Sunday, May 18, 2008

Film review

Managed to catch Todd Haynes' film 'I'm not there' about the life of Bob Dylan and although ambitious and good in parts it doesn't quite come off.
Showing his multi-faceted character through the voice of six different actors was always going to be difficult but it was only a brilliant performance by Cate Blanchett, with her delicate build and perfect skin, as the twitchy, haunted Dylan of the late sixties that really came off. Was this because she was allowed to look and represent the poet as he was and is most famous for, whereas the other actors had to portray aspects of his character less well known. I think so.
Don't get me wrong, it's a must see and I applaud the courage of the director, it's just sometimes I said to myself "I'm not there".
And the lyrics..... the man is a genius!!

4 comments:

Jon said...

Saw the film and have to agree with your review. You may also like the biography that Martin Scorsese did on Dylan a few years back... definitely shows a side of Dylan that not many have seen as well as getting into the influences on him when he was young including Woody Gutherie and vicariously Walt Whitman... catch ya later...

human being said...

Hmmmm...
i try to get it...
Bob Dylan is one of my favorites...

this review is really good... making one eager to see the film, though the weak points are mentioned... it's non-judgemental... unlike many of the reviews one may read...

the last sentence...
... it's just sometimes I said to myself "I'm not there".

wow! i should thank you for the hearty laugh...

chook said...

Hopper.... no I haven't seen the biography but will. It was amazing that Scorsese didn't meet or discuss the film with Dylan which perhaps gives a better view of how we plebs see the iconic figure.

HB....Laugh! Laugh! I'll have you know this is a serious review and my audience of one is hanging on my every jewelled metaphor (are there any of those in there?)
Rock on

human being said...

:D
those who don't read you... lose a lot!