I loved The Elephant Man and The Straight Story. Those movies were unusual because the subject matter in each was unusual while still being tethered to the real world. The other movies by Lynch seem to be weird by design, which makes them ring false and affected compared to the top-notch work he can obviously do.
I did like Twin Peaks and the short-lived show about the radio station though.
I would like to note, for the record, that it’s really, really, really uncomfortable to watch this film – especially the conversations between Sailor and Lula post-throes of passion – with your father.
Also note that I think Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is better than Wild at Heart, though it’s been ages since I’ve seen either of them.
I loved Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks Fire Walk with Me, Wild at Heart (though I hid my eyes with my hands during the most gruesome scene), Blue Velvet, and Mulholland Drive. I have not seen The Elephant Man or The Straight Story so can’t comment on them. I don’t remember if I thought Dune was any good or not, but I just bought a copy of the video at a local library sale, so I’ll get to review it.
What the ones I liked all have in common is their weirdness. Weirdness is the quality that appeals to me. And yet—paradoxically—Eraserhead is definitely Lynch’s weirdest movie ever, but I didn’t like it. The psychological horror was too much for my sensibilities. I grant it was a heavy work of art for all that, I just can’t watch it.