Iffy for 15+
Well-acted, mature Dylan biopic for big fans only.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this experimental meditation on the "many lives of Bob Dylan" will go straight over the head of most younger viewers. Older teens who've been exposed to Dylan's music may be curious about the drama, but its metaphoric nature means it probably won't appeal to most of them -- or to non-fan adults, for that matter. Without a fair amount of knowledge of Dylan's music and life, the film will seem confusing and slow. There are a few love scenes and shots of naked breasts and buttocks, not to mention one quick full-frontal flash of a post-shower Heath Ledger. Expect some language (standard R-rated stuff), a bit of '60s pill-popping, and lots of smoking.
- Families can talk about the film's messages about artists, fame, music, and authenticity. What points do you think the director was trying to make? How is the film vastly different than other musicians' biopics?
What to watch for
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Violence: Cartoonish image of young Woody being swallowed by a whale and a fantasy sequence of Jude and his band machine-gunning the crowd at a concert (it's a metaphor for Dylan going electric). Disturbing scene in which a murdered young woman is propped up in her coffin for everyone at a funeral to see. A child pets a dead horse.
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Sex: A couple of artistic lovemaking scenes -- in one, breasts are visible. There's a glimpse of a full-frontal Heath Ledger as he emerges out of the shower. Several kisses and three images of men's buttocks.
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Language: More prevalent in some sequences than others. Words include "s--t," "a--hole," "c--ksucker," "tit," "f--k," "bitch," "p---y," "goddamn," etc.
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Pill-popping during '60s mod scenes; cigarette smoking throughout. Minor social drinking.
Fan Reviews provided by
4
worth seeing with a few caveats by Groovy_Movies
My bottom-line is, if you are a Dylan fan or an admirer of innovative filmmaking, e.g. a Fellini or Antonionni afficionada, go see this. If you are not into Dylan or put off by his elusiveness or if you prefer linear storylines, consider skipping it.
The film does a nice job weaving in images of "medicine show" Americana that inspire Dylan's music: carnivals, circus freaks, freight trains and hobos. These absurdist elements parallel the jumbled collage structure of the movie itself. Cate Blanchett's physical performance as the "Albert Hall" rock star Dylan is not to be missed. The film has the good taste not to judge or decipher Dylan's puzzles; rather it probes the mysteries of self-invention in America and other themes. My major issue is that the movie borders at times on "Dylan-nerdy" with too many inside jokes and references. It also replicates too literally situations from Dont Look Back, Eat the Document, his Chronicles, and other sources already familiar to many.
1
What on earth was that? by drfeelgood
I am a fan of both Dylan and independent/creative movies, but I found this to be utterly impossible to watch. It was as if they tried intentionally to make it as confusing and absurd as possible, just to see if artsy types would say they loved it. I'm sure everyone will get nominated for oscars, because everyone in the film community will feel like they have to pretend they understood what was going on in the film. I found myself looking around during the movie and asking myself, "does anyone in this theater have any clue what is going on, or am I just an idiot?" Maybe I am an idiot, or closeminded. I almost hope that is the case, because maybe that means that somewhere out there, smarter, hipper, cooler people enjoyed this.
1
Horrible and Pretentious by serafinagee
My friend and I are big movie-goers and love indie movies and my friend is a huge fan of Dylan and this movie was awful. It was so obvious that the director was so absorbed with the film that he couldn't edit out one single thing. It was so unbearable long! The plot made no sense and people in the audience were leaving and this was at a theater that only plays independents, if that is any sign of the movie goers. There were circus people, Billy the Kid and a black kid who is also Dylan-What??? It was absurd, stupid and such a waste of my time, even the acting didn't impress me enough to recommend it even to Dylan's biggest fans.
