I'm Not There (2007)

Introduction

I am about to introduce you to my favourite film of all time. I'm Not There (2007) is one of those films that gets overlooked in the history of 21st century cinema and is only really revisited if the audience member is already a fan of the American singer-songwriter, Bob Dylan. This fantastic episodic film complete with many of Bob Dylan's personas over his life, this movie takes a good look at my personal favourite singer of all time whilst also managing to be a brilliant film. Directed by Todd Haynes and starring Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale,Ben Whishaw, Richard Gere and Michelle Williams - this film is a great contender for one of the best films of its decade. Named after an obscure Bob Dylan song from the "bootleg" album The Raw Basement Tapes, it is truly a brilliant tribute to his many characters and styles.

Plot

The film is told in a non-linear narrative which is more character-centric which means it is focusing more on character development than on the representation of time in each episode. The characters embody various personae that are associated with Bob Dylan including: Arthur Rimbaud, Jack Rollins, Billy McCarty, Woody Guthrie, Jude Quinn and Robbie Clark. All of which have an entirely different set of characteristics.

Whilst Arthur Rimbaud embodies the spirit of the abstract expressionist poet, Jack Rollins is a sinner-turned-preacher, Billy is an outlaw and Woody is a runaway. Whilst Jude Quinn is a rock and roll martyr, Robbie Clark is nicknamed 'the star of electricity'. Each character is involved with their own story, but some of them cross the line and become involved in someone else's - for example, Robbie Clark is chosen to star in a film about the life and times of Jack Rollins, who's episode is played as a documentary film.

Appraisals and Awards

Praised by a critic who initially called it a "preposterous idea" and even praised by Bob Dylan himself who called the actors "incredible", I'm Not There (2007) ended up being nominated for and winning quite a few awards. At the Academy Awards, Cate Blanchett was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Jude Quinn which stands as one of the greatest portrayals of Bob Dylan according to many critics. She was also nominated in the same category for the BAFTA but ended up winning in the same category at the Golden Globes.

Cate Blanchett would win in smaller ceremonies and award shows for her role as 'Best Supporting Actress' again including: The Central Ohio Film Critics Awards, The Chicago Film Critics Awards, The Independent Spirit Awards, The Las Vegas Film Critics Awards, The New York Film Critics Awards and many more. She also won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival.

In terms of the greatest films of 2007, the film appeared on many 'top' lists of movies. Being rated as "Number 1" by many publications including: The Village Voice, Entertainment Weekly, The Boston Globe and Salon.

Legacy

The legacy of I'm Not There (2007) is a difficult one to place because at the box office, it did not make a lot of money. With a budget of 20 million dollars, it made just over 11 million dollars and therefore, did not do too well. Instead, after the movie's initial release it gained traction with those already into and listening to Bob Dylan's music. I have found that though Bob Dylan fans tend to prefer the documentary film No Direction Home, the movie I'm Not There seems to be more of the 'fun' and 'rewatchable' fiction experience in the shelves of fans.

My Personal Opinion

This is my personal favourite film of all time. I adore watching and rewatching the movie and being absolutely scared to death by the opening scene after the concert. It depicts 1966 Bob Dylan lying in a coffin as Kris Kristofferson narrates a passage from Bob Dylan's own poetry anthology Tarantula over the top. It is one of the most dramatic and impactful openings I have seen in cinema, and it continues to be something I am quite shocked to see.

One of the things I adore about this movie is the fact that even though it is supposed to be an episodic drama of Bob Dylan's different personalities and characters, it is also a comedic look into the world of music management with Bob Dylan serving as the central figure that keeps breaking and being remoulded. Some of the scenes are actually quite hilarious and often the tone of the episode reflects the character's demeanour. For example: the funniest episode is the one involving Jude Quinn but whilst it is funny, it is also quite dark and depressing as it shows Bob Dylan in his most striking state.

Conclusion

As I have mentioned before, I'm Not There (2007) is my favourite film of all time. While this is the case, it is also worth noting that the film pays tribute to one of the world's greatest singers. Bob Dylan is a masterful human being and this film captures his most artistic styles, characters and personae at very turbulent times in his life. It is a beautiful masterpiece that is waiting to be watched by a wider audience.