Free I'm Not There
Genres: DramaBiographyMu
Starring: Christian Bale, Kris Kristofferson, Heath Ledger, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Tyrone Benskin, Don Francks
Available Quality: DivX, Hi Def, iPod, Hi Def
Director(s): Todd Haynes
Country: Germany, USA
Year: 2007
IMDB Rating: 7
Six incarnations of Bob Dylan an actor, a folk singer, an electrified troubadour, Rimbaud, Billy the Kid, and Woody Guthrie. Put Dylans music behind their adventures, soliloquies, interviews, marriage, and infidelity. Recreate 1960s documentaries in black and white. Put each at a crossroads, the artist becoming someone else. Jack, the son of Ramblin Jack Elliott, finds Jesus handsome Robbie falls in love then abandons Claire. Woody, a lad escaped from foster care, hobos the U.S. singing Billy awakes in a valley threatened by a six-lane highway Rimbaud talks. Jude, booed at Newport when he goes electric, fences with reporters, pundits, and fans. He wont be classified.
 |
I'm Not There (iPod) | Resolution: 480x192 px | Total Size: 338 Mb |
|
|
 |
I'm Not There (Hi Def) | Resolution: 852x368 px | Total Size: 886 Mb |
|
|
 |
I'm Not There (Hi Def) | Resolution: 1280x544 px | Total Size: 4474 Mb |
|
|
 |
I'm Not There (DivX) | Resolution: 664x274 px | Total Size: 801 Mb |
|
Movie Photos:
We have taken some photos of "I'm Not There". They represent actual movie quality.
Visitors Review
red_identity (13 May 2013)
An Artistic Triumph!
I'm Not There is a bold and artistic triumph, one which will bedifficult for the mainstream audience to accept. The film is not thetypical biographical drama. It's editing and multiple characters andstory lines are meant to embody Bob Dylan and his life. The ensemblecast is magnificent. Cate Blanchett gives a tour-de-force performancethat really gives all the characteristics and mannerisms of Bob Dylan.She deserved that Oscar. Heath ledger's storyline, along withBlanchett's, is the most fascinating of the film. Ledger also does somegreat work in one of his last films. Charlotte Gainsbourg, who playshis wife, does some terrific work, and you can see she is a verytalented actress. Having seen her in Antichrist, where she delivers oneof the most realistic and raw performances in some time, she is anactress to look out for. Christian Bale and Ben Wishaw also capturesome of Bob Dylan's energy, and while they have the most limited screentime of the six actors, they are also fascinating to watch. The cameosby Julianne Moore and others are really brilliant and give the film adocumentary feel. Marcus Carl Franklin and Richard Gere have the leastinvolving scenes, but they are not enough to lessen the film'simagination. Todd Haynes is a risk-taker to create such a bold andimaginative film. I'm Not There is not a film where it's plot mattersmuch, just because what is important is the way it makes the audiencefeel Bob Dylan's presence, which is something that most autobiographyfilms do not do. I'm Not There is an artistic cinematic experience thatshould be the kind of film people should celebrate.
(13 May 2013)
Everything a movie should be and usually isn't.
Everything a movie should be and usually isn't. Imaginative, stunning set pieces, fabulous use of Bob's songs, Cate Blanchett steals the show and deserves an Oscar. Every scene crisp and beautifully shot, recreations and homage/references abound. My teeenage daughter now thinks of Dylan as a genius, where she hated his voice a month ago. Breathtaking, heartbreaking, timeshifting, uplifting. I'm buying a copy ASAP. If you don't know his work, see this. If you've known him from the beginning you will love this movie. Get it now, you'll be glad you did.
(12 May 2013)
Pompous, Self Conscious, and False
What happens when Major Money Men and Hollywood's most bankable stars want to make an art film? This mess happens. Artsy fartsy in the truest sense of the word. Cate Blanchett does not seem/project/look like, or act like Dylan at all. Not even a little bit. Worse, she smashes her strengths as an actor (robust, sincere presence and a great voice) in attempting to. At film's end, nothing about Bob Dylan is there. Every single performance shrieks for attention in an embarrassing way (with the possible exception of Christian Bale, who at least captures the humility of Dylan the born-again preacher). At least the soundtrack is first rate. Not even slightly recommended.
