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Discussion
A new Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown written and directed by James Mangold, is around the corner. I'd like to say how much I appreciate I'm Not There as an unconventional biopic that fit so well with the ever changing persona of Dylan. I really appreciate how the movie explores how different people can be at different stages of their lives, and doesn't shoehorn Dylan into a single persona like so many othe biopics do with their subjects. It also seems like it anticipated the satire of Walk Hard (also 2007), and reinvented what a dramatic music biopic could look like. Walk Hard questioned why we made biopics like this and I'm Not There preemptively answered that we don't have to.
Anyone else have thoughts on this movie?
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When Haynes reached out to Dylan's team to get permission to make the movie Dylan's manager warned him to avoid using "genius" or "voice of a generation" in his pitch.
A Complete unknown looks like its going maximally in the opposite direction.
From what I've read it'll focus on his switch to electric. That's a fascinating time period in his life and worth exploring in a film. But I can't see how it would artistically top I'm Not There
murderofhobos, here's another movie you might appreciate:
Todd Solondz's Palindromes.
Like I'm Not There it has a succession of very different people playing the different "facets" of a single character's life.
(It bombed and has a crummy critical rep --but it was nominated for the Golden Lion award at the Venice International Film Festival.)
I've watched Happiness and Dark Horse. Todd's movies certainly leave their mark
I’m Not There (2007) is alright but my favorite film about a musician is I’m Still Here (2010)
I still haven't seen it. I remember reading about it when it came out because Phoenix went all in on the deception. I'll take a look at that