Festival synopsis:
Todd Haynes’ “Dylan movie” is a singularity: a cinematic phantasmagoria built around the poetic re-invention of the self, which collapses time and leaves linear progress and cold logic in the shadows.
Haynes swirls through Dylan’s life and legends, and allows a series of "avatars" (including Richard Gere, young Marcus Carl Franklin and, most miraculously of all, Cate Blanchett) to bloom within a variety of settings, styles and registers.
Like Dylan’s music, with which it is lovingly suffused, I’m Not There is the purest quicksilver, slipping through cracks and crevices to the poetic heart of the world.
++++++++++++++++++++++ Review by Gary, Cabana, THEreelreviewer.com
"It began with a certain disgust and it ends - unable to grasp
this eternity - it ends in a riot of perfumes." - Rimbaud
I'M NOT THERE
Crazy quilt of characterizations, time frames, and philosphical musings of perhaps America's most iconic political poet! Funny thing is, if it took SIX actors to play out his life in full, then how did just one man LIVE it, eh?
2-3/4 stars (out of 4 stars / MUST-SEE for Dylan-philes and Cate Blanchett fans)
[B&W and Color/(2007)US-Germany/TheWeinsteinCo./Rated R] - (2 hrs 15 min)
Co-written & Directed by Todd Haynes
Cast ... Lead characters (The Bob Dylan's):
Christian Bale ... Jack (the folkie) & Pastor John (saved 20 yrs. later)
Cate Blanchett... Jude (the singer in an electric band)
Marcus Carl Franklin ... Woody Guthrie (age 11, the train tramp)
Richard Gere ... Billy (formerly 'the Kid'/the post "Pat Garrett" years)
Heath Ledger ... Robbie (the James Dean-esque actor)
Ben Whishaw ... Arthur (the poet on trial)
Cameos:
Richie Havens (60's singer) ... Old Man Arvin (befriends Woody)
Richard Nixon (archive clip) ... TV broadcast
Review:
"God, I'm glad I'm not me." -Jude
Wow! I never thought I would be in this kind of a predicament. Normally, with an outrageously original film like this one, it would be easy to separate it from the same-o same-o Hollywood fare, but not so. Before this crazy quilt amalgamation of Bob Dylan's life and music came to town an equally inspired Beatles musical ("Across the Universe") had already hit local screens and stolen all the superlatives. Damn that Julie Taymor, eh?
Now I'm left with the awful task of comparing the two (no longer unique) experiences of watching (listening to) "Across the Universe [ATU]" and "I'm Not There [INT]" in successive months. All I can say is this: if you are a bigger Dylan-fan than you are a Beatles-fan, better you should hold off on seeing ATU until you've seen INT, unless you're in a small town and it looks like INT won't reach you until ATU has gone to DVD. BOTH of these films are mandatory BIG SCREEN/Dolby Sound experiences.
Before I make the full comparison, I will say that INT does have one particularly key element that surpasses anything in ATU, and that's the stunning, Oscar-worthy, hilarious impersonation of Bob Dylan that is accomplished by Australian actress Cate Blanchett ("Elizabeth") as 'Jude'.
Not only is Jude's character responsible for executing two classic songs from Dylan's "electric" period, but also some of the artist's most famous and humorous quotes. I would go so far to say that if you are short on funds and are a Cate-phile, then you should skip her leading role in "The Golden Age" sequel opening in October and spend your cash on her brilliant supporting perf in INT (opening November 21, 2007).
Okay, okay, THE comparison. The first way to compare these two rock music movies is to contrast their directors. ATU showcases the immense talent and visual genius of Julie Taymor ("Titus"), as well as her theatrical background and ability to transfer that to the big screen. She uses the color palette like a painter and is able to create images that shatter any preconceived notions of how to render a Beatles song visually.
Having said all that, INT features the director Todd Haynes ("Velvet Goldmine"), who also has an artistic background and a cinematic inventiveness that is reflected in his choice of film stocks, editing techniques, themes, and camera angles.
Haynes shoots quite a bit of INT in B&W, especially the Cate Blanchett sections, so that the film has more of a monochromatic look while ATU is a more like a Technicolor feast. With these unique visual looks each director has put their individual stamp on the material they shaped and succeeded for the most part.
Where ATU trumps INT is in the use of music, but of course Taymor's movie has the advantage of being a rock "musical" (a la "Jesus Christ Superstar") with a completely invented storyline. INT is basically a bio-pic and is constricted by the life (& interests) of Bob Dylan, and is also responsible for delivering a lot more dialogue than ATU.