(11 May 2013)
Great movie, one of the best of '07
So yes, this is a great, challenging film.But I'm tired of reading that people are comparing Cate Blanchett to the Dylan from "Don't Look Back". In that film, he is still doing all acoustic material, while in "I'm Not There", Cate's version is set during the controversial "going electric" period. Her version is more "Blonde on Blonde" vs. the "Don't Look Back" version which is more like "Bringing it All Back Home". The way Dylan looks in "Don't Look Back" is different...his hair is shorter and he didn't wear his sunglasses all the time. Cate is most similar to Dylan in the "booing" segments in "No Direction Home", with the longer, wilder hair, and the skinnier, praying mantis-esque body. So please, stop saying Blanchett is immitating Dylan from "Don't Look Back" to a tee...cause she ain't!
tsf-1962 (02 May 2013)
this movie is habit-forming
I do not know if "I'm Not There" is as fun for other people as it isfor Dylan fans, but if you're really into Dylan it's addictive. Irented the film from Blockbuster and watched it 4 and a half timesbefore my eyes gave out. The movie is all the more amazing consideringit had Dylan's full cooperation despite its rather unflattering thesis:that Bob Dylan's constantly changing personas are the mark of apretentious poseur who never really believed in anything. A morecharitable view is that Dylan's many masks are a defense mechanismadopted to protect him from the incredible pressures he has facedthroughout his career. So many rock stars have been destroyed preciselybecause they were unable to distinguish their real selves from theirstage persona--Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain,Bryan Jones, to name only a few--just as Dylan himself came close tonot making it with his 1966 motorcycle accident. If there is a real BobDylan in the film it might well be Richard Gere's Billy the Kid--theone trait Dylan has never wavered in is his obsession with the Old Westand Americana--this is probably as close a glimpse as we will ever getto Dylan's psyche. Although attention has understandably focused onCate Blanchett's Jude Quinn, all six Dylan dopplegangers are brilliant,especially young Marcus Carl Franklin as Woody Guthrie and ArthurWhishaw as Arthur Rimbaud. Heath Ledger's Robbie Clark is a reminderwhy we will miss this brilliant actor, and "Dark Knight" co-star'sFather John (the born again Dylan) bears an uncanny resemblance to theReverend Jim Jones. Of the supporting cast Bruce Greenwood andCharlotte Gainsborough are outstanding, while Michelle Williams stealsthe show with her devastatingly sensual portrayal of an EdieSedgewick-based character. An amazing film you have to see to believe.But please see it.
billy ARNS (01 May 2013)
An intelligent, funny movie
It wasn't straight forward. It reminded me of I Shot Andy Warhol". Ithad some of the same scene shots as "Don't Look Back" (a Dylan moviefrom '65) and used some very grand shots, people dressed up in costumeway over the top, very much like a Fellini movie ( I think on purpose,he mentions Fellini in one song). A lot of the movie was deliberate indrawing from Dylan's own songs which seemed to drive the narrative. Itgives the audience a lot of credit to be able to pick these things out.It was funny in parts without explaining why. But it did leave somepeople lost - which I overheard with conversations coming out of thetheater. For example, I don't know how many people got that Dylan andhis band pulled out machine guns on stage and shot at the crowd whilethey were showing the scene of Dylan plugging in his electricguitar...and the motorcycle crash he had in 68. They breezed throughthat in a funny way. A far off shot of a bike starting up, drivingacross the screen left to right, and a cheesy sound effect of a crash.Also, quickly did a shot with "A Hard Day's Night" when the Beatles runinto the movie as he is filming this one. Very funny.
gbx06 (29 April 2013)
An ideological, mystery and enigmatic travel across the Dylan's life
I didn't know anything about the Bob Dylan's life only a few songs thatI had heard of him once. But even so, for me it was a film well done,each of these episodes-characters shaped Dylan's personality, all hisdreams, concerns, afflictions, obstacles, that converge into one point:the myth, the legend.This dream's touch that has the story for many is the biggest hit tomix it with each of Dylan's songs, but it is also true that this is thecharacteristic that makes keeping the viewer, more often, on thesidelines because we are not able to go depth to the outcome of eachconversation, phrase or episode submitted by Haynes's direction whoknew how to summarize, simplify and splitting a story without beginningor end, as must be the life of any myth.Technically the film is a visual delight. The frantic editing thatcombines a story with another through a photography that uses the whiteand black's mysticism and dark colors's melancholy that make the filmeasily advance, even its incomprehensible moments, as all human life,but beautiful for being exactly the same thing. The performancesachieved are perfect too, especially Blanchett and Ledger thatperformed someone closer to a Bob Dylan.At the end of all the movie is a journey through a legend that nevermet, a character who is on the screen but isn't the original, which isset by all the stories but that doesn't belong to any. This is thestory of a man who rather than a man is the lyrics and chords of asong.
