Obituaries

R.I.P. David Lynch (1946-2025)

by John Charet

A polite reminder before reading this blog entry of mine ðŸ™‚ I will not tolerate any insults or negativity towards David Lynch or any of his films I mention in this post. Any negative comments will be deleted. As a matter of fact, I will not tolerate any negativity of anybody mentioned in this blog entry. So once again, I am politely asking you all to please be kind ðŸ™‚

David Lynch (1946-2025)

Earlier today, the world lost one of our greatest visionary filmmakers. He was 78-years old and the cause of death was emphysema. That director was David Lynch. My introduction to Lynch was in early 2002, when I watched the then entire series of the cult television series Twin Peaks, which lasted from 1990 to 1991. Co-created with Mark Frost, Lynch also directed episodes of the show. When Lynch and Frost brought the series back in 2017 for Showtime, Lynch would direct every episode of the third season. By 2005, I had seen and loved almost every single Lynch film. Dune was good, but after watching it, I can totally understand why Lynch refused to talk about it during his life. Not since the death of British filmmaker Terence Davies back in 2023 has the death of a well-respected director hit me so hard. When I first heard the news, I just could not believe it. Ever since then, I have been in a very sad mood 😦 Lynch’s family made the following statement on his Facebook page – There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us, But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’ … It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way. Read here and here for more information. I know the news is probably not as shocking once one takes into account that Lynch was battling lung disease for a long time (read here), but it is still heartbreaking either way.

Click here to visit the David Lynch Foundation website

Click here to visit a youtube video channel entitled DAVID LYNCH THEATER

Click here to watch a youtube video link to a wonderful remembrance of David Lynch courtesy of Chicago-based cinephile Kursten Ranquist (Click here to see his youtube channel)

Limited to this website only, I would love to remember Lynch through quite a few posts of mine. One of his films is on the first link, three on the second, one on the third and two on the fourth.

Click here to read a 2022 blog entry regarding my Top 10 Favorite Films of All Time

Click here to read a 2023 blog entry regarding my 100 Favorite Films of All Time

Click here to read a 2024 blog entry regarding my Top 10 Favorite Horror Films of All Time

Click here to read a 2024 blog entry regarding my Top 100 Favorite Horror Films of All Time

Click here to read a 2024 blog entry I did where I mention Twin Peaks during my visit to the Music Box Theatre that year

Click here to read a 2024 blog entry wishing actress Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks) a very Happy 57th Birthday

Since I do not have time to do a ranking of every single one of Lynch’s films, I want to let all of my dear readers know that with the exception of Dune (the 1984 version), I love every single film that David Lynch has directed and If you need me to direct you all to every single thing he ever directed, just click here.

Also, below are a few examples of me indulging (but in a healthy way) in Lynch fandom 🙂


–Two More Things–

For David Lynch’s Family

I want to express my condolences to David Lynch’s entire family with this beautiful Catholic (my religious affiliation) prayer for the departed below:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

For Californians

As all of you are probably aware right now, the recent California Wildfires has affected many Californians through loss of property and loved ones. Once again, I want to offer this beautiful Catholic prayer for the departed below:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Remembering Those We Lost In 2024 (Entertainers or Otherwise)

by John Charet

Every year, the nation (or the world in general) sadly loses somebody beloved, whether they were an entertainer or not. Now, I am going to keep this short and to the point by advising all you dear readers to click on the link below before I continue.

Click here to watch a youtube video link to TCM Remembers 2024

Now that all of you dear readers have watched the video, I am going to name some of the deaths that hit the hardest for me. Of course, all of them did, but these are the standouts for me. May they all Rest in Peace.

  1. Chita Rivera (1933-2024)
  2. Bernard Hill (1944-2024)
  3. Anouk Aimee (1932-2024)
  4. Donald Sutherland (1935-2024)
  5. Shelley Duvall (1949-2024)
  6. Bob Newhart (1929-2024)
  7. Gena Rowlands (1930-2024)
  8. Dame Maggie Smith (1934-2024)
  9. Kris Kristofferson (1936-2024)
  10. Teri Garr (1944-2024)
  11. Quincy Jones (1933-2024)
  12. Tony Todd (1954-2024)

There is plenty more, but I want to limit it to these 12 people. The deaths of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (1924-2024) and Canadian short story writer Alice Munro (1931-2024) were also equally tragic.

Before I conclude this blog entry, I have one question to all of my dear readers below

Which entertainer’s (or non-entertainer’s) death hit the hardest for you?

Once again, it does not have to be an entertainer.

R.I.P. Alain Delon (1935-2024)

by John Charet

Along with Gena Rowlands, the cinephile community lost another giant this past month on August 18. In this case, it is Alain Delon – one of the most iconic French actors of all-time. He was 88 years-old and the cause of death was B-cell lymphoma. On the screen, Delon oozed coolness and sexiness in equal measures. Various actors, artists, directors and musicians among others have cited Delon as an influence on their work. As usual, I could go on, but I want to finish this blog entry by citing some of my favorite films with Delon (all * * * * out of * * * *).

  1. Purple Noon (1960) (Dir: Rene Clement) Click here and here to watch two various trailers
  2. Rocco and His Brothers (1960) (Dir: Luchino Visconti) Click here and here to watch two various trailers
  3. L’Eclisse (1962) (Dir: Michelangelo Antonioni) Click here to watch a various trailer for it
  4. The Leopard (1963) (Dir: Luchino Visconti) Click here and here to watch two trailers
  5. Any Number Can Win (1963) (Dir: Henri Verneuil) I could not find an English subtitled trailer for it
  6. Le Samourai (1967) (Dir: Jean-Pierre Melville) Click here to watch a 4K Restoration trailer for it
  7. La Piscine (1969) (Dir: Jacques Deray) Click here and here to view two different 4K Restoration trailers for it
  8. The Sicilian Clan (1969) (Dir: Henri Verneuil) Click here to watch a trailer for it
  9. Le Cercle Rouge (1970) (Dir: Jean-Pierre Melville) Click here to watch a 4K Restoration trailer for it
  10. Un flic (1972) (Dir: Jean-Pierre Melville) Click here to watch a trailer for it
  11. Tony Arzenta (1973) (Dir: Duccio Tessari) Click here to watch a trailer for it
  12. Mr. Klein (1976) (Dir: Joseph Losey) Click here to watch a 4K Restoration trailer for it
  13. Nouvelle Vague (1990) (Dir: Jean-Luc Godard) I could not find a trailer for that one

I would like to end this blog entry with a question for my dear readers below

What is your favorite Alain Delon film?

R.I.P. Gena Rowlands (1930-2024)

by John Charet

Last Wednesday, one of the most extraordinary actresses to have ever lived passed away at the age of 94. The actress was Gena Rowlands. The cause of death was complications of Alzheimer’s disease (read here and here). According to her son Nick Cassavetes (read here), Rowlands had been living with Alzheimer’s for the past five years. And yes, Nick is the son of the late great actor/director/writer John Cassavetes. Rowlands had been married to John from 1954 until his death in 1989. To commemorate her career, I will list my favorite films of hers where she serves as a standout below (all * * * * out of * * * *).

  1. Faces (1968) (Dir: John Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  2. Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) (Dir: John Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  3. A Woman Under the Influence (1974) (Dir: John Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  4. Opening Night (1977) (Dir: John Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  5. Gloria (1980) (Dir: John Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  6. Love Streams (1984) (Dir: John Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  7. The Notebook (2004) (Dir: Nick Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer

I would like to end this blog entry with a question for my dear readers below

What is your favorite Gena Rowlands film?