthetic that starkly contrasts with the polished look of traditional film. This choice, while augmenting the film's surreal and unsettling atmosphere, has attracted criticism for its perceived lower visual quality. The movie's narrative complexity is further enriched by its allusions to a cursed Polish film, introducing an international layer that intertwines with the main storyline in cryptic ways. The Blu-ray release itself is tailored for the UK market, featuring essential supplementary interviews that offer insights into Lynch's creative process, albeit locked to Region-B playback, thus limiting accessibility.

The film divides audiences with its dense, labyrinthine narrative and its digital video presentation; however, it undeniably serves as a testament to Lynch's unwavering commitment to innovation and artistic freedom. While some view "Inland Empire" as a masterpiece of experimental cinema, others perceive it as an indulgent, overlong enigma. The cast's performances, particularly Dern's, provide a grounding force amidst the swirling abstraction, showcasing Lynch's capacity to elicit profound emotional resonance from his actors. Despite its divisive reception, "Inland Empire" stands as a bold exploration of identity, reality, and the machinations of the cinematic form.

David Lynch's "Inland Empire," released on Blu-ray by Optimum Home Entertainment, is as perplexing and divisive as one might expect from the filmmaker's oeuvre. This edition brings forth a concoction of emotions and opinions amongst its viewers, underscored by the film's deliberate pacing, cryptic narrative, and unorthodox structure that hallmark Lynch's style. The high-definition presentation beefs up the auditory experience significantly, offering clear and immersive sound quality that serves as a testament to the film's intricate sound design. However, it is essential to note that the visual transfer does little to enhance the inherently low-definition cinematography characterizing this piece, a fact that may detract from the overall viewing experience for those expecting a significant visual improvement in this upgrade.

Longtime fans of David Lynch might find themselves at a crossroads with "Inland Empire," facing the chasm between outright admiration for Lynch's audacity and sheer bewilderment or disdain for what can only be described as a sprawling, esoteric nightmare. Critically, this Blu-ray edition does not transcend its region B limitation, posing an accessibility issue for a broader audience. While the audio presentation offers a silver lining, it hardly compensates for the film's polarizing nature and the Blu-ray's inability to polish the original material's visual fidelity.

In conclusion, the Blu-ray release of "Inland Empire" stands as a testament to Lynch's divisive vision, offering an aural enhancement that aficionados will appreciate but failing to significantly uplift its visual aspects. It emerges as a product recommended almost exclusively for Lynch's devoted followers or those with an unyielding penchant for cinematic enigmas. The limitations in visual upgrade and regional playback may deter some, but for others, these are mere footnotes in their quest to unravel Lynch's most challenging tapestry. Highly recommended with reservations; approach with an open mind and tempered expectations.