(28 April 2013)
These golden sixties.
A collage of events linking different people, different places and different actions with Bob Dylan's music life is being present intelligently, entertainingly and convincingly. Short of expensive technotricks, it is, probably, the best movie of 2007.
(25 April 2013)
I'm Not There - Who Was?
Frustrating but ambitious. Creative but unsuccessful in its execution. Nicely acted and directed but overall lacking. Interesting but uninviting, cold, distant. There's a lot of good things to be said about Todd Haynes's 'I'm Not There' but there are even more bad things to be said as well. For an average film-goer who may be unfamiliar with Bob Dylan, 'I'm Not There' could be absolutely unbearable. For myself, having known a thing or two about Dylan (not neccessarily a fan) and being a fan of Haynes's previous films, I thought I'd get something out of this. I was wrong. I just wasn't "there".The film is NOT a bio-pic of Dylan. It's rather a bunch of collected scenes from different actors (and actress) "personifying" Dylan at different stages in his life. I get that much, and it sounds intriguing enough. However, there's is simply no structure to the film whatsoever, and for a running of over 2hrs, there has got to be at least some kind of order.I can admire the thought but perhaps it's just that - a good thought. As for the preformances, they're really great even though you may not know what's going on, the act(ress)ors keep you engaged. Though after awhile, it can become extremely tedious and irriating.Fans of Dylan might enjoy this a bit more than the average film-goer- the music is good, and in fact at times it feels like you're watching a music video, one very long music video. So if you're into that, then this is for you.Overall, this is a film that probably deserves a look. It's an intellectual art film that's nice to look at listen to, but as far as getting something out of it like some insight on Dylan himself or even just a good story, then you might want to look elsewhere. Even the most highest of art has some kind of structre but unfortunately, 'I'm Not There' does not.
eric_canalla (24 April 2013)
How does it feel?
As you all know six actors represent different roles that togetherrepresent a life. My first thoughts after watching it were in the wayof how different is the film of what I was thinking before and that'sthe first fascinating thing about it. With the different styles you cansee it as a sort of a compilation of short films that even could havebeen made by different directors but the narrative doesn't allowspecially with the Dylan of Christian Bale. But all is absolutely andextremely enjoyable. The kid Dylan is a fake, a kid who speaks like an- experimented- adult, a "blues kid" who has been changing a lot butmaybe the only change that he felt was relevant was the subject of hisblues. Of course we can relate this part with the "final" part, thepart with the Dylan of Richard Gere, who is just in a place that nobodyknows. Is great how there is a subject (Bob Dylan) and upon that, ofcourse, all the different stories are connected with the spirit but wecan see them as individuals in their own "world" with their own storyand that feels really unique. A great thing is how really connected arethe Dylan of Christian Bale and the Dylan of Heath Ledger. The secondis an actor portraying the first one. You see in the first one the newsensation of folk music and you know more about him with present-daysinterviews, of course with people who knew him (Julianne Moore is hereas Alice Fabian). You see the second one in his personal life more thanin his professional life. Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is the woman ofhis life, his soul mate and the mother of his children. "I Want You" isso great, so great. The Dylan of Blanchett is changing constantly andeverybody around him is afraid of that. They want to have a secureconcept, a unique concept of him. He can't give that. It is probablythe most famous period, when the parties were for him as the AndyWarhol parties were for Morrison. The "Ballad of a Thin Man" moment isperfect, just perfect as the rest of the songs in each moment of thefilm. Dylan's lyrics are all.It is not relevant, I never knew that well the name Heath Ledger whenhe was alive. I watched "The Patriot" yet I don't remember him in it. Iknow the acclaimed "Brokeback Mountain" yet I haven't watched it. Ihave just seen him as the joker, now as Robbie, he made two magnificentperformances. Is not relevant also, the first film that I saw with Balewas from 2005 and since then I never saw another with him until thisyear with the sequel, later in American Psycho and now here. CharlotteGainsbourg is also amazingly powerful as the unique woman who made areal connection with Dylan in the film. Cate Blanchett is really Dylanand that's impressive and she is my favourite although the entire castis simply superb.Then this is a fascinating film and it deserves to be watched at leastmore than a single time. On that way the DVD has 2 discs so inconsequence really interesting material, from the usual rare footage,the director commentary and the galleries to a lot of information aboutBob Dylan. Probably the most interesting material is the compilation ofdifferent conversations with the director Todd Haynes together with the20 minutes documentary about the music of the film but still I haven'twatch all the bonus material. Also it includes a little homage to HeathLedger and the six actors making their own "Subterranean HomesickBlues" video - probably my favourite extra footage. In short it is areally complete DVD.Finally, "I'm Not There" is something different, a film that must beenjoyed not only by fans of Bob Dylan but by music lovers and of coursecinema lovers. Surprisingly or better ridiculously some people wereconsidering "Juno", and some others, for best film of 2007 and even acertain -extremely- famous critic give "Juno" that place. This one ismy personal choice. I love it, I love it yes I love it so bad.
