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I'm Not There
2007 135 min Germany, United States of America R 16+
★7.3
Drama, Music
Director: Todd Haynes
Trailers
EN
Teaser
Description
Six actors portray six personas of music legend Bob Dylan in scenes depicting various stages of his life, chronicling his rise from unknown folksinger to international icon and revealing how Dylan constantly reinvented himself.
Budget:
$20M
US Gross:
$4.02M
Worldwide:
$4M
Starring
Christian Bale
Actor
Cate Blanchett
Actor
Heath Ledger
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2008
— Best Supporting Actress
Venice Film Festival 2007
— Volpi Cup – Best Actress
Venice Film Festival 2007
— CinemAvvenire Award – Best Film
Golden Globe 2008
— Best Supporting Actress
Venice Film Festival 2007
— Volpi Cup – Best Actress
Academy Awards 2008
— Best Supporting Actress
Venice Film Festival 2007
— CinemAvvenire Award – Best Film
Venice Film Festival 2007
— Special Jury Prize
Key opinion
Todd Haynes's unconventional biopic, *I'm Not There*, abandons traditional biography in favor of a fragmented, kaleidoscopic portrait of Bob Dylan. While some viewers find the non-linear, multi-actor structure challenging or uneven, most praise the film as a highly original and inventive piece of art that rewards deep engagement.
| Acting | Cate Blanchett’s gender-bending performance as Dylan is a standout achievement, capturing his restless spirit and contradictory nature with uncanny precision. | |
| Originality | The film succeeds as a unique, non-traditional biopic that effectively uses a mosaic of distinct personas to mirror the multifaceted evolution of a musical legend. | |
| Score | The soundtrack is expertly curated, with Dylan’s original tracks and covers positioned to perfectly reinforce the mood and thematic weight of individual scenes. | |
| Direction | The direction offers a distinct, high-concept authorial voice that elevates the material beyond a standard career overview. | |
| Pacing | The fragmented, non-chronological structure is viewed as a brilliant artistic choice by some, while others find the resulting mosaic opaque, dull, or unnecessarily demanding. | |
| Accessibility | The choice to use diverse actors across gender, race, and age is a bold, essential component of the film's concept for many, though it can be jarring or unsettling for viewers seeking a more conventional narrative. |