David Lynch's INLAND EMPIRE

Thats actualy how this movie was suggested to me, i was talking to a girl about inland empire, i lent her that and she gave me perfect blue

I met Death today. We are playing chess.

Huge David Lynch fan here. Inland Empire left my head spinning for at least a couple hrs, if not days after I saw it :-).
I'm watching Perfect Blue and it really reminded me of Inland Empire. Of course this was made first, but I never heard anything about David Lynch being inspired from this film. That said, the themes, are obviously very close. This movie is creeping me out (not as much as Inland Empire) and I think both movies tackle the same issue just from different cultures and times.

Half way through I was thinking man this would make a CRAZY live action movie but then I thought "wait David Lynch already did it!" (sort of haha). It's good to see other David Lynch fans here b/c I was going to start this same post!

Some movies are like drugs, they can really f with your head and emotions but its better than knowing whats going to happen before you even see it! David Lynch fans unite!

Sunset Boulevard is good too, just throwing it out there

Haven't seen Perfect Blue but I actually plan on watching it tonight. I must admit, Lynch and it being mentioned along side one another has my hopes up.

Anyway, If you want to see a film that IMO seems to have influenced Lynch a lot, check out Robbe-Grillet's "La Belle Captive". It's from 1984 and features many things that would go on to be known as "Lynchian" only it featured such things first. Like "The Women in trouble theme", red curtains, a fractured narrative consisting of oneiric states, etc.

EDIT: I've now seen the movie and I must say it seems to have definitely influenced Lynch. Not only is he an artist that appears capable of appreciating all mediums he has also worked in the animation field often, so it wouldn't be surprising to find out that's he's seen at least some anime. Perfect Blue seems like it would be right up his alley stylistically and thematically. I'd say there's a good chance he's seen it and IMO was clearly influenced by it in the making of both MD and IE.

As for how I felt about Perfect Blue itself... Well, I liked it a whole lot overall but would have much rather seen it made as a live action film instead. I also felt some of the film up until reality started to shift a bit cliched, melodramatic, and a even cheesy at times. With that said though, once the structure started to fracture I really got into it and only wish the last scene wasn't included. I think it should have ended with the truck barreling down on her as the headlight transform into spotlights.

ironically enough, the movie in INLAND EMPIRE is titled 'on high in BLUE tomorrows'

Lynch has always been obsessed with the color blue (Blue Velvet, blue lady, blue rose, Questions in a World of Blue, etc.). I wouldn't necessarily assume that was a reference to this film.

Lynch is huge in Japan, and Kon was no exception. http://makikoitoh.com/journal/satoshi-kon-100-movies-dreaming-machine-team#comment-692