Boostjunky-1 (07 April 2013)
Really?
As an avid Bob Dylan fan I was very exited to see this film. I saw itwith a friend of mine who is also very into Dylan however, we both drewthe same conclusion: we were very disappointed.To start, if you've seen "Don't Look Back" of "No Direction Home" youwill realize that this film has many parts which just mirror thosefilms. I did think Cate Blanchette did very well, but then again allshe really had to do was watch don't look back a bunch and mirror Dylanfrom that documentary. (I'm not saying I could have done it) Also, thewhole Basement Tapes / Pat Garret & Billy the Kid Bob Dylan withRichard Geere made little sense to any of us, I saw what they weretrying to do I just wasn't about it.I guess I'm just a disappointed super-fan and I would probably find aproblem with any Dylan movie that came out. This one was justparticularly below my expectations. My favorite part had to be the 30seconds of Dylan actually playing the harmonica at the end, that almostmade the trip worth my ticket price. I also did like some of the takeson Dylan songs represented in the soundtrack.I feel like I'm crazy because everyone raves about this movie. I thinksome of them just don't see whats going on and think it's good becauseit's "artsy"... Does anyone agree at all? Shoot me a message if so, oreven if you don't I really want to talk about this.
(07 April 2013)
The Bio Pic that isn't. Trying to hold Mercury
I'm Not There.the so called 'Dylan Bio-Pic' is, as is it's subject,anything but.Only Robert Allen Zimmerman (aka Bob Dylan,Blind Boy Grunt,Jack Frost,Bob Landy et al) really knows who Bob Dylan is,was and will be. But this movie is not merely for Dylan Fans who wish to score points in picking up on references (I'll give you one most of my friends missed: in the town of Riddle The Richard Geere Dylanic Persona.Billy(the Kid) is warned by a friend that a guy called Garret is looking for him,so he gits a going on a hobo train.just like the beginning,when the young Black Marcus Franklin is headin out in the same Box Car, different Time.The thing is,Billys friend is called Chester.......Chester was always the guy on 50's TV who helped out a peace maker.'He's in The Barn Marshall...........Dillon'.Gunsmoke. So that is how deep this can go for Dylan fans.For people who might have heard of Dylan,or don't think they have,I'm Not There will NOT prove difficult.For one it comes with a truly wonderful soundtrack,all Dylan songs but sung by a collective and individual conglomeration of artists,all who WANTED to. Calexicos 'Goin To Acapulco' is worth buying this movie for alone. This is a fine and magical film,tracing the interweaved lives of 7 people...all of them with seperate identies and storys.all of them looking fate in the face with a different face and all of them really believable and self sustaining personas in their own right.I could go on and on about this movie.....but there is really no need.The cast and director should be enough for all Movie Lovers. But I have to name check Cate Blanchett for her amazingly truthful performance of the androgynous Bob in Mid 60's.when I first saw him live. She is a shape shifter,a skin wearer and a brilliant actress.All are great in their roles and on the extra disc Haynes tells us his vision.......in my opinion he reallised it with room to spare..this is to compare with Fellini,Trufaute,Hitchcock,Cocteau and bad Evangelical Television.The cast alone should convince any Movie Affacianado that there is 'something going on here'Buy it, swap it, steal it..but above all, WATCH IT In here be demons and finally, you will never trust your Weather Man to tell you which way the wind blows ever again.
