Search - Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch on DVD

Full of secrets

Michael Sean | Seattle, WA - US | 03/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Comprised mostly of footage and interviews shot during the making of "Lost Highway," this excellent documentary provides a fascinating peek inside the world of the master filmmaker and his entourage of collaborators. Besides some amusing anecdotes from David himself, there's chats with his ex-wife Peggy, his children (including budding director Jennifer Lynch), his friend Jack Fisk, editor Mary Sweeney, producer Mel Brooks, writer Barry Gifford, actor Dean Stockwell, and "Eraserhead"/"Twin Peaks" almuni Jack Nance and Catherine Coulson. We also hear from the cast members of "Lost Highway," as well as learn the stories behind some of Lynch's characters (Bob, The Log Lady, Frank Booth, Mr. Eddy). Some of the more illuminating moments come when the focus shifts to his non-film projects, including some great footage of him working with composer Angelo Badalamenti and singer/violinist Jocelyn Montgomery (billed as Jocelyn West) on the unreleased track "And Still." His bizarre multimedia paintings are discussed, and there's a visit to a gallery show of his photography. He also created all of the furniture used in "Lost Highway." and we see a showcase of the odd tables and shelves he's made. This DVD edition outshines the shorter VHS version, with additional footage (and some Twin Peaks coverage) plus nice menu screens featuring clips from "Eraserhead,""Lost Highway," and his two early short films "The Grandmother" and "The Alphabet." All in all, any fan of the man's movies will want to check this one out. It's an interesting and inspiring portrait of a real American iconoclast."

Not Bad, But...

Bobby Peru | The Black Lodge | 01/11/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Pretty As A Picture is an 80 minute documentary focusing on America's most original director, David Lynch. And while it was somewhat interesting in spots(the clips of his early short films were pretty neat), as a Lynchaholic, I was hoping for something a little more in depth. While it spends a lot of time talking about Lost Highway, Lynch's other films(The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet, TV's Twin Peaks) are only brushed over slightly. Wild At Heart, winner of the Palm D'Or for whoever cares, was barely mentioned if at all. For my money, I'd go with the 80 minute documentary on the Blue Velvet Special Edition DVD. Yes, it focuses mostly on Blue Velvet, but it is far more informative and interesting than Pretty As A Picture. I just think that a brilliant filmmaker like Lynch deserves a much better documentary. That's my two cents."

Ideas are the best thing going

Mediahound | SF Bay Area, CA United States | 06/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ideas are the best thing going. That's what David Lynch says in the interview on this DVD. This is a great overview of David Lynch.. It provides some good insight into his history interspersed with interviews with his ex-wife, his children, Mary Sweeney, Barry Giford and many others.As a Lynch fanatic, I find this documentary exemplary. The best part by far is the interview with Lynch himself, who does not give interviews very often. You get a real sense of what a cool dude he is. Aside from the fact that his art stands on it's own, it is interesting to watch this documentary and learn that David Lynch is just an ordinary guy doing extraordinary things. To me, that in and of itself is inspiring."

"Jimmy Stewart from Mars"--Mel Brooks

C. Gardner | Washington D.C., D.C. United States | 07/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Here's a good documentary about Lynch. Of course, you never get a clue of insight from him or his friends about what informs the strange metaphysics and obsessions that we the audience experience in his films. But sensing what a likable and completely normal person he is in these interviews makes the disjunction all the more fascinating. He's just a painter and sculptor (albeit one whose medium sometimes involves dead rats, flies, and his beloved ants) who happened to get a commission from AFI in 1970 and has chosen to make films at his whim ever since, with complete artistic control of his projects. We experience his close working collaboration with composer Angelo Badalamenti in Prague and elsewhere, and it drives home how important music and sound is to him, and get glimpses of his earliest films. "Pretty as a Picture" is a must-own for his fans."