I'm Not There - 2007 - Todd Haynes
I'm Not There - 2007 - Todd Haynes
I wish I could say that the traditional biopic was dead. It would be a more interesting world if more filmmakers would forgo the easy retelling of events from a person’s life and instead follow Todd Haynes' example and try to capture the feel and sprite of the subject's life. In I'm Not There, Hanyes has six different actors are all Bob Dylan and at the same time none of them are Dylan. Haynes' technique of traveling between the different Dylan's rather than a simple progression from a to b sets a mood that matches the arch of Dylan's career wonderfully. The different interpretations cover a range of styles from Jude(Cate Blanchett), a very close fit with the Dylan that we saw in Dont Look Back to Billy(Richard Gere) who is slightly more of an abstract version.
Visually the mix of black and white and colour photography works to keep the off balance tone that is set by the use of the all of the different characters to represent the different aspects of Dylan. As far as a story or plot is concerned, there really is not any to speak of. If you are not at all familiar with Bob Dylan then I'm Not There is likely lost on you. There is an introduction of sorts by way of the early scenes with Woody(Marcus Carl Franklin) but they will not substitute for a little background knowledge.
Haynes connects the characters to each other as well as using each of them to recall aspects of Dylan's career. We see documented moments from Dylan's life mixed with moments that could have happened. At a glance the technique that will stands out most is the diverse cast. Haynes uses young and old, black and white, men and women all to show different aspects of the enigmatic hero. Three of the characters are singers, one is an actor that portrays one of the singer in a film and there is also Billy the Kid.
If you know Dylan this is a great film, if not do yourself a favor and check out Dont Look Back and No Direction Home and then come back to I'm Not There.
I wish I could say that the traditional biopic was dead. It would be a more interesting world if more filmmakers would forgo the easy retelling of events from a person’s life and instead follow Todd Haynes' example and try to capture the feel and sprite of the subject's life. In I'm Not There, Hanyes has six different actors are all Bob Dylan and at the same time none of them are Dylan. Haynes' technique of traveling between the different Dylan's rather than a simple progression from a to b sets a mood that matches the arch of Dylan's career wonderfully. The different interpretations cover a range of styles from Jude(Cate Blanchett), a very close fit with the Dylan that we saw in Dont Look Back to Billy(Richard Gere) who is slightly more of an abstract version.
Visually the mix of black and white and colour photography works to keep the off balance tone that is set by the use of the all of the different characters to represent the different aspects of Dylan. As far as a story or plot is concerned, there really is not any to speak of. If you are not at all familiar with Bob Dylan then I'm Not There is likely lost on you. There is an introduction of sorts by way of the early scenes with Woody(Marcus Carl Franklin) but they will not substitute for a little background knowledge.
Haynes connects the characters to each other as well as using each of them to recall aspects of Dylan's career. We see documented moments from Dylan's life mixed with moments that could have happened. At a glance the technique that will stands out most is the diverse cast. Haynes uses young and old, black and white, men and women all to show different aspects of the enigmatic hero. Three of the characters are singers, one is an actor that portrays one of the singer in a film and there is also Billy the Kid.
If you know Dylan this is a great film, if not do yourself a favor and check out Dont Look Back and No Direction Home and then come back to I'm Not There.
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