LuckyWillCate Blanchett to play Bob Dylan
September 28th 2006 05:35
Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven, Velvet Goldmine) is going to direct a film based on the singer/songwriter legend Bob Dylan titled "I'm not there", casting the female Cate Blanchett in the lead. Now, nothing against one of the best - if not the best - Australian actresses, but performing as an actor and additionally a singer too? Well, the resemblance isn't that far off at all! (See below)
The kookyness doesn't stop here however. Along with Blanchett to play as Dylan (who recently turned 65 this week) 6 other actor/ess' are similarly playing the lead at various stages throughout the singers life and subsequent film progression. Though the number and names attached to the title are disputed and frequently changing, it should add to between 5-7. So far these include Adrien Brody, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Julianne Moore, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Heath Ledger. Colin Farrell was previously going to star as Dylan in his 1970's period but dropped out. Other actors and actresses which have been associated with the movie (but at this time it's not been revealed if they will star as Dylan as well) include Michelle Williams, David Cross and Ben Wishaw.
Surely the alarm bells would be going off like a meltdown cacophany to a nuclear reactor for the studio to allow all these actors and actresses to be involved. And quite rightly the claim that all this artistic license has gotten out of control. "But it's the first time Bob Dylan has given approval to a film based on his life". (nme.com) And surely this must be some kind of 'means to an end' process to allow the film to happen. Haynes clarifies; "he (Dylan) continues to move forward by discarding himself, so my idea is to put together a film of multiple characters and tell their stories simultaneously. It's going to be weird, not a traditional narrative by any means." (telegraph.co.uk)
Additionally Dylan has said to be that keen on this venture he is giving Haynes access to his complete musical back catalogue spanning decades and decades and hours on hours of music. Furthermore, "... the singer is also relinquishing his half of the publishing income to keep the budget down to £13.2 million". (telegraph.co.uk)
Reports indicate shooting has begun in Montreal since mid 2006.
Images taken from rollingstone.com
and specials.rediff.com
The kookyness doesn't stop here however. Along with Blanchett to play as Dylan (who recently turned 65 this week) 6 other actor/ess' are similarly playing the lead at various stages throughout the singers life and subsequent film progression. Though the number and names attached to the title are disputed and frequently changing, it should add to between 5-7. So far these include Adrien Brody, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Julianne Moore, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Heath Ledger. Colin Farrell was previously going to star as Dylan in his 1970's period but dropped out. Other actors and actresses which have been associated with the movie (but at this time it's not been revealed if they will star as Dylan as well) include Michelle Williams, David Cross and Ben Wishaw.
Additionally Dylan has said to be that keen on this venture he is giving Haynes access to his complete musical back catalogue spanning decades and decades and hours on hours of music. Furthermore, "... the singer is also relinquishing his half of the publishing income to keep the budget down to £13.2 million". (telegraph.co.uk)
Reports indicate shooting has begun in Montreal since mid 2006.
Images taken from rollingstone.com
and specials.rediff.com
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Comment by Homer Joyce
Russell Crowe and Mel Gibson to play Kylie Minogue in 'I've been there.'?
Comment by Justin
Yeah Homer Joyce, creatively speaking, things are getting adventurous in film ideas nowadays.
I don't know why they can't settle on one or two, or even three actors. To have 5-7 is just ridiculous. Hopefully it won't see a like-minded explosion of protagonists being played by a number of actors for other films. It'll sure be confusing if nothing else.
Comment by Homer Joyce
In all honesty, and all facetiousness aside, I like the idea behind ‘I’m not there’. We’d still be watching repeats of Gone With the Wind if film-makers weren’t prepared to experiment with the untried and unproven. I never would have had the pleasure of watching Memento.
I am surprised Meryl Streep didn’t get a gig though.
If they succeed you can put money on a spate of copy-cat movies coming out ...
I wonder where you get the stuff that Todd Haynes is on. From Dylan himself, I guess.
Homer.
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Justin
Still, I'm interested and it may turn out to be very good while still suspending disbelief throughout. Have to wait and see.
Comment by Justin
Comment by Homer Joyce
I understand your reservations re “I’m Not There”. There’s quite a chasm between an imaginative idea and the successful execution of that idea (as most bloggers will comprehend).
The scary thing with a director who starts out with an idea like the Dylan movie/multiple actors idea is what can happen between now and the end of production. The number of actors might even increase.
Box office receipts will probably be determined not by the quality of the film or the originality of the idea but by how many filmgoers want to see a cinematic version of the life of Bob Dylan (which in itself will depend on how they market the film, which will depend on who markets it, which will depend on who chooses the marketers … and, before this gets way too silly … there is a certain responsibility upon you … as to how many people are inspired to see the film because of the negative publicity your site is giving it … Don’t forget what happened to The Passion of the Christ …
I’m not the biggest Dylan fan on the planet. There’s a guy down the street who likes Dylan, and this guy is much bigger than I am …
I won’t be queuing up to see it … but if it was about a muso I really liked, I’d probably go and see it for the music alone …
Which brings me to my final point: Why doesn’t someone make a movie about Nana Moskouri?
Homer
Comment by Justin
There's a lot of good points you have touched on and I'll try to respond to each and every one of them.
With the multiple actor/one lead idea, it's a tricky navigation for the producers to license it and give it the final go ahead (which they've done, due to Dylan ok'ing it which is a rarity and also on his 'bankable' name, meaning people will be drawn to it) and for the director to control all of the variables including storyboard execution and general cohesion of narrative. So figuratively it's a mixture of many ideas and concessions that each participant has to struggle with for it to form into the conclusion each person wants from an economic, strategic, artistic and formative perspective.
As far as negative publicity goes, sometimes any publicity is good publicity and I feel I am merely voicing the opinion of the rational and/or reactionary. I am slightly biased due to it's untradtional leanings but have not already pre-supposed judgement on the film. I'll continue to report about it in a way that's objective as possible and the audience can make up it's own mind. Just like the Passion of the Christ - initially stigmatised - it later went on to be not only controversial but successful as it opened up a new market of Christian buyers of home DVD entertainment which later became the foundation of FoxFaith "that will release up to a dozen religious-oriented films each year." (smh.com.au)
I also believe the fans of Bob Dylan will see the movie regardless of criticism or enamour but on the sole reason of interest. Much of the public will probably see it too for their favourite actors and others will see it for the hype. So overall it should fare pretty well.
As for Nana Moskouri, it may just well be an untapped sleeping giant waiting to emerge. Many of my ethnic friends are well versed in repulsion or accolade of 'the Nana', yet non-ethnic friends have never heard of her. Maybe this division is why it hasn't been implanted - but if so, is there still cause for not making a Nana biopic?
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
I hope they stop with all the oscar-baiting biopics real soon.
Comment by Justin
Yeah, you're not wrong there. What about making movies for quality's sake, not to recieve prestiege for it.
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc