I'm Not There.
Weinstein Company, The | Release Date: November 21, 2007
6.7
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 149 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
93
Mixed:
28
Negative:
28
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
3
FilipeNetoJun 12, 2021
Let's start at the beginning: I'm not a fan of Bob Dylan, nor have I ever wasted much time listening to his music. Despite this, I recognize the impact he had on music and the strength of many of his songs, later used and visited by otherLet's start at the beginning: I'm not a fan of Bob Dylan, nor have I ever wasted much time listening to his music. Despite this, I recognize the impact he had on music and the strength of many of his songs, later used and visited by other musicians. So much of this movie tells me very little. Still, I decided to see him, convinced by the number of notables involved.

What this film does is basically tell stories alluding to the singer's life, personifying in fictional characters several aspects of his life and career. It's an innovative, brilliant idea, but I think it was poorly executed: the film is excessively long and slow, and if I didn't know the subject and had read something about the film beforehand, I would have a hard time understanding the narrative. This is intensified by the temporal and spatial leaps in the plot, which make it even more difficult to understand. Some plot segments didn't turn out as interesting or well-developed either.

The cast is quite good, particularly Cate Blanchett. She gives us the best performance in the movie, and it's worth seeing the movie just to see how she untangles herself from the role in her hands. Christian Bale and Heath Ledger are also very good and Marcus Carl Franklin was able to surprise, in a work more mature than his age would suggest. Julianne Moore also looked pretty good to me, but she has little to add. Less interesting, the works of Richard Gere, Ben Whishaw and Charlotte Gainsbourg seem too raw and undeveloped. The rest, I confess, did not attract my attention in the least.

Technically, the movie is a mess. Editing and editing seem lost in a maze of script pieces. The cinematography is excellent, as are the sets and different costumes used. There is no doubt that an effort was made to make the film artistically beautiful, and that was a very successful effort. The soundtrack features several Dylan songs, something that seems mandatory since the film was about him.… Expand
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2
johnny2centsJan 10, 2009
Heartbreaking.. I know Haynes was trying to capture the enigma that Dylan is and has been but good grief what was he thinking?? Watching Masked and Anonymous wasn't great but at least it was watchable and sometimes funny. I only hope Heartbreaking.. I know Haynes was trying to capture the enigma that Dylan is and has been but good grief what was he thinking?? Watching Masked and Anonymous wasn't great but at least it was watchable and sometimes funny. I only hope that someone someday does capture the greatest 20th century songwriter… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
JohnW.Sep 29, 2008
One of the first movies where I have fallen asleep in my entire life. It was the biggest load of rubbish I have ever seen. Just to be clear, I love music and the only scene that was on the entire movie that was worth something was (hence the One of the first movies where I have fallen asleep in my entire life. It was the biggest load of rubbish I have ever seen. Just to be clear, I love music and the only scene that was on the entire movie that was worth something was (hence the score of 1) was where the 3 dudes sit on the porch and play the song with their guitars. That was decent and sounded great. The rest. Drivel. Sorry.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
tbiSep 7, 2008
This movie seemed to be long winded , boring, and confusing. I feel like the people who might seek this movie out, may not have the attention span to even follow it, or maybe zone in and out of it. Too bad.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
RichardW.Jul 13, 2008
An incoherent mess filled with great performances (Ledger, Blanchett for two) wasted.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
ConradK.Jun 18, 2008
Forrest Gump meets the persona of Bob Dylan, with chaotic results in the screenwriters' heads. Insufferably boring.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
JorettaS.Jun 14, 2008
Worst movie of my life. Only watched because Hubby loves Dylan. My God, what a piece of garbage. No wonder it never played in the theaters. Long live Dylan...can this flick.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
RayS.Jun 14, 2008
Only a 3 for the music. I've been a Dylan guy since the 60s. I have no idea what this flick is about. Terrible. Maybe if I was a poet or something I might have seen through all the bull----. Surely someone could have made a realistic Only a 3 for the music. I've been a Dylan guy since the 60s. I have no idea what this flick is about. Terrible. Maybe if I was a poet or something I might have seen through all the bull----. Surely someone could have made a realistic movie about this guy, but we were thrown this crap. Too bad......But I still love Bobby for what HE is, not this guy in this movie. (or guys?)… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
TracyM.Jun 4, 2008
Most painful and pointless movie I have ever seen.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
DotF.May 31, 2008
I watched all of it and kept waiting for it to get better. I do like Bob Dylan. I like surrealism. I like Fellini. I hated this godawful mess. What a waste of time and money.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
MelB.May 26, 2008
This confirms that the so called experts (critics) don't have a clue as to what makes up a good movie. This movie stinks! Don't waste your time.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
CMSCMSMay 17, 2008
Kate blanchett is really good. Then there's the interest of seeing some big name actors play a very original role. Then there is the movie, once the gimic of seeing these actors in this role wears off, this movie is awful. Fast forward Kate blanchett is really good. Then there's the interest of seeing some big name actors play a very original role. Then there is the movie, once the gimic of seeing these actors in this role wears off, this movie is awful. Fast forward awful...... although, if you studied philosophy, psychology, art, or other stuff like that; maybe you will find the needle in the haystack and enjoy this.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
PhilrockFeb 1, 2008
A couple of interesting vignettes, but utterly boring. One of the few movies that I walked out on before the end.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
tdmacJan 30, 2008
Ugh. I thought I was dying from torture techniques by the end...the many opportunities for a merciful ending. Please let it end! Oh No! We're back in the western town! Kill Me. And I went to art school.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
TomB.Jan 19, 2008
A good friend said it best as we were preparing to leave the theatre after watching I'm Not There, "That is two hours I will never get back." He of course was talking about the non-sequitor path in the life of Bob Dylan, incredulously A good friend said it best as we were preparing to leave the theatre after watching I'm Not There, "That is two hours I will never get back." He of course was talking about the non-sequitor path in the life of Bob Dylan, incredulously put to celluloid. The vignettes in the different personae of lives couldn't save the film built around metaphors of civil unrest and struggle, hence the references to the life of Dylan. The resounding theme centered around the tobacco industry, showing that it could still spend advertising dollars in one of the last mediums available to it. Anyone who could breath in the movie was puffing on a cigarette. In one of the vignettes I was somewhat surprised they didn't find a way to put a cancer stick in the mouth of the woman on a Halloween stage play, portrayed as dead in a prop casket. Even that scene fell from all senses. In it, the character of Richard Gere donned a mask to protect his identity and protest a government exercise of eminent domain. With his arrest, someone in the crowd said, "Once a thief, always a thief." I dug deep for that one to pare civil unrest to the crime of robbery by Pat Garrett, and thought about its deeper meaning. Forgive me, I can't consciously go through any mental exercise with this film. There was a couple minutes of entertainment as a young Marcus Carl Franklin, named Woody Guthrie, plucked a round of skittles in a trio of guitar virtuoso. Even Cate Blanchett couldn't save this film. Her portrayal of Dylan was almost believable. In one scene she was in a playful mood with the Beatles in the park. The Beatles were playful, and the frolicking was sped up to represent the fast motion of the Fab Four. I left wishing they had sped up the entire movie, fast forwarding to the end. In that way my friend and I would not have wasted two hours of our lives. If I were to like this movie, maybe I would need psychedelic drugs, strapped down with my eyes taped open like Malcolm McDowell in Clockwork Orange.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
NoraJan 14, 2008
I'm Not There" is the worst, most pretentious, sloppy piece of non-film-making that I have ever seen. This is the first movie that I have ever walked out on. The film critics who raved about this film must have been smoking "funny" I'm Not There" is the worst, most pretentious, sloppy piece of non-film-making that I have ever seen. This is the first movie that I have ever walked out on. The film critics who raved about this film must have been smoking "funny" cigarettes, while they were watching this mishmash of a train-wreck. Save your money. If you want to see a good film about Bob Dylan, rent Martin Scorsese's documentary.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
ScottSJan 2, 2008
Pretentious, incoherent and staggeringly bad. Critics who rave about the film do so to feel superior to the moviegoing public, claiming they "get it". Only Mick LaSalle is honest in his criticism: the film is a failure. Of the actors, Heath Pretentious, incoherent and staggeringly bad. Critics who rave about the film do so to feel superior to the moviegoing public, claiming they "get it". Only Mick LaSalle is honest in his criticism: the film is a failure. Of the actors, Heath Ledger fares best, while the overly-praised Cate Blanchett looks remarkably like, well, Cate Blanchett. And after putting up with this film for 120 of it's 155 minute running time, I was not longer there.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
AaronH.Nov 24, 2007
Wow...I was begging for this movie to be over. They kept teasing like each scene would finally end this snoozer but they never did. Half the audience walked out before this was over.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
AaronS.Nov 23, 2007
Todd Haynes experimental Dylan bio-pic is an experiment that fails. As a huge Dylan fan, I took nothing away from this. The stunt casting was just that-a stunt. The various allusions to '60 art films were pointless. And the film's Todd Haynes experimental Dylan bio-pic is an experiment that fails. As a huge Dylan fan, I took nothing away from this. The stunt casting was just that-a stunt. The various allusions to '60 art films were pointless. And the film's free form structure does the film in-it just becomes a pointless jumble. A game cast is totally wasted-Blanchett is overrated and what Richard Gere's segment has to do with anything is beyond me. A total misfire from Haynes. I love Dylan and I recommend you go and throw on a couple of his albums. A far more rewarding prospect than sitting through this film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
SamJ.Nov 22, 2007
Completely ridiculous notices here by people who love Dylan, but may not be serious movie fans. This is a disjointed, overly stylized treatise which is often torturous to sit through. I adored Haynes' FAR FROM HEAVEN, but this is a Completely ridiculous notices here by people who love Dylan, but may not be serious movie fans. This is a disjointed, overly stylized treatise which is often torturous to sit through. I adored Haynes' FAR FROM HEAVEN, but this is a major disappointment.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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