3
Not Quite There... by vitols
"I'm Not There" is a series of intersecting stories, based on characters that represuent different periods of Bob Dylan's life and evolution as an artist. The characters range from a young black boy emulating Woody Guthrie to a rock star turned born again heroe as well as nod to Dylan's UK tour in 1966, his involvement with "Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid", Village folksinger days and dissolution of his marriage in mid 1970's. Cate Blanchett gives an extraordinary performance as Dylan of the 1960s - all altittude, amphetamine and electric guitar. In addition, the black and white photography is a nice tribute to the D.A. Pennebacker film made of Dylan's 1966 tour. The rest of the stories are less interesting and powerful, with the Billy The Kid segment being the most disjointed and unecessary. While I enjoyed most of the film, it would be very hard to follow or appreciate without a pre-existing and fairly good understanding of both Dylan's life and music. I
4
NEITHER HERE NOR THERE by bizbuzz
The morning after I saw "I'm Not There," something marvelous happened. I awoke with the memory of it tugging at me like an insistent child. A delayed reaction to be sure, but it had managed to get under my skin. I realized that I didn't love the film in its entirety, but for the sum of its parts. In fact, there are moments that are transcendent, such as every sublime frame Cate Blanchett appears in; and those terrific scenes featuring the young Marcus Carl Franklin (particularly the one in which he performs with Richie Havens). However, I was distracted by Richard Gere?s appearance (as ?Billy the Kid?), which to me seemed incongruous (though hardcore Dylan fans may disagree). And the movie is about 15 minutes too long. But despite its flaws, it's one of the most refreshingly audacious films I?ve seen in a long time. And it?s a miracle that it got made at all. So thank God for intrepid visionaries such as Todd Haynes. Because without them, the cinema would be a boring place indeed.
5
Excellent by jwilsonbartlett
Excellent, fast-paced and a lot of abstraction. Took my 19 year old son and we both came away from it with different perspectives - so trans-generational. Philiosophic and coming at you from many levels.
4
A film you will either love or hate by cjtolmie
If you are a bob dylan fan you will enjoy this movie. Cate Blanchette was AMAZING!! The music was great (duh) Very artsy-fartsy and impressed with itself, not bad, but I think it missed it's mark.
5
I'm Not There by Nobody22
Wow! I was there!
This film is sure to elicit a strong split among the audience. If you are looking for a linear biography or a concert film along the lines of the Last Waltz, stay away. If you are looking for that rare cinematic experience that weaves fact, fantasy, dream, and myth, your aesthetic senses will be titillated and rewarded.
I experienced such a strong negative reaction to the performance of Richard Gere that I am unsure if this reaction was intended by the director to foster the Outlaw archetype or if Gere was truly awful. The other performances were nothing short of exquisite.
What a pleasure to see a movie that entertains emotionally, intellectually, and aesthetically.
3
I guess I'm not smart enough by jojackie
I've seen lots of films that are described as "confusing", and lots that have endings that are described as "unresolved". Both kinds I have found to be entertaining or interesting, but not this one. Some films don't make sense but at least are visually beautiful. Again, not this one. I hate films that make me feel that perhaps I am just not intelligent enough to appreciate them- like abstract art that others are oohing and awhing over when I just don't get it...I'm 44 and not a huge Bob Dylan fan, but definitely a fan of most of these actors...I thought I'd get to know the singer better through this film. Nope. I left 15 minutes before the end just to get a re-admit ticket to see a better movie..Films should serve at least one of the following purposes: to inform, to entertain, to expand the consciousness of, to provide escape, to provoke understanding...this film was just an incoherent mess and a waste of both mine and the actor's time. At least they got a paycheck for it.
5
"amazed & confused" by La_Curva_Del_Rock
it's not always easy when you go to the teathers to catch a movie four weeks after the premier... the place was deserted, it was only me, my girlfriend and three of my best friends. amaizing movie, the way each character sort of make fun of the way people have always picture bob all of his life.
i really think people should go see this movie, perhaps get it on DVD cuz i thinks is being pulled off this weekend.
BOB DYLAN is the best !!!