An interesting and insightful interpretation on the icon and the man.

Rating: 8/10 (1 October 2008)

Todd Haynes new film is certainly ambitious enough as he tries to get under the reasons and actions of the man that was and is Bob Dylan, arguably the greatest and influential American musician ever. Six different actors portray Dylan at different times in his life all the while trying to figure out exactly what kind of man he really was. Cate Blanchett gives the film's best performance as the most interesting aspect of Dylan's life, when he was touring in England and recording Blonde on Blonde in 1965-66. Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Marcus Carl Franklin, Ben Whishaw, and Richard Gere all give solid performances as the other identities Dylan passed through.
Still, what keeps this story moving and fascinating is the man himself, Bob Dylan, who was a folk-singer, rock n' roll rebel, distant country singer and mesmerizing enigma all rolled into one. Haynes does a good job of constantly moving back and forth between each character, although the Richard Gere sequence is the least interesting and goes a little too long. Still, for anyone who has ever been interested in Bob Dylan, this is a must-see as well as a very interesting and insightful interpretation of the icon as well as the man.