How does it feel?

Rating: 10/10 (6 August 2008)

As you all know six actors represent different roles that together represent a life. My first thoughts after watching it were in the way of how different is the film of what I was thinking before and that's the first fascinating thing about it. With the different styles you can see it as a sort of a compilation of short films that even could have been made by different directors but the narrative doesn't allow specially with the Dylan of Christian Bale. But all is absolutely and extremely enjoyable. The kid Dylan is a fake, a kid who speaks like an - experimented- adult, a "blues kid" who has been changing a lot but maybe the only change that he felt was relevant was the subject of his blues. Of course we can relate this part with the "final" part, the part with the Dylan of Richard Gere, who is just in a place that nobody knows. Is great how there is a subject (Bob Dylan) and upon that, of course, all the different stories are connected with the spirit but we can see them as individuals in their own "world" with their own story and that feels really unique. A great thing is how really connected are the Dylan of Christian Bale and the Dylan of Heath Ledger. The second is an actor portraying the first one. You see in the first one the new sensation of folk music and you know more about him with present-days interviews, of course with people who knew him (Julianne Moore is here as Alice Fabian). You see the second one in his personal life more than in his professional life. Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is the woman of his life, his soul mate and the mother of his children. "I Want You" is so great, so great. The Dylan of Blanchett is changing constantly and everybody around him is afraid of that. They want to have a secure concept, a unique concept of him. He can't give that. It is probably the most famous period, when the parties were for him as the Andy Warhol parties were for Morrison. The "Ballad of a Thin Man" moment is perfect, just perfect as the rest of the songs in each moment of the film. Dylan's lyrics are all.
It is not relevant, I never knew that well the name Heath Ledger when he was alive. I watched "The Patriot" yet I don't remember him in it. I know the acclaimed "Brokeback Mountain" yet I haven't watched it. I have just seen him as the joker, now as Robbie, he made two magnificent performances. Is not relevant also, the first film that I saw with Bale was from 2005 and since then I never saw another with him until this year with the sequel, later in American Psycho and now here. Charlotte Gainsbourg is also amazingly powerful as the unique woman who made a real connection with Dylan in the film. Cate Blanchett is really Dylan and that's impressive and she is my favourite although the entire cast is simply superb.
Then this is a fascinating film and it deserves to be watched at least more than a single time. On that way the DVD has 2 discs so in consequence really interesting material, from the usual rare footage, the director commentary and the galleries to a lot of information about Bob Dylan. Probably the most interesting material is the compilation of different conversations with the director Todd Haynes together with the 20 minutes documentary about the music of the film but still I haven't watch all the bonus material. Also it includes a little homage to Heath Ledger and the six actors making their own "Subterranean Homesick Blues" video - probably my favourite extra footage. In short it is a really complete DVD.
Finally, "I'm Not There" is something different, a film that must be enjoyed not only by fans of Bob Dylan but by music lovers and of course cinema lovers. Surprisingly or better ridiculously some people were considering "Juno", and some others, for best film of 2007 and even a certain -extremely- famous critic give "Juno" that place. This one is my personal choice. I love it, I love it yes I love it so bad.