This is a Beat-related film because it was based on the novel by Barry Gifford, who co-wrote the Kerouac oral biography 'Jack's Book' (see Books About The Beats).
You can see the Kerouac influence in the story, which involves Laura Dern and Nicholas Cage travelling across America. I love David Lynch, but to me this wasn't as effective as other Lynch films like 'Blue Velvet' and 'Eraserhead.' Worth watching, though.