Soundtrack Review: I’m Not There

The iconic rocker Bob Dylan has been given a biopic, but in keeping with his persona it’s not your average film. Different actors play Dylan as each stage of his life is examined.

In the film Dylan is played by Marcus Carl Franklin, Ben Whishaw, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, and Cate Blanchett (yes Cate Blanchett) in the various stages of his life. In the same way, the soundtrack is full of Dylan’s music but instead of the man himself we’re given many different performers singing his tunes. This twist is in keeping with the theme of the movie. So we don’t really hear the real Dylan till the last track of the two-disc set (‘I’m Not There’ with the Band). However, a roster of famous voices is given opportunity to cover many of his most famous tunes. So we have the Dylan penned “All Along the Watchtower” (made famous by Jimi Hendrix) by Eddie Vedder, “I’m Not There” by Sonic Youth, “Tombstone Blues” by Richie Havens, “The Times They Are a Changin” by Mason Jennings, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Anthony & the Johnsons, and many more. Some of these are more powerful than others. I really preferred Dylan’s original “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” than the version on this disc. However, most of the songs are really good (although you really can’t out Dylan Dylan). It sounds like quite the picture and has the soundtrack to go with it.