Lumière Movies has an ever growing collection of Contemporary Movies. Browse through our movies for new additions. Explore movie details, photo galleries, reviews, specials and more...
Genre : Biography | Original Language : English | Country : United States
Directed by : Todd Haynes Screenplay : Todd Haynes Oren Moverman Cinematographer : Edward Lachman Editor : Jay Rabinowitz
Producers/ Co- Producers : Christine Vachon, John Sloss, James D. Stern, John Goldwyn
“Todd Haynes is a mischievous visionary who puts the music and the myth of Bob Dylan before us in I'm Not There and dares us not to revel in the troubadour's poetic, contentious, ever-changing essence.”
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Original Title
I'm Not There
Synopsis
Maverick director Todd Haynes redefines the biopic genre with I’m Not There. Tracing the life of legendary American singer Bob Dylan, each stage in Dylan’s life is represented by a different character.
Dylan first came to New York from Minnesota to meet his idol Woody Guthrie, who was on his deathbed. In the film, the 11-year-old Dylan is named Woody and played by African-American actor Marcus Carl Franklin. After being thrown out of a circus and being forced to jump off a train, Woody finally manages to reach the bedside of his idol. He leaves him flowers and plays his guitar for Guthrie. The guitar has a label with the inscription “This Machine Kills Fascists”.
The character of Arthur, played by Ben Whishaw, represents Dylan as the youthful rebel. Arthur tells his story from an interrogation room and links the later stories together.
Jack Rollins is Dylan as a country folk musician in the 1960s. It was during this time that fans considered Dylan’s songs as anthems of protest. Christian Bale plays Rollins and enacts the incident that led to Dylan’s downfall – onstage to receive an award shortly after the assassination of the American President John F. Kennedy, Rollins announces that he sees something common between himself and Lee Harvey Oswald, the man accused of Kennedy’s assassination. Eleven years later, Rollins becomes a born-again Christian when he finds faith in a Californian church.
Grain Of Sand is the film being made on Rollins’ life, where the central character is played by actor Robbie Clark (Heath Ledger). Robbie focuses on the failure of his marriage with Claire (based on Dylan’s ex-wife Sara). The film flops and Claire divorces Robbie.
Jude Quinn is Dylan when his popularity as a rock star is soaring while fans of his protest songs are angry about his change in musical direction. Cate Blanchett is Jude, who lives in a haze of alcohol and drugs. Jude then has the mysterious motorcycle accident that saw Dylan become a recluse for many years.
The past ends and it is the time for Billy the Kid, the ageing Dylan (Richard Gere). Spending his days at home in Woodstock, Billy lives with his dog Henry. When Billy is arrested, his friend Homer helps him to escape jail. Billy boards an oncoming train. On a seat, he finds a guitar with the label “This Machine Kills Fascists”. The train begins its journey again and Billy sets off on Dylan’s “Never Ending Tour”.
The film ends with footage of Bob Dylan playing his harmonica. I’m Not There was nominated for the Golden Lion and won the Special Jury Prize at the 2007 Venice Film Festival.
