I´m Not There is a complex and creatively daring take on the life of one of America´s favourite icons, one that truly has to be seen to be believed. If you enjoyed Hollywood´s take on friend and fellow icon Johnny Cash just a couple of years ago in the highly acclaimed Walk the Line, you´ll love I´m Not There. Seeing Joaquin Phoenix team up with Reese Witherspoon to not only tackle the mammoth challenge of portraying the infamous John and June on the screen, but even overcoming a complete lack of musical training to do their own take on the couple´s songs, was unique and almost eery. Not to mention them even replacing the originals on the movie´s soundtrack. This type of bravado was more or less unprecedented in the world of musical biographies, and it surely crossed more than one mind that any attempt at doing justice to the diversity and complexity that is Bob Dylan would require a similar if not even braver tactic.
In I´m Not There the music is left more or less intact, to the majority of viewers´great relief. Instead the swap takes place in the form of the subject´s name, skin colour and even gender. As if having 6 different actors portray the legend wasn´t enough of a challenge, it was decided that a black boy and Australian actress Cate Blanchett would be doing two of the predominant impersonations. Whilst women playing men and vice versa may not be a new thing – most of us remember similar attempts by the likes of Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy and Dustin Hoffman – this time around the casters aren´t just toying with some fictional character whose first and last appearance in the public eye is in the movie itself, but portraying a real-life figure, celebrity and to some, idol, and a pretty well-known one at that!
After mixed reviews on Scorsese´s take on Dylan a couple of years ago with docu-film No Direction Home, this one comes from a completely different angle. And this time around not only have the reviews been good, but the award nominations have been rolling in too, with Cate picking up best supporting actress (or should that be actor?!) at the Golden Globes. Curiosity has gotten the better of many a non-Dylan-fan and the takings at the box office have been better than many expected. Although both abstract, surreal and outright off the wall in parts, it´s hard to find fault in this complicated account of one of the most elusive performers and “celebrities” alive, and the movie just underlines the widely upheld fact that Mr. Zimmerman is indeed one of the best poet/songwriters that ever lived.
Personally, I saw the whole experience as 2 hours and 15 minutes well spent, and what better place to catch a flick like this than at Birmingham´s one and only Electric Theatre? Not only is it the oldest running theatre in the country and sole surviving independent theatre in a city which was once home to over 100, but the place boasts everything from comfortable couches and in-theatre waiter service to beautiful art deco décor and all the trimmings one would expect from a place with that amount of history. Well done Todd Haynes for having the guts to take the challenge, and more importantly, well done Bob for providing us all with such a rare specimen of character and genius.
As of today the Planetshakers Band are confirmed for One 08 London, to be held in the ECC theatre in Ealing, London this October. Check out the band´s latest album on iTunes or click your way to their site here
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