Sadly (for music lovers), it's this genre restriction that keeps the concert segments short and/or severly edited (more like excerpts). From a story standpoint this is an advantageous way to summarize the highlights of the Dylan library, but it may send fans running to the CD stores to recall the full versions that are only hinted at in the movie.
Also, by putting the seven characters (the Bob Dylans) in the forefront, Haynes subordinates the strongest element of Dylan's story - his music. And for this reason, I favor "Across the Universe" over "I'm Not There."
Both films are works of genius, but ACU is the most successful at balancing the main elements and reigning in the temptation to break the audience's concentration, revery, and enjoyment. Haynes shows sparks of invention (the 'Billy the Kid' subplot), but his attempts are wildly uneven and inseted at the expense of the story (he repeatedly cuts to stills of the main characters edited to the sound of gunshots - once would have been plenty).
To sum up, both are films worth seeing, but you should lower your expections for "I'm Not There" (INT) and possibly save "Across the Universe" (ACU) for later since it can withstand the scrutiny of comparison more favorably than its Dylan-esque counterpart.
Good luck, as usual. "How does it feel, to be on your own ... "
"Who cares what I think, I'm not the President." - Jude
Crew:
Co-Writer: Oren Moverman
Cinematography by Edward Lachman
Editor: Jay Rabinowitz
[All credits linked to IMDbPRO.com]
Cast ... Supporting characters:
Kris Kristofferson ... Narrator
Bruce Greenwood ... Keenan Jones (BBC Arts editor)/Pat Garrett
Charlotte Gainsbourg ... Claire (Robby's wife & mother of two)
Michelle Williams ... Coco Rivington (Jude's ex-girlfriend/Underground ingenue)
Julianne Moore ... Alice Fabian (Folk singer & activist)
Kim Gordon ... Carla Hendricks (Folk singer)
Kim Roberts ... Mrs. Arvin (befriends Woody)
David Cross ... Allen Ginsberg (the famous poet)
Eugene Brotto ... Peter Orlovsky (Beat poet & Allan Ginsberg's life partner)
Terry Haig ... Gerry Hamlin (Columbia Records promoter)
Garth Gilker ... Woody Guthrie (famous musician's final days in the hospital)
Jennifer Rae Westley ... Louise (Ronnie's co-star & lover)
Benz Antoine ... Bobby Seale (Black Panther leader)/Rabbit Brown (Blues guitarist)
Craig Thomas ... Huey P. Newton (Co-founder of the Black Panther Party)
Peter Friedman ... Morris Bernstein (the Agent)
Matthew Boylan ... Brian Jones (Rolling Stones guitarist)
"Live your own time, child." - Mrs. Arvin
Select soundtrack info:
"Stuck Inside Of Mobile With Memphis Blues Again" - Performed by Cat Power
"Tombstone Blues" - Performed by Richie Havens
"The Times They Are A Changin'" - Performed by Mason Jennings
"Visions Of Johanna" - Performed by Bob Dylan
"I Wanna Be Your Lover" - Performed by Yo La Tengo
"Blind Willie McTell" - Performed by Bob Dylan
"Maggie's Farm" - Performed by Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers*
"Like A Rolling Stone (selected verses)" -Performed by Cate Blanchett
"Simple Twist Of Fate" - Performed by Jeff Tweedy
Ballad Of A Thin Man - Performed by Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers*
"All Along The Watchtower" - Perf. by Eddie Vedder & The Million Dollar Bashers*
"(I'm not your) Steppin' Stone" - Performed by The Monkees
"Trouble in Mind" - Performed by Bob Dylan
"Pressing On" - Performed by John Doe
"Idiot Wind" - Performed by Bob Dylan
"Katie's Been Gone" - Performed by Bob Dylan
"Like A Rolling Stone" - Performed by Bob Dylan (end credits)
I'm Not There - Performed by Sonic Youth (end credits)
Other songs inspired by or included on the soundtrack:
As I Went Out One Morning--Mira Billotte
Billy--Los Lobos
Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window--The Hold Steady
Can't Leave Her Behind--Stephen Malkmus & Lee Ranaldo
Cold Irons Bound--Tom Verlaine & The Million Dollar Bashers
Dark Eyes--Iron & Wine & Calexico (**Download: Bob Dylan - "Dark Eyes")
Fourth Time Around--Yo La Tengo (**Download: Bob Dylan - "Fourth Time Around")
Goin' To Acapulco--Jim James & Calexico
Highway 61 Revisited--Karen O & The Million Dollar Bashers
I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine - John Doe
I'm Not There--Bob Dylan (**Download: Bob Dylan - "I'm Not There")
Just Like A Woman--Charlotte Gainsbourg & Calexico
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues--Ramblin' Jack Elliot
Knockin' On Heaven's Door--Antony & The Johnsons
The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll--Mason Jennings
Mama You've Been On My Mind--Jack Johnson
The Man In The Long Black Coat--Mark Lanegan
Moonshiner--Bob Forrest
One More Cup Of Coffee--Roger McGuinn & Calexico
Ring Them Bells--Sufjan Stevens
Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power)--Willie Nelson & Calexico (**Download: Calexico - "Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)" -live)
**Download: Bob Dylan "She's Your Lover Now"
When The Ship Comes In--Marcus Carl Franklin
Wicked Messenger--The Black Keys
You Ain't Goin 'Nowhere--Glen Hansard & Markta Irglov (**Download: Bob Dylan and the Band - "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere")
*The Million Dollar Band is studio creation with the following line-up: Lee Renaldo (Sonic Youth); Tom Verlaine; Nels Cline (Wilco); Smokey Hormel (guitar); Steve Shelley (drums); John Medeski (keyboards); & Tony Garnier (bass).
