Had to happen. Finally, the biography of popular culture icon Bob Dylan is going to be given the Hollywood treatment. The film titled “I’m not there” counts with a touch of indie pedigree courtesy of former herald of new queer cinema Todd Haynes, whose career has moved progressively into the mainstream, without losing his creative arty spirit in the process.
Haynes, who follows the Rober Award multiple winner film “Far From Heaven” with this biopic, has recruited six different stars to play the main role, among them Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. Everything else in this movie looks set to make justice to the figure of Dylan and it is rumoured to be a frontrunner on this year’s Oscars race, following a recent series of other successful music legends’ biopics (Ray Charles; Johnny Cash).
The soundtrack sounds equally challenging, with the cream of today’s alternative artists (do they still exist? Can you still call them alternative?) covering their favorite moment from the vast career of the singer/songwriter. The tracklist (courtesy of The Playlist) looks impressive :
All Along The Watchtower –Eddie Vedder & The Million Dollar Bashers
As I Went Out One Morning–Mira Billotte
Ballad Of A Thin Man–Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers
Billy–Los Lobos
Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window–The Hold Steady
Can’t Leave Her Behind–Stephen Malkmus & Lee Ranaldo
Cold Irons Bound–Tom Verlaine & The Million Dollar Bashers
Dark Eyes–Iron & Wine & Calexico
Fourth Time Around–Yo La Tengo
Goin’ To Acapulco–Jim James & Calexico
Highway 61 Revisited–Karen O & The Million Dollar Bashers
I Wanna Be Your Lover–Yo La Tengo
I’m Not There–Bob Dylan
I’m Not There–Sonic Youth
Just Like A Woman–Charlotte Gainsbourg & Calexico
Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues–Ramblin’ Jack Elliot
Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door–Antony & The Johnsons
The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll–Mason Jennings
Maggie’s Farm–Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers
Mama You’ve Been On My Mind–Jack Johnson
The Man In The Long Black Coat–Mark Lanegan
Moonshiner–Bob Forrest
One More Cup Of Coffee–Roger McGuinn & Calexico
Pressing On–John Doe
Ring Them Bells–Sufjan Stevens
Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power)–Willie Nelson & Calexico
Simple Twist Of Fate–Jeff Tweedy
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With Memphis Blues Again–Cat Power
The Times They Are A Changin’–Mason Jennings
Tombstone Blues–Richie Havens
When The Ship Comes In–Marcus Carl Franklin
Wicked Messenger–The Black Keys
You Ain’t Goin ‘Nowhere–Glen Hansard & Markta Irglov
Dylan himself will boost the buzz surrounding the movie by hitting the road back 2 back with Elvis Costello.
More images and teasers from “I’m not there”: