Movie Maven

...yes, you read that correctly.

Seven different actors, in fact, will play the folk icon in a biopic entitled I'm Not There, according to Yahoo News. Each actor will take on different facets of his life and personality. Others who have reportedly signed on include Heath Ledger, Christian Bale and Richard Gere (Blanchett is to play Dylan during his 'androgynous' stage, natch.)

The movie will be directed by Todd Haynes, formerly of Velvet Goldmine, a biopic of David Bowie.

So how fabulous is this entire concept? Mainly I find it fabulous because of the risk involved- this is one of those projects that will either work splendidly and make gobs and gobs of money, or will flop horribly and messily like a fish on a line. I haven't seen Velvet Goldmine, but I have seen another Haynes flick Far From Heaven with Julianne Moore and Dennis Quaid, which was beautifully done and haunted me for days afterward. So I'm hopeful that the Dylan impersonators will be in good hands. I'm a little surprised Dylan even consented to a film about his life, judging from his hermit-like personality. Most writers call him an "enigma," which is how they refer to any public figure who doesn't constantly shill for them. Even in his recent forays into public life- his radio show on satellite radio, his documentary with Martin Scorcese, his autobiography Chronicles: Volume 1, as well as rare TV interviews- still leave him very much a mystery. Dylan has a truly spectacular knack for allowing the musician to be in the spotlight, while the man himself stays in the shadows. What this will mean for the content of the movie remains to be seen, but you can bet I'll be first in line on opening day.