Well, for starters, it's really quite unlike your average biopic.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Well, for starters, it's really quite unlike your average biopic. The train of thought is linearu00a0 but the man we're talking about isn't just one man. He's everyman. His words, his story, his poetry, his life could just as easily be any other man's story. And yet it isn't.
Bob Dylan is no ordinary man. And yet, this film portrays Dylan through myriad characters who could just about be a manifestation of a part of the poet's undeniably multi-hued persona.
Beginning with a child singing songs out of time to a young 20-year-old explaining his music to a singer, an actor and a recluse, the characters underline each trait that made Bob Dylan and his music, so profound and so real for those of us who grew up listening to it.
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WHAT'S HOT: Each of the principal characters (Blanchett, Bale, Ledger, Whishaw, Gere and Franklin) do their job exceedingly well with Bale and Blanchett eerily resembling Dylan though playing characters inspired by his traits. Blanchett has the most screen time and that explains the slew of nominations the actress got at the awards in 2008.u00a0
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WHAT'S NOT: This isn't the kind of film where you stroll out to drag on a ciggie or to take a leak, and don't miss a thing. Mark my words, a blink is a lifetime as far as this film is concerned. You miss a scene, you miss the thread of the story. You'll come back wondering what just happened up on the screen. And at times, the kaleidoscope-eyed effect just seems to take a toll on your patience.u00a0
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WHAT'S THAT! This very intelligently made film comes to us two years too late. Better late than never, eh?
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WHAT TO DO: This one's for the discerning types. Who probably have already seen this one already.
I'm Not There.'''
Dir: Todd Haynes
Cast: Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Ben Whishaw, Marcus Carl Franklin