editor-92 (21 March 2013)
Incomprehensible
Unless you know a lot about Bob Dylan and the context in which he lived- Vietnam War, folk music ... - you will be completely lost whilewatching this film. I went into it knowing virtually nothing about him,and really learned nothing from watching this. In fact, after about anhour, I think I slipped into unconsciousness a few times, wondering ifI had been reborn in one of the 16 hell realms. I went for two reasons- Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett. Bale, at least in the beginning,was really only used in still photographs and Blanchett appeared afterabout one hour of absolute tedium. Her appearance livened things up,but really what does that mean? It's interesting to read through thesereviews, because most of the British posters are in-line with what I'msaying, and the Americans are fawning all over this film. I'm not surewhy, but maybe they are die-hard Todd Haynes fans, Bob Dylan fanatics,or being paid by the studio. Had I rented this pretentious piece ofcrap, I would have switched it off after about 10 minutes, seeing thatit was going absolutely nowhere and making no sense. Or I would havelooked under the title menu, found the few scenes, starring the actorsI was interested in, and then switched it off. If you enjoyed filmssuch as Last Days, another horrible exercise in film-making, then youmight love I'm Not Here. I wish I hadn't been there - watching thisfilm.
(21 March 2013)
Oh, man!
This review is from: I'm Not There (Amazon Instant Video) I hate, hate, hated this movie! Boring and frustrating, it tells you nothing about Bob Dylan, except it appears to suck to be him. Why on earth he became famous is beyond me, and this movie did not tell me that, or anything else, either. They even changed his name. I just don't get why they even made this movie, but it was not the least bit entertaining.
ice ruby red (13 March 2013)
Not For Everyone!
If you are thinking about seeing this movie I would suggest that youresearch Dylan first; otherwise you will be lost from the get-go, likeI was.You need to know that the characters all represent different aspects ofDylan, and that even though they are "Dylan" they have different names.Some of the Dylan aspects are personified as a young black boy usingthe name Woody Guthrie, a woman, and a middle-aged Billy the Kidd, forexample. And the film jumps from character to character and then backagain, frequently.Chances are, if you are not an art film aficionado, you won't care forthis one. On the other hand, if you do your Dylan homework, you mayvery well enjoy it even though it isn't typical mainstream movie fare.
(13 March 2013)
Are you kidding?
I had read the reviews here before I had my son buy this as a Mother's Day gift for me. I so looked forward to seeing this movie! But, are you kidding me? I painfully watched this for over an hour before I shut it off and felt so bad that this movie was such a disappointment. It was hard to follow, was all over the place and made no sense. The biggest thrill I received was seeing Richie Havens playing and parts of the Village that I remembered from my teen years. I use to go down to the Village and listen to Havens sing and play his guitar and so did enjoy those Saturday afternoons! I love Dylan and thought this movie would be different, as he is, but come on! Take off the rose colored glasses and see this flick as it is....terrible!
wes-connors (02 March 2013)
(I Don't Want to) Chain You Down
Unless you know something about the subject of this biography, you'rebound to be confused by "I'm Not There". It is "inspired by the music &many lives of Bob Dylan." For the unenlightened, Mr. Dylan was famous,long ago ("for playing electric violins on desolation row"). The film,by writer/director Todd Haynes is excellent, but inaccessible. And,strangely, if you know anything about the subject, you're going tolearn approximately nothing knew. To help navigate, there were fourmain Dylans FIRST and famed-mostly, Dylan was a "Rock Star". This period is playedout by Cate Blanchett as "Jude Quinn". This character sports afictitious name, but like much of the movie, comes (not fromMcCartney's "Jude" but) obviously from Dylan's oeuvre - the Christian"Jude" and "Quinn the Eskimo". This Dylan has the clearest Beginningand End points of any. He was "born" when startling his folk audienceby "going electric" (guitar) and "dies" in a motorcycle accident at thepeak of his fame.SECOND most famous, and highly influential, Dylan was the "Folk Singer"replaced by the above. Here, it's Christian Bale as "Jack Rollins".This Dylan was quite popular on his own, but was much "covered" byother folk artists and rock bands. During this time, Dylan was morelike a very big cult, and his songs were more widely heard when otherpeople made hit records from them. The songs were more Political(protest) during this time, getting vague later (with exceptions, like"Hurricane").THIRD time around for Dylan was his "Cowboy" persona, essayed herein byRichard