[**AUDIO Links courtest of ThePlaylist/theBlogSpot.com]
"Why don't you do your older stuff." -Jude
Additional cast:
Yolonda Ross ... Angela Reeves
Mark Camacho ... Norman
Joe Cobden ... Sonny
Kristen Hager ... Mona
Alison Folland ... Grace
Don Francks & Roc Lafortune ... Train hobo's
Paul Cagelet ... Carny/Bell Hop
Brian RC Wilmes ... Gorgeous George (Smith Bros. Carnival)
Tyrone Benskin & Kim Roberts ... Mr. & Mrs. Arvin (Woody's new friends)
Eric Newsome ... 60's narrator (archive footage montage)
Jane Wheeler ... TV host
Jessica Kardos ... Nurse
Fanny La Croix ... Alice/Actress
Tim Post ... Newscaster
Marie-Julie Rivest ... Strange woman
Dennis St John ... Captain Henry/The Admiral
Shaun Balbar ... Paparazzi
Larry Day ... Govt. Agent (Trial scenes)
Thiéry Dubé ... The Erotic Hitchhicker
Watch the Trailer
"A song in something that walks by itself." -Arthur
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Todd Haynes’ “Dylan movie” is a singularity: a cinematic phantasmagoria built around the poetic re-invention of the self, which collapses time and leaves linear progress and cold logic in the shadows.
Haynes swirls through Dylan’s life and legends, and allows a series of "avatars" (including Richard Gere, young Marcus Carl Franklin and, most miraculously of all, Cate Blanchett) to bloom within a variety of settings, styles and registers.
Like Dylan’s music, with which it is lovingly suffused, I’m Not There is the purest quicksilver, slipping through cracks and crevices to the poetic heart of the world.
++++++++++++++++++++++ Review by Gary, Cabana, THEreelreviewer.com
"It began with a certain disgust and it ends - unable to grasp
this eternity - it ends in a riot of perfumes." - Rimbaud
I'M NOT THERE
Crazy quilt of characterizations, time frames, and philosphical musings of perhaps America's most iconic political poet! Funny thing is, if it took SIX actors to play out his life in full, then how did just one man LIVE it, eh?
2-3/4 stars (out of 4 stars / MUST-SEE for Dylan-philes and Cate Blanchett fans)
[B&W and Color/(2007)US-Germany/TheWeinsteinCo./Rated R] - (2 hrs 15 min)
Co-written & Directed by Todd Haynes
Cast ... Lead characters (The Bob Dylan's):
Christian Bale ... Jack (the folkie) & Pastor John (saved 20 yrs. later)
Cate Blanchett... Jude (the singer in an electric band)
Marcus Carl Franklin ... Woody Guthrie (age 11, the train tramp)
Richard Gere ... Billy (formerly 'the Kid'/the post "Pat Garrett" years)
Heath Ledger ... Robbie (the James Dean-esque actor)
Ben Whishaw ... Arthur (the poet on trial)
Cameos:
Richie Havens (60's singer) ... Old Man Arvin (befriends Woody)
Richard Nixon (archive clip) ... TV broadcast
Review:
"God, I'm glad I'm not me." -Jude
Wow! I never thought I would be in this kind of a predicament. Normally, with an outrageously original film like this one, it would be easy to separate it from the same-o same-o Hollywood fare, but not so. Before this crazy quilt amalgamation of Bob Dylan's life and music came to town an equally inspired Beatles musical ("Across the Universe") had already hit local screens and stolen all the superlatives. Damn that Julie Taymor, eh?
