An Artistic Triumph!

Rating: Null/10 (24 January 2010)

I'm Not There is a bold and artistic triumph, one which will be difficult for the mainstream audience to accept. The film is not the typical biographical drama. It's editing and multiple characters and story lines are meant to embody Bob Dylan and his life. The ensemble cast is magnificent. Cate Blanchett gives a tour-de-force performance that really gives all the characteristics and mannerisms of Bob Dylan. She deserved that Oscar. Heath ledger's storyline, along with Blanchett's, is the most fascinating of the film. Ledger also does some great work in one of his last films. Charlotte Gainsbourg, who plays his wife, does some terrific work, and you can see she is a very talented actress. Having seen her in Antichrist, where she delivers one of the most realistic and raw performances in some time, she is an actress to look out for. Christian Bale and Ben Wishaw also capture some of Bob Dylan's energy, and while they have the most limited screen time of the six actors, they are also fascinating to watch. The cameos by Julianne Moore and others are really brilliant and give the film a documentary feel. Marcus Carl Franklin and Richard Gere have the least involving scenes, but they are not enough to lessen the film's imagination. Todd Haynes is a risk-taker to create such a bold and imaginative film. I'm Not There is not a film where it's plot matters much, just because what is important is the way it makes the audience feel Bob Dylan's presence, which is something that most autobiography films do not do. I'm Not There is an artistic cinematic experience that should be the kind of film people should celebrate.