< Back | Home

Actress Cate Blanchett plays Jude Quinn, one of the personalities representing Bob Dylan. Quinn deals with fame and attention enduring extreme popularity overload.

Six different actors portray characters representing Bob Dylan at different times in his life.

Dylan in six acts: Why he isn't "There"

Review

By: Nick Abel

Posted: 2/3/08

Bob Dylan lived many lives.

His music has inspired as well as enraged listeners for decades. His passion for freedom led him down many paths, each of them showing a new side of the artist.

Some of those sides are shown in "I'm Not There," the latest attempt to capture the mystery of Dylan on film.

However, the design of the movie borders the unconventional. Instead of Dylan being portrayed by a single actor, six different performers take on that task, each of them playing a different version of the musician.

Actually, none of the characters are ever referred to as Dylan in the film. This reflects the spirit of the movie as well as the spirit of the man- Free, boundless and provocative.

Actors Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger, Ben Whishaw and Marcus Carl Franklin each wander across the screen in a series of flashbacks and anecdotal tales.

These random changes from one situation to another are confusing at first, but soon each storyline links together. Questions posed by one version are answered by the next.

But nothing is more fascinating than the performance given by Blanchett. While the others bring their own style and perspective of Dylan to the screen, Blanchett transforms herself entirely.

Her portrayal is more than a mere imitation. She brings a physical aspect to the role, similar to Jamie Foxx's Academy Award-winning performance in "Ray." Every movement, every glance and every awkward statement seemed to be channeled through Dylan.

Blanchett's performance has earned her an Oscar nomination as well.

The film ends the same way many of Dylan's songs do- Unpredictable and entertaining. The title is certainly fitting for this courageous effort.

Just when you think you know Bob Dylan, he's not there.