Now I'm left with the awful task of comparing the two (no longer unique) experiences of watching (listening to) "Across the Universe [ATU]" and "I'm Not There [INT]" in successive months. All I can say is this: if you are a bigger Dylan-fan than you are a Beatles-fan, better you should hold off on seeing ATU until you've seen INT, unless you're in a small town and it looks like INT won't reach you until ATU has gone to DVD. BOTH of these films are mandatory BIG SCREEN/Dolby Sound experiences.
Before I make the full comparison, I will say that INT does have one particularly key element that surpasses anything in ATU, and that's the stunning, Oscar-worthy, hilarious impersonation of Bob Dylan that is accomplished by Australian actress Cate Blanchett ("Elizabeth") as 'Jude'.
Not only is Jude's character responsible for executing two classic songs from Dylan's "electric" period, but also some of the artist's most famous and humorous quotes. I would go so far to say that if you are short on funds and are a Cate-phile, then you should skip her leading role in "The Golden Age" sequel opening in October and spend your cash on her brilliant supporting perf in INT (opening November 21, 2007).
Okay, okay, THE comparison. The first way to compare these two rock music movies is to contrast their directors. ATU showcases the immense talent and visual genius of Julie Taymor ("Titus"), as well as her theatrical background and ability to transfer that to the big screen. She uses the color palette like a painter and is able to create images that shatter any preconceived notions of how to render a Beatles song visually.
Having said all that, INT features the director Todd Haynes ("Velvet Goldmine"), who also has an artistic background and a cinematic inventiveness that is reflected in his choice of film stocks, editing techniques, themes, and camera angles.
Haynes shoots quite a bit of INT in B&W, especially the Cate Blanchett sections, so that the film has more of a monochromatic look while ATU is a more like a Technicolor feast. With these unique visual looks each director has put their individual stamp on the material they shaped and succeeded for the most part.
Where ATU trumps INT is in the use of music, but of course Taymor's movie has the advantage of being a rock "musical" (a la "Jesus Christ Superstar") with a completely invented storyline. INT is basically a bio-pic and is constricted by the life (& interests) of Bob Dylan, and is also responsible for delivering a lot more dialogue than ATU.
Sadly (for music lovers), it's this genre restriction that keeps the concert segments short and/or severly edited (more like excerpts). From a story standpoint this is an advantageous way to summarize the highlights of the Dylan library, but it may send fans running to the CD stores to recall the full versions that are only hinted at in the movie.
Also, by putting the seven characters (the Bob Dylans) in the forefront, Haynes subordinates the strongest element of Dylan's story - his music. And for this reason, I favor "Across the Universe" over "I'm Not There."
Both films are works of genius, but ACU is the most successful at balancing the main elements and reigning in the temptation to break the audience's concentration, revery, and enjoyment. Haynes shows sparks of invention (the 'Billy the Kid' subplot), but his attempts are wildly uneven and inseted at the expense of the story (he repeatedly cuts to stills of the main characters edited to the sound of gunshots - once would have been plenty).
To sum up, both are films worth seeing, but you should lower your expections for "I'm Not There" (INT) and possibly save "Across the Universe" (ACU) for later since it can withstand the scrutiny of comparison more favorably than its Dylan-esque counterpart.
