Interesting Attempt at Something Different

Rating: Null/10 (31 December 2007)

This is an interesting film and a brave attempt at something different and I have to admire it for that. Whether it really works, well, I'm not sure. I thought it too long and occasionally a bit lacking in narrative direction (I looked at my watch about 15 minutes from the end, which is not a good sign), and it would have benefited greatly from more ruthless editing. Nonetheless, I think it is praiseworthy.
Director Todd Haynes has attempted to show the various aspects of Dylan's complex persona by using different actors to portray him as different people at different stages of his life and development as an artist. Some of these personas work better than others. At the risk of repeating what everyone else has already said, Cate Blanchett is astonishing. The movie is certainly worth watching just to see Blanchett. She has an uncanny physical resemblance to Dylan and has his mannerisms to a T. She portrays Dylan as he evolves from adored folk star to reviled rock star, dealing with a world which wants him to say something profound, when all he really wants to do is play his guitar and sing. The world wanted a messiah. Dylan apparently wanted a house in the country and lots of women, much like many other rock stars.
I also loved Marcus Carl Franklin as Woody Guthrie Dylan. I think we are going to see much, much more of Franklin in the future, he is obviously a great talent. The first Christian Bale character works, and Heath Ledger is pretty believable as Straying Husband Dylan. But I was bemused by the Billy the Kid character as portrayed by Richard Gere, and pretty indifferent to Ben Whishaw / Arthur Rimbaud. For me, those didn't work so well.
I'm Not There is probably best viewed after watching Martin Scorsese's No Direction Home and I have to be honest and admit I much preferred the Scorsese documentary to the Todd Haynes film. But this was a very creative approach to movie making, and for that reason, well worth watching. Cate Blanchett will probably get another nomination for this role.