I’m Not There (Movie Review)
As an old Bob Dylan fan with a long lost copy of Tarantula and 10 LP’s (yes they’re those things you play with a needle) in the basement all purchased between 1979 and 1983 it was inevitable that I’d go and see I’m Not There at the State Cinema in North Hobart. Todd Haynes pulls together Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger and Ben Whishaw to give us a unique insight into the complex personae of Dylan.
Bob Dylan the enigma, the young romantic, the prophet, the restless lover, the innovator and the lone gun. The film interweaves these personalities into a cohesive film experience that works some cinematic magic towards moving the viewer through a number of perspectives. That sounds a little vague but to be honest you would have to go to the film and experience the story to understand what I’m saying. Like Dylan its both complex and very simple. Like Dylan its not entirely truth or fiction. If you’re looking for an autobiographical account of an artist then this isn’t the film you’re going to expect.
Haynes has done a brilliant job of portraying a larger than life social icon and pulling that down into the essence of a man. The essence of a truely human fragile creative man with no answers to the questions millions are waiting for in expectation. Dylan (in the movie) says he’s all out of finger pointing songs. All they want is finger pointing songs!
I’m Not There is about going in and enjoying the experience of Bob Dylan. It left me wondering how many people I am, too. In the morning I’m one person and by lunch I’m another and when I go to sleep that night I’m totally sure I’m another person entirely different. I think to a degree that’s all of us. I’d give this movie 5 stars out of 5.
My well worn old vinyl Dylan albums include:
- The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
- Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits (Vol 3)
- Blood on the Tracks
- New Morning
- Slow Train Coming
- Desire
- Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
- Street Legal
- Masterpieces
- Bob Dylan at Budokan
So, as I said, it was inevitable that I’d go see this movie. It was probably inevitable I’d love the soundtrack. But I can’t emphasise how much I was blown away by the manner in which it was crafted.
