A story teller is all I am
February 9, 2008 8:09 AM Subscribe
If you aren't comfortable with challenging your own preconceived ideas, you probably won't be interested in the movie (that defies the label "biopic") about the many "lives" of Bob Dylan I'm Not There. You, no doubt, already know that actress Cate Blanchett has been nominated for an Oscar (Best Supporting Actress) for her portrayal of Dylan's "Jude Quinn" days for the film. You'll also quickly realize that this 21 minute featurette is clearly designed to both boost office and Cate's chances of winning. Still, there are worse ways to spend 21 minutes this weekend and there are at least a million different intelligent directions that the conversation here could go, after watching it.
This post was deleted for the following reason: I think this got off on the wrong foot. If you're being sarcastic you may be being too subtle, if not you're kind of seeming a little "they LAUGHED at me at the academy" about your view of this topic vs everyone else's and that tends to set threads off on the wrong foot. -- jessamyn
If you aren't comfortable with challenging your own preconceived ideas, you probably won't be interested in the movie (that defies the label "biopic") about the many "lives" of Bob Dylan I'm Not There.
Jimmy Stewart: But... but.. What if a fella just has... just has a scalp condition ?
posted by y2karl at 8:36 AM on February 9, 2008
Jimmy Stewart: But... but.. What if a fella just has... just has a scalp condition ?
posted by y2karl at 8:36 AM on February 9, 2008
One link and a lot of blathering on behalf of a film many of us know about and likely have seen already. I suppose one of the AT LEAST A MILLION DIFFERENT INTELLIGENT DIRECTIONS that the conversation here could go is to suggest that this FPP just be deleted.
posted by inoculatedcities at 8:43 AM on February 9, 2008
posted by inoculatedcities at 8:43 AM on February 9, 2008
The Oscar goes to Spock.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 8:47 AM on February 9, 2008
posted by kuujjuarapik at 8:47 AM on February 9, 2008
Yeah, add me to the list of people who felt more than a little condescended to by this writeup.
The film looks fascinating, though. It ran for a week at the local indie theater but I was out of town. I hope it starts playing out this way again.
posted by mragreeable at 8:49 AM on February 9, 2008
The film looks fascinating, though. It ran for a week at the local indie theater but I was out of town. I hope it starts playing out this way again.
posted by mragreeable at 8:49 AM on February 9, 2008
My intention was to be the opposite of condescending. Rather than playing "teacher" and giving giving MeFi a list of "discussion questions" or leading the conversation in a certain direction, I am counting on the opinion and intelligence of the individual commenters. Some would probably make the point that taking this approach in a FPP will not wendell. Call me an idealist, but I hope for better.
posted by spock at 8:53 AM on February 9, 2008
posted by spock at 8:53 AM on February 9, 2008
I highly recommend Todd Haynes' apparent AIDS allegory, Safe (1995), and the legally censored Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story.
posted by Brian B. at 8:57 AM on February 9, 2008
posted by Brian B. at 8:57 AM on February 9, 2008
I am counting on the opinion and intelligence of the individual commenters
Good luck with that.
posted by miss tea at 8:57 AM on February 9, 2008
Good luck with that.
posted by miss tea at 8:57 AM on February 9, 2008
After a bit of reflection, I can see how my post is being misinterpreted, so I will attempt to clarify.
Bob Dylan (as portrayed particularly in this piece) was all about challenging presuppositions and preconceived ideas. On a completely other level, the film does this same thing in challenging your preconceived notions of how characters should be cast, films get made, and how protagonists be portrayed. It is not my intelligence or likes or dislikes that I am attempting to focus on (at all). It is about those presented by the film and its subject.
If you've already seen the film, you potentially have a lot more to add than those who have only seen the featurette.
There is a lot of meat in just that 20 minute featurette.
posted by spock at 9:04 AM on February 9, 2008
Bob Dylan (as portrayed particularly in this piece) was all about challenging presuppositions and preconceived ideas. On a completely other level, the film does this same thing in challenging your preconceived notions of how characters should be cast, films get made, and how protagonists be portrayed. It is not my intelligence or likes or dislikes that I am attempting to focus on (at all). It is about those presented by the film and its subject.
If you've already seen the film, you potentially have a lot more to add than those who have only seen the featurette.
