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| Movie Review: I'm Not There Alternate Title: Highway 61, Revisited
Story: Which Bob Dylan
do you identify with most? In a visually and cerebrally brilliant film,
director Todd Haynes allows you to revisit many of
the phases of Dylan that you will remember. Written by Haynes
and Oren Moverman this is a biopic unlike any you have
seen before and may certainly not be for everyone. Never actually using Dylan's name Haynes employs
six actors to represent the phases of Dylan. We get to see in a non-linear
style a youthful, Woody Guthrie adoring Dylan, played by a young black
boy, a maturing Greenwich Village 60's folk singer who them metamorphoses
into a fictional Hollywood hip young actor with the long suffering wife
and children. The most familiar Dylan to me was the folk singer turned
rocker who alienated his mesmerized fans when he changed his style of
music. The persona continues to grow into an evangelical and finally
into an old West type bandit who sees the world changing around him
and is helpless. The six characters weave back and forth as does
the visual style of each character. The music is sweeping, the dialogue
mystifying, magical and at times incomprehensible. If you like your
films neat, chronological and have all of the loose ends tidied up by
the time the credits roll - this is not your film. If you dare to allow
this unique film to wash over you - it will uplift and make you want
to go home and listen to your Dylan CD's. I know I did. I am not the same person I was when first introduced
to the brilliance of Bob Dylan so how can we expect our icons to not
change and grow? It is the duty of a creative soul to experiment and
we are just lucky to have had Dylan's expressive spirit with us these
long years. Acting: Marcus Carl Franklin, as the young Dylan
was wonderful. A fine talent in the making. Christian Bale
actually plays two of the Dylan's: the 60's folk singer and the aging
evangelical. He is intense and able, as always. Cate Blanchett
as the rocker Dylan stole the show. She is am amazing presence on the
big screen and I could not help but think how talented she is to be
able to play Queen Elizabeth and Bob Dylan and not miss a beat. Brava
to this one of a kind actress. Richard Gere, Heath Ledger
and Ben Whishaw were all more than fine as their incarnations
of Dylan. Charlotte Gainsbourg as the long suffering
wife was very French. David Cross in a cameo as Alan
Ginsburg was scarily channeling Ginsberg himself. Bruce Greenwood,
Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams were
terrific in their supporting roles as well.
Predilection: I am a big Bob Dylan fan and really
like Todd Haynes' films.
Critters: Are you ready? Your usual dogs and cats,
plus horses, birds, ducks, geese, llama, ostrich, cow and giraffe.
Food: More smoking and boozing than eating.
Sex Spectrum: A naked Heath Ledger and a sex scene
showing Charlotte Gainsbourg's boobs.
Blatant Product Placement: Dylan's music.
Soundtrack: Fabulous.
Opening Titles: An interesting use of type over the
landscape of Dylan's youth scene from a boxcar.
Visual Art: The attention to detail and file footage
was wonderful.
Theater Audience: A packed house in a screening.
A few people did leave before the end but many of us applauded at the
film's end.
Weather: Not a factor in the word of Dylan.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 3
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I paid attention throughout.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Yes
Big Screen or Rental: Definitely the big screen.
Length: 15 minutes over the two hour rule.
LOBO HOWLS: 9
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