Cracking the enigma of David Lynch is as simple as watching The Wizard of Oz, so claims Lynch/Oz. Divided into six chapters, the video essay features a range of critics and filmmakers engaging in discussions about the thematic and visual parallels between David Lynch and the iconic Victor Fleming film. While a few commentators, notably Jon Waters, offer insightful observations, most meander aimlessly as the film cuts between Fleming's Oz and Lynch's work, attempting to evoke a sense of continuity that eludes its narration. The result is an overemphasis on Lynch's indebtedness to Oz, creating a distorted and narrow perspective that fails to do justice to Lynch's artistry as a director who blurs the boundary between the ordinary and the extraordinary. Attempting to bring that boundary into sharp focus feels inherently wrong, akin to forsaking the technicolor magic of Oz to return to a sepia-toned Kansas. (2022) — Ryan Brothers
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