There is a lot of meat in just that 20 minute featurette.
posted by spock at 9:04 AM on February 9, 2008
All I get when I look at the link is a question mark on the Quicktime logo and increased noise from my fan. It's probably something on my end - my computer has always had an uneasy relationship with Quicktime - but there's no notice to say why the video can't be delivered to me. Or could it be that Apple Corporation has a negative opinion about my comfort level towards challenging my own preconceived ideas?
Don't they feel I'm ready for it? I have seen the movie, inspired to go by a previous post here which pointed us to a youtube video of the Ginsburg in the golfcart scene. Very uneven movie, but maybe that was the point. Loved the Blanchett section (especially when the Beatles showed up), thought the Heath Ledger part was confusing but affecting (although that was more due to the wife than the Dylan character), enjoyed the Lynchian touches in the Richard Gere part, and think I even partially understood why that section was in this movie.
I was glad I went to see it, and think I survived without my preconceived ideas being shattered. It had its moments, but don't think it redefined movie biography from this moment forward. The Blanchett section, despite being performed by a person of the opposite gender, was the closest to a factual portrayal of the person and events in the life, and it was the most successful part of the movie. I'm going to see There Will Be Blood this afternoon. Should I wear a helmet?
posted by TimTypeZed at 9:14 AM on February 9, 2008
Don't they feel I'm ready for it? I have seen the movie, inspired to go by a previous post here which pointed us to a youtube video of the Ginsburg in the golfcart scene. Very uneven movie, but maybe that was the point. Loved the Blanchett section (especially when the Beatles showed up), thought the Heath Ledger part was confusing but affecting (although that was more due to the wife than the Dylan character), enjoyed the Lynchian touches in the Richard Gere part, and think I even partially understood why that section was in this movie.
I was glad I went to see it, and think I survived without my preconceived ideas being shattered. It had its moments, but don't think it redefined movie biography from this moment forward. The Blanchett section, despite being performed by a person of the opposite gender, was the closest to a factual portrayal of the person and events in the life, and it was the most successful part of the movie. I'm going to see There Will Be Blood this afternoon. Should I wear a helmet?
posted by TimTypeZed at 9:14 AM on February 9, 2008
Wendell?? This hasn't even weganbell...
posted by Skygazer at 9:15 AM on February 9, 2008 [5 favorites]
posted by Skygazer at 9:15 AM on February 9, 2008 [5 favorites]
The DVD is already in the "get this cheap if you've bought something else" bin at Zavvi (which used to be Virgin) in the UK.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 9:15 AM on February 9, 2008
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 9:15 AM on February 9, 2008
*blows whistle, makes handwaving gestures*
Overmoderation of post, overly subjective framing. Penalty: 5 favorites and a thread turnover. Control of the thread goes to the fish in quonsar's pants.
posted by loquacious at 9:15 AM on February 9, 2008 [2 favorites]
Overmoderation of post, overly subjective framing. Penalty: 5 favorites and a thread turnover. Control of the thread goes to the fish in quonsar's pants.
posted by loquacious at 9:15 AM on February 9, 2008 [2 favorites]
I thought that the tone of the post (taking itself waaaaay too seriously) was a kind of sly commentary on Dylan himself.
posted by mr_roboto at 9:18 AM on February 9, 2008
posted by mr_roboto at 9:18 AM on February 9, 2008
If you've already seen the film, you potentially have a lot more to add than those who have only seen the featurette.
1. Don't make a thread just to talk about some movie that's not even wholly in the FPP. 2. If you make such a thread anyway, don't condescend to those who haven't bothered seeing it or didn't like it.
"A Bob Dylan movie has challenged your preconceived ideas. Are you a bad enough dude to watch the movie?"
posted by Snyder at 9:33 AM on February 9, 2008
1. Don't make a thread just to talk about some movie that's not even wholly in the FPP. 2. If you make such a thread anyway, don't condescend to those who haven't bothered seeing it or didn't like it.
"A Bob Dylan movie has challenged your preconceived ideas. Are you a bad enough dude to watch the movie?"
posted by Snyder at 9:33 AM on February 9, 2008
She should get the Oscar for Best Transvestite. That would be awesome.
posted by srboisvert at 9:34 AM on February 9, 2008
posted by srboisvert at 9:34 AM on February 9, 2008
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posted by LarryC at 8:32 AM on February 9, 2008 [1 favorite]