With his deep dive into singular filmmaker David Lynch’s fascination with the 1939 perennial classic The Wizard of Oz, director Alexandre O. Philippe goes far beyond the trappings that such a niche exploration might suggest. Told in chapters narrated by six different filmmakers, Lynch/Oz transcends both of its subjects by holding a focused light up to not only the contrived similarities between the influencer and influenced, but the massive effect both have had on the art of filmmaking as a whole.
The narrators (Amy Nicholson, Rodney Ascher, John Waters, Karyn Kusama, Just Benson, and Aaron Moorhead) each offer distinct meditations on their upbringing with Oz and Lynch, while waxing philosophical about the complexity of artists, movies, and obsession. Similar to Ascher’s wonderful documentary Room 237 about Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, Lynch/Oz is equal parts impassioned and light-hearted but remains a well-researched and studious essay on an endlessly interesting topic. Movie history fans take notice: there’s a lot to bite into here, even if you’re not a devotee like I am. And Lynch fans, be prepared to have your perceptions altered and enhanced by ruby-tinted glasses.
Originally published by ASHEVILLE MOVIES.
James is a writer, record collector, wrestling nerd, and tabletop gamer living with his family in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the North Carolina Film Critics Association, and contributes to The Daily Orca, Razorcake Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Asheville Movies.