Red-Barracuda 'Hotel Room' was a made-for-cable anthology mini-series created by David Lynch and Monty Montgomery (best known to me as the deeply sinister Cowboy from Mulholland Drive (2001)) which didn't get beyond the first three episodes. The critical reaction to the series was pretty negative and so HBO didn't take the project any further. From the perspective of today the most significant thing about 'Hotel Room' now is that two of its three parts were directed by Lynch and written by Barry Gifford, the director/writing team who devised Wild at Heart (1990) and Lost Highway (1997). The other instalment was directed by the unheralded James Signorelli who directed the (rather fun) Elvira movie.When you take into account especially that Lynch and Gifford team up here, it has to be said that the results have to be considered somewhat disappointing. Neither the writing nor the direction seemed particularly good in their segments, while Signorelli's was poor also. The basic idea has the action in each episode occurring in the same hotel room but in differing years, in 1936, 1969 and 1992. It seems especially unfortunate that this wasn't a lot better really, as the potential is undeniable. The set-up is one which invites a lot of scope for creativity seeing as so many different characters and situations could be used in each episode. The recent British series 'Inside No.9' in fact shows brilliantly how such an idea can be used to devise something inventive and original. But as it is, Hotel Room definitely falls short and I can sort of understand why it wasn't recommissioned. No episode truly stood out for me as all felt under par in at least some way. You could probably argue that the final one 'Blackout' had at least a bit more atmosphere and overall purpose but it I did find even it somewhat uninvolving overall. The other two episodes felt a bit pointless and directionless. It seems to exist now in the form of an anthology film with all the episodes running together. It is still an interesting enough watch for the most part, especially if you like the work of Lynch but the overall feeling is that, with better writing especially, this could have led to something more.

morrison-dylan-fan Looking for films/shows that friends could view over the Easter holiday,I spoke to a DVD seller about what titles he had recently picked up. Only knowing Twin Peaks as the TV work he had done,I was surprised to find out about a one-off mini-series that David Lynch had made after wrapping up TP (at the time) with Fire Walk With Me,which led to me booking a room.View on the mini-series:Made as three eps but trimmed into one 90 min film, (thankfully,the longer uncut eps survive)the writers Barry Gifford & Jay McInerney check in close to themes of David Lynch, (who co-created the show with Monty Montgomery) with the program entering a lone hotel room in 1969,1992 and 1936 that are home to white picket-fence visitors attempting to escape from the destructive outside world. Later adapted into plays, the limitations of the location allows for an excellent theatrical exploration of the characters,from the scotch on the rocks Noir ep 1 Tricks and the darkly comedic ep 2 Getting Rid of Robert, to the surprisingly touching final ep Blackout.Directing the lone ep not done by Lynch, James Signorelli aims for the peculiar mood of the other pieces in Getting Rid of Robert,but misses the mark by being too self-aware at the strangeness of the situation, and the repeated cuts away from the hotel room breaking the tension. Reuniting with a smooth score from Angelo Badalamenti,Lynch gives his first ep a boiler room atmosphere, as Moe (played by a dripping with sweat Harry Dean Stanton) finds himself trapped in the past with two fellow guests who will land Moe with some deadly Tricks. Lit with stray shots of thunder on the window and candle light,Lynch reins in Crispin Glover's usual quirks to get an outstanding performance from him as Danny in ep 3 Blackout, with Alicia Witt joining Glover with a beautifully unsettling,calm performance as Diane,in David Lynch's minimalist, experimental hotel room.

GuiltlessSon The first part of Hotel Room is complete perfection. The first time I viewed this piece I knew I had just witnessed something amazing, but like many other of Lynch's pieces it would require a second viewing. It has been two years and I have watched the first part over 50 times. I have showed this film to about 40 people. Thirty of them get it, ten are baffled. We recite quotes and facial expressions from Moe and Lou on a daily basis. Some of my favorites are "The Sh*t Moe, The Sh*t" "I know about crucial, Moe", and "It's not every hooker from New York that can do a cheer like that let me tell you." This is the most comical Lynch piece I have ever seen, Let me tell you. The humor is varied but does have a underlying consistent form which is crucial. All in all this movie is the Sh*t Moe the Sh*t!

dolcry I just read the other review that is posted for this film. I agree that the second episode is fairly terrible, but I would like to add that David Lynch did not write or have involvement with that one. The first episode is quite amazing, but it's the third one that I personally like. It's intelligent and it's got some of the best acting I've ever seen. Crispin Glover is amazing in the episode, and I think it's unfortunate that both him and Lynch didn't receive critical acclaim for being a part of such an amazing project. The third episode is not accessible to everyone, but I urge everyone to at least see the first one.