 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Reviewed by: Chris Burton 01 May 2008 I'm Not There
| |  I really wanted to like this movie. Sincerely I did. I am a Bob Dylan super freak. I am not informed enough musically to make a statement that Bob Dylan is the greatest musician of the 20th century, but I do know that many people informed enough have made that statement. Therefore, I was really looking forward to a movie about his life. But this isn’t it. This movie isn’t really about anything. Its only redeeming value is the music. So, if you don’t like Dylan’s music, run for the hills.
The movie opens up strongly, with an awesome credit sequence set to ‘Stuck Inside of Mobile’. We are then introduced to a young ‘Bob Dylan’. But his name isn’t Bob. Its Woody Guthrie, and he’s an eight year old black child. It represents Dylan’s roots in bluegrass and the depression-era songs of the 1930’s. Five other actors play five other incarnations of Dylan. These include the late Heath Ledger, Richard Gere, some other guy, and of course Cate Blanchett in the film’s most memorable role.
Perhaps it’s the point, but the problem I had with I’m Not There is it wasn’t. It was the total lack of cohesion. It’s a bunch of vignettes strewn together, and most of the vignettes aren’t even that interesting. The only thing that kept my attention was the music, which is absolutely amazing. It’s not just the Dylan songs we’re all so familiar with (though they are there too). You’re going to hear some music you haven’t heard in years, if ever.
Todd Haynes has never really made a film that I overtly enjoyed. But while I have been bashing on I’m Not There, it definitely has some positive qualities. Its visually very captivating, and Haynes has a good eye for finding a way to see the music of Bob Dylan. But I just couldn’t get into anything except the music. |
|
|
|
 |
|
Copyright (c) 2007 Rock Star Media Works, Inc. All rights reserved.
Admin Options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
