![I'm Not There [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51fTaqDc5-L.jpg)
Product Description Ruminations on the life of Bob Dylan, where seven characters embody a different aspect of the musician's life and work. .co.uk Review Unapologetically audacious, I'm Not There is more post-modern puzzle than by-the-numbers biopic. A title card sets the scene: "Inspired by the music and many lives of Bob Dylan." Yet the film features no figure by that name. Instead, writer/director Todd Haynes presents six characters, each incarnating different stages in the artist's career. Perfume's Ben Whishaw, a black-clad poet, serves as a slippery sort of narrator. The action begins with the wanderings of an 11-year-old black runaway named "Woody Guthrie" (Marcus Carl Franklin)--his raucous duet with Richie Havens on "Tombstone Blues" is a highlight--and ends with a silver-haired Billy the Kid (Richard Gere) watching the Old West die before his eyes. In the interim, there's the folk singer-turned-preacher (Christian Bale), the actor (Heath Ledger), and the rock star (Cate Blanchett, who has Don't Look Back Dylan down to a science). The chronology is purposefully non-linear, and editor Jay ! Rabinowitz cuts rapidly, Jean-Luc Godard-style, between cinéma vérité black-and-white and saturated colour, Richard Lester-like slapstick and Fellini-inspired surrealism (Ed Lachman served as cinematographer). What makes the picture fun for Dylan fans--and potentially frustrating for neophytes--is that every album and movie bears an alternate title. Ledger's Robbie, for instance, stars in "Grain of Sand," actually a reference to the Pete Seeger song. As in Haynes' glam rock reverie Velvet Goldmine, the trickery involves the entire cast. While Julianne Moore plays former lover Alice, a dead ringer for Joan Baez, Michelle Williams embodies elusive scenester Coco, i.e. Edie Sedgwick. If I'm Not There is less affecting than Control, the year's other big music film, it rewards repeat viewings like few biographical features. The soundtrack mixes originals with covers, like Jim James's heartfelt "Goin' to Acapulco." --Kathleen C. Fennessy
J**C
Would the real Bobby Dylan please stand up
Which such an unorthodox artist such as Dylan, a traditional cradle to the grave wouldn't really work (his nibs probably wouldn't give consent to use his music anyway).The problem I have with "I'm not there" is that the sections of the movie featuring Blanchett are so strong, it puts the rest of the film to shame & I waiting for the movie to get back to her, plus the Blanchett scenes are loosely based on real events which gives her performance some extra meat.But the sound track to the movie is whole different kettle of Bob Dylan fish, with lots of strong re-imagining of mostly lesser know Dylan tracks & defiantly worth buying
M**M
A ‘must-see’ for both film and Dylan fans
Not a biopic of Dylan, this is innovative, exciting, ground-breaking filmmaking. The different actors portraying a songwriter of a certain genre and type are all mesmerising. As beautiful, intricate, and allusive as the best Bob Dylan song poem.
J**N
Beware: This blu-ray item is NOT in English
This isn't the first time I've had this problem with Amazon on film purchases: this film is dubbed into German! Looking through the other versions of this film available through Amazon it wld seem there are several non-English versions being sold. Be very careful!
S**N
Original and compelling
I wasn't sure what to expect from this film and was pleasantly surprised. This is a film that approaches Bob Dylan from different angles rather than head on. Six actors play different aspects of Dylan (superb performances by Cate Blanchett doing an electric-period Dylan and Marcus Carl Franklin playing the myth Dylan created of his childhood). The film moves back and forth between the different stories and is utterly compelling, especially the bit with Richard Gere as Billy the Kid living in a Depression-era rural backwater that is almost hallucinogenic. It's the most original and compelling biopic I've seen and pays tribute to the elusiveness of Dylan the man. This is a film I will see again.
A**D
Enthralling viewing. A must for serious Dylan fans
Strange and surprisingly enthralling unique film, brilliantly acted with a fantastic soundtrack combining Dylan originals and great cover versions. It tells you something that it's the only film that Dylan has ever given his blessing to about himself.
K**A
Great movie
Lots of wonderful themes and shots, great acting, also sufficiently weird and thought provoking.
J**N
Best Bob biog
Its brilliant. Probably best if you are slightly soaked in Dylan's life and works - but I think it would work if you weren't.
O**N
Great
Great dvd most recommended