Good luck, as usual. "How does it feel, to be on your own ... "
"Who cares what I think, I'm not the President." - Jude
Crew:
Co-Writer: Oren Moverman
Cinematography by Edward Lachman
Editor: Jay Rabinowitz
[All credits linked to IMDbPRO.com]
Cast ... Supporting characters:
Kris Kristofferson ... Narrator
Bruce Greenwood ... Keenan Jones (BBC Arts editor)/Pat Garrett
Charlotte Gainsbourg ... Claire (Robby's wife & mother of two)
Michelle Williams ... Coco Rivington (Jude's ex-girlfriend/Underground ingenue)
Julianne Moore ... Alice Fabian (Folk singer & activist)
Kim Gordon ... Carla Hendricks (Folk singer)
Kim Roberts ... Mrs. Arvin (befriends Woody)
David Cross ... Allen Ginsberg (the famous poet)
Eugene Brotto ... Peter Orlovsky (Beat poet & Allan Ginsberg's life partner)
Terry Haig ... Gerry Hamlin (Columbia Records promoter)
Garth Gilker ... Woody Guthrie (famous musician's final days in the hospital)
Jennifer Rae Westley ... Louise (Ronnie's co-star & lover)
Benz Antoine ... Bobby Seale (Black Panther leader)/Rabbit Brown (Blues guitarist)
Craig Thomas ... Huey P. Newton (Co-founder of the Black Panther Party)
Peter Friedman ... Morris Bernstein (the Agent)
Matthew Boylan ... Brian Jones (Rolling Stones guitarist)
"Live your own time, child." - Mrs. Arvin
Select soundtrack info:
"Stuck Inside Of Mobile With Memphis Blues Again" - Performed by Cat Power
"Tombstone Blues" - Performed by Richie Havens
"The Times They Are A Changin'" - Performed by Mason Jennings
"Visions Of Johanna" - Performed by Bob Dylan
"I Wanna Be Your Lover" - Performed by Yo La Tengo
"Blind Willie McTell" - Performed by Bob Dylan
"Maggie's Farm" - Performed by Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers*
"Like A Rolling Stone (selected verses)" -Performed by Cate Blanchett
"Simple Twist Of Fate" - Performed by Jeff Tweedy
Ballad Of A Thin Man - Performed by Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers*
"All Along The Watchtower" - Perf. by Eddie Vedder & The Million Dollar Bashers*
"(I'm not your) Steppin' Stone" - Performed by The Monkees
"Trouble in Mind" - Performed by Bob Dylan
"Pressing On" - Performed by John Doe
"Idiot Wind" - Performed by Bob Dylan
"Katie's Been Gone" - Performed by Bob Dylan
"Like A Rolling Stone" - Performed by Bob Dylan (end credits)
I'm Not There - Performed by Sonic Youth (end credits)
Other songs inspired by or included on the soundtrack:
As I Went Out One Morning--Mira Billotte
Billy--Los Lobos
Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window--The Hold Steady
Can't Leave Her Behind--Stephen Malkmus & Lee Ranaldo
Cold Irons Bound--Tom Verlaine & The Million Dollar Bashers
Dark Eyes--Iron & Wine & Calexico (**Download: Bob Dylan - "Dark Eyes")
Fourth Time Around--Yo La Tengo (**Download: Bob Dylan - "Fourth Time Around")
Goin' To Acapulco--Jim James & Calexico
Highway 61 Revisited--Karen O & The Million Dollar Bashers
I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine - John Doe
I'm Not There--Bob Dylan (**Download: Bob Dylan - "I'm Not There")
Just Like A Woman--Charlotte Gainsbourg & Calexico
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues--Ramblin' Jack Elliot
Knockin' On Heaven's Door--Antony & The Johnsons
The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll--Mason Jennings
Mama You've Been On My Mind--Jack Johnson
The Man In The Long Black Coat--Mark Lanegan
Moonshiner--Bob Forrest
One More Cup Of Coffee--Roger McGuinn & Calexico
Ring Them Bells--Sufjan Stevens
Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power)--Willie Nelson & Calexico (**Download: Calexico - "Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)" -live)
**Download: Bob Dylan "She's Your Lover Now"
When The Ship Comes In--Marcus Carl Franklin
Wicked Messenger--The Black Keys
You Ain't Goin 'Nowhere--Glen Hansard & Markta Irglov (**Download: Bob Dylan and the Band - "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere")
*The Million Dollar Band is studio creation with the following line-up: Lee Renaldo (Sonic Youth); Tom Verlaine; Nels Cline (Wilco); Smokey Hormel (guitar); Steve Shelley (drums); John Medeski (keyboards); & Tony Garnier (bass).
[**AUDIO Links courtest of ThePlaylist/theBlogSpot.com]
"Why don't you do your older stuff." -Jude
Additional cast:
Yolonda Ross ... Angela Reeves
Mark Camacho ... Norman
Joe Cobden ... Sonny
Kristen Hager ... Mona
Alison Folland ... Grace
Don Francks & Roc Lafortune ... Train hobo's
Paul Cagelet ... Carny/Bell Hop
Brian RC Wilmes ... Gorgeous George (Smith Bros. Carnival)
Tyrone Benskin & Kim Roberts ... Mr. & Mrs. Arvin (Woody's new friends)
Eric Newsome ... 60's narrator (archive footage montage)
Jane Wheeler ... TV host
Jessica Kardos ... Nurse
Fanny La Croix ... Alice/Actress
Tim Post ... Newscaster
Marie-Julie Rivest ... Strange woman
Dennis St John ... Captain Henry/The Admiral
Shaun Balbar ... Paparazzi
Larry Day ... Govt. Agent (Trial scenes)
Thiéry Dubé ... The Erotic Hitchhicker
Watch the Trailer
"A song in something that walks by itself." -Arthur
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++