I'm Not There is a biographical film reflecting the life of musician Bob Dylan. It depicts the iconic singer-songwriter through seven distinct stages of his life by using six different actors (Marcus Carl Franklin, Ben Whishaw, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, and Cate Blanchett). It was co-written and directed by Todd Haynes. The film has received a lot of press for telling its story using rather non-traditional techniques, much like the poetic narrative style utilized in Dylan's songwriting. "The film is going to be inspired by Dylan's music and his ability to re-create and re-imagine himself time and time again," according to key producer, Christine Vachon. It was rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for language, some sexuality and nudity.
The title I'm Not There is a reference to the Dylan outtake recorded during The Basement Tapes (Sessions). It was not included in the studio album The Basement Tapes and, for years, could only be found on the CD bootleg set The Genuine Basement Tapes and the later remastered version (still considered a bootleg) of that set A Tree With Roots. I'm Not There is one of the most famous and highly regarded outtakes, not just of the Basement Tapes, but of Dylan’s whole career. It was never officially released until it appeared on the film’s official soundtrack album.
David Cross, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams are also in the cast.
The production began filming in late July 2006 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It premiered at the 34th Telluride Film Festival on August 31st and won the Grand Jury Prize and Best Actress honors for Blanchett at the 64th Venice Film Festival. It opened in theaters in Italy on September 7, 2007. It was also part of the Toronto International Film Festival and played on September 14, 2007.
The film is scheduled to open in limited release in the United States on November 21, 2007.
The line-up for the soundtrack was first revealed by Billboard on August 13, 2007, though at the time the finalized track listing had not been announced. The track listing was later revealed in mid-October through various sites, including Amazon.com and Sony's online music store. The soundtrack album was released on October 30, 2007. On the same day, it also became available for digital download at the iTunes Store.
The Million Dollar Bashers are a supergroup featuring Sonic Youth stars Lee Ranaldo and Steve Shelley, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, Television guitarist Tom Verlaine, Dylan bassist Tony Garnier, guitarist Smokey Hormel and keyboardist John Medeski.
Disc One:
"All Along the Watchtower," - Eddie Vedder and the Million Dollar Bashers
"I'm Not There," Sonic Youth
"Goin' To Acapulco," Jim James and Calexico
"Tombstone Blues," Richie Havens
"Ballad of a Thin Man," Stephen Malkmus and the Million Dollar Bashers
"Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again," Cat Power
"Pressing On," John Doe
"Fourth Time Around," Yo La Tengo
"Dark Eyes," Iron & Wine and Calexico
"Highway 61 Revisited," Karen O and the Million Dollar Bashers
"One More Cup of Coffee," Roger McGuinn and Calexico
"The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll," Mason Jennings
"Billy," Los Lobos
"Simple Twist of Fate," Jeff Tweedy
"The Man in the Long Black Coat," Mark Lanegan
"Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)," Willie Nelson and Calexico
Disc Two:
"As I Went Out One Morning," Mira Billotte
"Can't Leave Her Behind," Stephen Malkmus and Lee Ranaldo
"Ring Them Bells," Sufjan Stevens
"Just Like a Woman," Charlotte Gainsbourg and Calexico
"Mama You've Been on My Mind" / "A Fraction of Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie," Jack Johnson
"I Wanna Be Your Lover," Yo La Tengo
"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere," Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
"Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?," The Hold Steady
"Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues," Ramblin' Jack Elliott
"Wicked Messenger," The Black Keys
"Cold Irons Bound," Tom Verlaine and the Million Dollar Bashers
"The Times They Are a-Changin'," Mason Jennings
"Maggie's Farm," Stephen Malkmus and the Million Dollar Bashers
"When the Ship Comes In," Marcus Carl Franklin
"Moonshiner," Bob Forrest
"I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine," John Doe
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door," Antony & the Johnsons
"I'm Not There," Bob Dylan
iTunes bonus tracks:
"Main Title Theme (Billy)," Calexico
"One Too Many Mornings," Joe Henry
"What Kind of Friend Is This," Lee Ranaldo and Stephen Malkmus
As of November 19, 2007 on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 72% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 29 reviews. |
