Inland Empire (R) Grade: A Extras: A-

nland Empire" is David Lynch's first feature-length film in five years, and it's also his longest and most inscrutable. The latter half of that sentence will undoubtedly spell doom for some and ring joy to the rest.\nThis is a film born purely out of the mind of Lynch himself, and shot entirely on consumer-grade digital-film stock. Casual fans of "Wild at Heart" and "Blue Velvet" or those unfamiliar with Lynch might be wise to avoid it. For those of us who feel that certain cinematic thrill of getting "Lynched" now and again, it's an invaluable experience not to be missed. \nTo boil down such a labyrinthine film to its essence is to say that Laura Dern, in a career-best performance, plays an actress taking on a sort of cursed role in a Hollywood production. The first hour focuses on this film and the myths surrounding it, but once Dern and her co-star (a wry, wiry Justin Theroux) consummate their off-screen relationship, things fall well off the rails for all involved. \nExcept in Lynch-land, staying on the rails is for wimps. The final two hours of "Inland Empire" are some of the most hallucinatory and abstract cinema ever released wide in American theaters. Throw logic out the door and forget trying to piece the puzzle together after the credits roll. This is the kind of high-art stuff that works in emotional tones and striking visuals rather than in any realm of coherence. If you're frightened by that prospect, leave "Inland Empire" on the shelf. If not, carve out three hours of your night and let Lynch be your guide. \nAbsurda's two-disc special edition of the film is a treasure trove of extra material for die-hard Lynch fans. There are 90 minutes of deleted scenes (in case a 4 1/2-hour movie is what you're after), and telling interviews with Lynch and Dern on everything from production to shooting digitally to how little any of the actors knew going in. Lynch even acts as a tour guide to the three-year production and filming process, taking a little time out to cook some quinoa for us. The short film "Ballerina" is included for good measure. There's no commentary track here, which is unfortunate in some ways, but acceptable in others as Lynch is someone who prefers to let his surreal work speak, as best it can, for itself. \nThematically, "Inland Empire" echoes Lynch's excellent "Mulholland Drive" in more ways than one. Shattered Hollywood dreams, mysterious mythical goings-on and an in-depth exploration into the female psyche are all explored with an old-master-painter's touch. One could assume that Lynch has been building up to this film his entire career, and the ease of digital film has finally let him unleash his dreams on an unsuspecting public. Bravo, sir.