Gere and named "Billy the Kid" after the outlaw anti-hero Dylanplay-acted. This was the Dylan emerging after the motorcycle accident.Dylan left a bunch of unreleased tracks (known as "The Basement Tapes")and "reinvented" himself as a more countrified mellow rocker (listen to"Lay Lady Lay"). Here, the "stages" of Dylan's art become more blurredas he no longer commanded the attention he did earlier.FOURTH biggest change, after a long run without defining boundaries,was the "Born Again" or "Christian" Dylan. This startled some people,but (as the film points out) it shouldn't have been unexpected. Infact, the "Fame"/"Drugs"/"Jesus" continuum is very common among musicstars, as anyone watching MTV's 1990s biographies could plainly see.For this film, Mr. Bale (uniquely) plays two Dylan incarnations,revising his earlier "Folk Singer" character "Jack Rollins" to become"Pastor John". BUT, that's not all. There are three less public parts of thequadraphonic Dylan covered by Mr. Haynes FIRST is Dylan's mysterious boyhood masquerade as "Woody Guthrie"played by Marcus Carl Franklin. He is the kid on the train, sportingthe Fascist-Killing-Guitar-in-the-West. Of course, Woody Guthrie was areal person, and he had a tremendous influence on Dylan. While cute andwell done, this section is not revelatory, which could be why the filmproject had "the real" Bob Dylan's blessing. The real Dylan, whoappears briefly near the end, did not appreciate biographers peekinginto his personal history.SECOND is Dylan "The Poet" named "Arthur Rimbaud" and played by BenWhishaw. Like the above, but more of a conglomerate, the character is areal French poet named Arthur Rimbaud who influenced Dylan (and manyother rock stars). The Dylans are presented in sort of an overlappingchronological order - which may not make sense to the uninitiated - butthis one is used more like a muse for the others, accentuating Dylan'sreputation as a true "Tarantula" of a Poet, even without the music.THIRD and perhaps most esoteric is Dylan "The Actor" played by HeathLedger as "Robbie Clark". Dylan did do some movies. Mortals do notforgive. Even an epic focusing in his relationship with a certainsad-eyed of the lowlands. Rather than show Dylan acting in a movie,this "Actor" section perversely shows the more camera-shy Dylan. Itseems highly fictitious, but you've got to appreciate "Dylan" tellingwhat looks like "Patti Smith", "chicks can never be poets." (!) And, "IWant You" is a terrific vignette. In sum, "I'm Not There" is an excellent film for obvious believers,with minus zero insight into its subject. Bobby Zimmerman could hardlydisapprove. By the way, the fact that the vinyl "Stuck Inside of Mobilewith the " was amusingly continued in the "Blonde on Blonde" gate-foldjacket as " Memphis Blues Again" is no excuse to edit the song. And,changing the lyric, "Here is your 'throat' back, thanks for theloan..." to "Here is your 'mouth' back, thanks for the loan..." reallysucks. Moreover, it's sacrilege.******* I'm Not There (9/3/07) Todd Haynes ~ Christian Bale, CateBlanchett, Heath Ledger, Richard Gere
(02 March 2013)
Beguiling..., 14 Feb 2008
Plot: Biopic of legendary singer Bob Dylan through seven different stages in the artist's life played by six different actors. The events that follow are drawn as much from Dylan's songs as from his actual biography. My Review: In short, `I'm Not There' is restless, brilliant, and so far up its own arse. It's that kind of film: abundantly engulfing with its self-ego centric demeanour, with the subject that's wholeheartedly likeable. It's all about Bobby; it's a personal elegy to him, and all albeit an allegory that tells parts of his life through the use of several actors who prove to be a well ensemble of players. It's not in order, it goes from best to worst parts of his life, and it has to be; fractionally chronological as you are meant to see his life through a mix of good and bad times. Each segment entwines with the rest, seeming almost unnoticeable. As if you almost wait to see two different Bobby's run past each other, like some corny way to go from one story to another. The Man Dylan, who is it we suspect is his true self? Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger, Ben Whishaw, Charlotte Gainsbourg, etc all play a part in Dylan's mayhem lived lifestyle. Heath Ledger playing the easily absolved actor who could have been bigger as apposed to the singer who was made. Heath is also the failed husband, and then there's Ben Whishaw's Dylan who fathoms and tries to connect his life with the poet Rimbaud. Cate Blanchett's Dylan gives a depiction of his controversial years, where he seemed lost on what his direction of music would turn to. Blanchett is the one who most closely captures the familiar inner conflict and the more upstaged conflict that wasn't in public's eye. Verdict: Played by multi-talented actors, we are given a multi-faceted biopic of Bob Dylan in his prime. It may irritate, fine wined for some. Amazing plethora-ed depiction. 8/10.
