Australian actress Cate Blanchett has described as 'tricky' the forthcoming Bob Dylan biopic 'I'm Not There', in which the music legend is portrayed by six different actors.
More details have emerged of the film, directed by Todd Haynes, which features Blanchett portraying a mid-20s Dylan as a character named Jude. The name is a reference to the infamous 'Judas!' remark by fan Keith Butler in Manchester, incensed at Dylan's trading of an acoustic guitar for a Fender Stratocaster.Discussing the film with Britain's 'Daily Mail' newspaper, Blanchett said, "It's a very fractured rendition of a persona. Prepare yourself, it's tricky."
Subtitled "Suppositions On A Film Concerning Dylan", the earliest portrayal of Dylan is by 13-year-old black actor Marcus Carl Franklin, who indulges the myth of Dylan the lonely, homeless troubadour.
The sunglassed, late-sixties Dylan is tackled by Heath Ledger, whilst Christian Bale portrays Dylan at two life stages, fifteen years apart - one as an idealistic young protest singer, and later as a singing evangelist for fundamental Christianity.
Richard Gere plays the role of a bearded cowboy in his representation of 1970s Dylan and young British actor Ben Whishaw looks at Dylan the poet in a role inspired by 19th century French poet Arthur Rimbaud.
The film, which premieres later this week at the Venice Film Festival before its cinematic release in November, coincides with the release on 1 October of the 'Dylan' three-disc box set, a 51-track compilation of the folk legend's most famous tunes. Details of the release, as well as audio of British DJ Mark Ronson's reworking of 'Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)', are available at www.dylan07.com.
