"I'm Not There"- Dylan movie

[Wildflower Fever]

Are any of you planning to check this out? I've heard it's quite interesting, but I have to admit the concept is a bit odd, the array of actors and musicians playing Dylan at different stages of his life. Here'a a clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyWgzUGOliw :) Strangely, Cate Blanchett is playing him here.

[DaveM]

The title reminds me of Bob Dylan's sole (I think) attempt at acting, playing "Alies" in Sam Peckinpaugh's "Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid". His first line comes when someone asks who he is and he replies: "that's a good question".

[hoops]

and she does a decent job. at this point only a zombie with appropriate decomposition could play dylan. the poor guy never had the looks did he

peace
hoops

[Wildflower Fever]

and she does a decent job. at this point only a zombie with appropriate decomposition could play dylan. the poor guy never had the looks did he

peace
hoops

I attribute her look in the film to this clip of Dylan with John Lennon sharing a cab in '66:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkfAl4PHG8E It's strange to see how John is much more clean cut and sober than Dylan, and then to think that Sgt. Pepper's would follow one year later. Stupid and mumbly or not, he changed a lot of artists for the better from his influence. I've read that the Beatles turned on to marijuana and psychedelics through Bob. I'm not promoting their use, but the impact is obvious.:)

[hoops]

dylan is an icon, that is for sure and a talent and a force to be reckoned with. he just wasn't pretty, but there were times when he was kinda cute... my boss has pics of him from his days living in woodstock, they were friends back than he says.
peace
hoops

[Wildflower Fever]

dylan is an icon, that is for sure and a talent and a force to be reckoned with. he just wasn't pretty, but there were times when he was kinda cute... my boss has pics of him from his days living in woodstock, they were friends back than he says.
peace
hoops

My uncle (now deceased) had a photo of him carrying a passed out Dylan in the Dinkytown area of The University of Minnesota. He played beatnik bars and coffee shops there until about the age of 21 (while attending the U after leaving his hometown of Hibbing, MN), then moved to NYC. Rumor has it he returned to Minneapolis briefly a year later, and had mysteriously developed a new singing style and improved chops on the guitar. My uncle, quite the rebellious beatnik himself, partied with Dylan a few times, and in later years dodged the Vietnam Draft never to return to the U.S. until his death from HIV/AIDS in 1994. R.I.P. Ronald Kaley.

[DaveM]

More than one music historian has claimed that Bob Dylan's 1966 "motorcycle accident" was a cover story for a yearlong stay in rehab. Then again, given Dylan's talent for mythmaking, it almost sounds like the sort of thing he would have made up himself. So far as I know, he did not "officially" sober up until 30 years later and he does indeed look the part.

One of the funniest concert moments I have ever seen came at the end of the original "Live Aid" broadcast, when Dylan, Keith Richards, and (I think) Bruce Springsteen attempted a rendition of "Blowin' In The Wind". Dylan spent part of the time strumming his guitar without fingering anything, Richards attempted to sing but never took the cigarette out of his mouth, and Springsteen seemed to forget where the microphone was more than once. It looked like "Night Of The Living Dead" on stage.

[hoops]

ahhh the memories davem :)
peace
hoops

[stardust]

I am a huge fan of Dylan's music, and recognize what an incredible body of work he has produced. I can't help but wonder, though, what wonderful accomplishments might have been were it not for the time and energy consumed by drugs. I also wonder sometimes, if he would even had been as brilliant without it. Could have gone either way, I suppose, but we'll never know.

[DaveM]

I wonder about that too, Terrie....some seem inspired by the use of certain substances (and a fair number of addicts use that as an excuse--"it expends my mind...."). However, in many, many cases what is inspired ends up being incoherent. Just the right amount of alcohol or what have you lowers inhibitions just enough to tear the soul wide open and that which might lead most folks to start table dancing with a lampshade on the head just might release something brilliant in a person who has it in them to begin with and just can't get past the blocks while sober.

Alcohol and drugs are the most dangerous of muses, though. There are just too many stories of utterly brilliant people who rode the wave, left volumes of pure genius behind, and then ended up dying in some hotel room before the age of 30. I certainly wouldn't recommend either.

[Wildflower Fever]

No matter the reasons, he's still alive and making music that some people love. Then, there's the whole "body of work" thing, which is impressive. I'm not saying that you should do drugs nor alcohol to be creative, I just doubt that he regrets much. I'd gladly trade places with thim despite the highs and lows.:D

[Darlene]

I have a very old vinyl of Dylan's and his stuff was really great, you can actually understand what he is singing. When I see and hear him today it saddens me, that beautiful flame burned to only a flicker a long time ago.

Peace, Darlene

[Michael from Chicago]

The current issue of American Cinematographer has an article on the making of "I'm Not There," titled Deconstructing Bob Dylan.

[mixtymotions]

I still love Dylan. The fact that he looks like the Crypt Keeper doesn't bother me.

[DaveM]

How about a new "reality show": "The Ugliest Man In Rock 'n Roll". Imagine the contestants: Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Neil Young, Tom Petty, Mick Jagger, the surviving members of The Doors.....

[Wildflower Fever]

I for one don't understand people's sympathy for Dylan. He's still quite a big ticket, and actually quite hip with young audiences even today. I don't even care for much of his new music, but the kiddies are buying it up, for sure. I think he'll be selling new records for another 15-20 years. He might look at many of us and say, "what a waste", now that I think of it. I like how he's stuck it out, and never wanted to allow himself to willingly represent any group or generation, no matter how much they assumed he did. I predict the day of his passing may be a longer lasting and bigger deal than many we have already seen, until we see another young act change young people's music so profoundly. Look at the crap called "music" out there now, we could use another Zimmerman right now.

[DaveM]

Dylan did an interview some years ago in which he said that if the music business had been what it is now when he was starting up, he wouldn't have bothered. Of course, he's noted for saying things to get a rise out of people, but he may well have been telling it straight. Then again, I can't imagine even the angry young man Dylan giving up music out of simple disdain for the biz.

I recently saw another movie that might interest Dylan folk and fans of the 60s scene in general--"Factory Girl", a somewhat stylized portrait of Edie Sedgwick, one of Andy Warhol's hangers-on and one-time Dylan companion. An actor who is obviously supposed to be Dylan has a supporting role in the film, though he is identified only as "the guitarist" on the credits--apparently Bob did not approve of the project. An interesting, if ultimately tragic, film.

[hoops]

davem,
once upon a time there was a blues artist, a master of the guitar and considered equal to if not greater than eric clapton 9 they both appeared at about the same time from different sides of the pond. he was on the rise when he gave it all up because of the the biz. peter green was rarely heard from again by his former band mates mick fleetwood and john Mcvie, but when they did hear from him he was either not going near the guitar or doing gigs with local young bands teaching them how to really play guitar. i don;t know if dylan would have given it up, but i know some have. ok maybe no one knows who peter green is, but i'm sure they would if he had stayed in the biz. ...just my little bit of usless info thanks
peace
hoops

[DaveM]

Interesting bit of history, Hoops. I've often wondered how the Beatles would have turned out had Pete Best and Stu Sutcliffe stayed with the band. Or if they had been accepted by Decca Records. History turns on curiosities.