(28 February 2013)
What a yawner!
Had high hopes, watched it for about 20 minutes and was bored out of my mind!
XTRADER (27 February 2013)
Dylan may not be there - but everyone else is there...
I'm not there. (2007)  Directed by Todd Haynes There is an idea of aPatrick Bateman; some kind of abstraction. But there is no real me:only an entity, something illusory. And though I can hide my cold gaze,and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours and maybe youcan even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable... I simply amnot there.Ignoring the word simply, the last time I heard "I'm not there" wasfrom the amazing film American Psycho  so the first thing that sprangto mind when I first heard of this title were these words uttered byPatrick Bateman. But alas this is something far different."I'm Not There" the Biopic of the forever changing man Bob Dylan comesto us from Todd Haynes  already familiar with the music genre havingdelivered the highly original Velvet Goldmine back in 1998. The titlestems from a previously unreleased Dylan recording of the title song"I'm Not There", which was recorded during the "The Basement Tapes"sessions. Haynes has set out on a Dylan Journey capturing the truth inthe lies, grandeur, childishness and arrogance that made Dylan asnotorious as he was and ever will be. Some have called him genius andif you're a fan of any of his work you will marvel at his rhymes andplayfulness with harmonica and guitar. Haynes transports you intoDylan's mind as well from a side line through the eyes of many of thepeople that came across him over the years, by bringing us sixincarnations of Bob Dylan: an actor, a folk singer, an electrifiedtroubadour, Rimbaud, Billy the Kid, and Woody Guthrie. On top of thisTodd Haynes with pure mixing skill and musical greatness that couldprobably only be emulated by Bob himself puts Dylan's music behindtheir adventures, soliloquies, interviews, marriage, and infidelity.Before seeing this cinematic work  I had heard rumours that some ofthe cast were strong while others put in a weak performance. Well I'mnot usually a fan of Richard Gere  his movies such as "Shall we Dance"should never had been made and I had heard a lot of bad press inregards to his performance but I think this simply may be down topeople not really getting the reasoning behind him as Billy the Kid.Without ruining it for you Gere is a version of the elderly Dylan withthe other stories being in the past of this story. This story focuseson Dylan's country life of the Woodstock era and his later years. Avery solid performance from Gere - don't believe the haters.It has been said before but I will say it again: Cate Blanchett turnsin the strongest and most recognizable performance of Dylan playing thecharacter Jude Quinn, a version of Dylan who was at the height of hisfame in the 60's as he toured with the Beatles in London when hisoriginal fan base was rejecting him as a sell out  truly mesmerisingand dream like sequences reminiscent of many 60's art films of the eraand interviews given by Dylan.Christian Bale (Jack Rollins) focusing on Dylan's early folk era andthen later finding Christianity is as you would expect nothing butsolid  will Bale ever do a bad movie? Reign of Fire isn't a bad movie!The late Heath Ledger turns in phenomenal performance in the form ofthe fictional Robbie Clark who focuses on Dylan's personal life and hisbrief appetite into the world of acting as he plays Bale's fictionalcharacter Jack Rollins in the film "Grain of Sand" referenced to 1981'shaunting Gospel song.The most enjoyable performance to watch musically probably comes fromthe very young and talented African American actor Marcus Carl Franklin(a name to watch I personally believe)  he is the traveling Dylanreminiscing about the past always on the run with the other hobo'swhile singing the Blues while giving youth and crossing borders to whoDylan is and was and wanted to be.And last but by no means least a solid performance is put in by BenWhishaw who is forever being questioned by what could be the CIA, FBIor just simply the establishment  spouting vague poetic meaning to hisquestions that some could interpret as meaningless but others willinterpret to mean a thousand things that only Dylan could of come upwith.If you're easily confused and simple in the head and possibly not a fanof Bob Dylan or you have no appreciation for any of the above actorsmentioned then maybe yes you won't enjoy this Biopic of a mysteriousmusician who was many things. But if you approach this with intrigueand the desire to escape into Todd Haynes world of Bob Dylan then youwill find a highly rewarding 135mins that will urge you once again todig out your old Dylan records for another play.9/10  Well Done Todd Haynes
Review total: 20, showing from 1 to 20