I'm Not There

Anyone who has been following my blog for the past three weeks or so knows how much I’ve been looking forward to this film. I have to admit that I try to see films with as little foreknowledge about them as possible: on the one hand to make as clean and objective an opinion as possible, on the other because it has been my personal experience that expectations are the leading cause of disappointment. And although I have read the odd (well . . . a few) review for this film, I definitely did not see the trailer. In fact, the majority of my excitement has been based on the fact that the local independent theatre that was slated to screen the film about three or four weeks ago, didn’t until last night. This is all just a long winded way of saying...
This entry is by no means tainted with failed expectations. So, please, read this entry bearing in mind that it is based on my own observations and is intended only as such.

Directed by Todd Haynes, I’m Not There is the latest tribute to Bob Dylan and perhaps the most innovative biopic to date. There is certainly something documentary-esque about the non-linear portrayal of the many facets of the musicians life, but at the same time that discontinuity coupled with the surreal, sometimes Burton-esque elements, creates an avant-garde discord that compliments the elusive characterization of Dylan. I don’t usually care to talk about performance, but considering that Dylan is played by six different actors, it seems unavoidable. I have to admit, individually none of the actors is capable of impressing Dylan’s presence, but together they succeed in illustrating how illusive that impression is. Kudos to Cate Blanchett (though she reminded me of Bart Simpson every time she said ‘Man’) and Marcus Carl Franklin; I found it hard to see most of the other performances as anything other than ______ playing themselves. As someone that admits to not knowing a lot about Bob Dylan, I found the movie a little inaccessible. That said, I don’t feel qualified to make any criticisms based on the movie’s portrayal of the musician’s life. I’m sure droves of people that aren’t as familiar with his life and work as the guy that works in the record store, will go and snap up all of Dylan’s music and other paraphernalia after seeing this film. And although there seems to be a great irony about that, there are definitely nods throughout I’m Not There that suggest Dylan’s own mixed feelings about being a product. It's a clever film, and a definite breath of fresh air for the biopic genre. Having always liked - but never obsessed - with Dylan's career and music, the film definitely encourages a mythology around the bard and the desire to know more about him.

Ugly - because some stuff was good and some stuff was bad.

Starring Christian Bale, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julianne Moore, Heath Ledger, Richard Gere
Directed by Todd Haynes