Review of I'm Not There (2007) by Joseph S — 10 Feb 2009

Amazing, great performances, great script, great directing, great concept, I normally stay away from Biopics because they tend to either demonize or hero worship, especially when it comes to musicians. Tood Haynes uses fragmentation as a device to show us parts and asepects of a personality empahsizing that there is no one "real" person ever really present within anyone, just lots of idealizations, frailties, passions, dreams, fears, and projections, a series of persona. He demonstrates this by using six different actors(of various races, genders, and ages) to play various aspects of Bob Dylan's personality, career, and life.

The soundtrack which uses alot of original Dylan songs as well as covers, adds to the confusion of identity. Now normally with a film of this scope, it's easy for it to become swallowed by it's own audacity, but "Im Not There" doesn't miss a beat. My favorite film of 07. About as smart, literate, and enjoyable as films get.