August 12, 2003
Masked and Anonymous
I got to see Masked and Anonymous this week while in San Diego. This movie left me pretty jarred. On the one hand, I can totally see why the movie got such bad reviews. If Larry Charles had made this his feature film debut but Bob Dylan had absolutely nothing to do with it, then I most likely would have called Larry Charles a presumptuous, narcissistic hack. Frankly, the movie was, to a good extent, kind of incoherent and downright wierd. The dialogue is so random. It isnt so much there to progress the story or reveal anything about the characters as much as to spew out the various thoughts that must have been on Dylans mind when he wrote this film. Outside of the Dylan context, I would have viewed this movie as a cheap Waking Life knockoff with good actors.
But then again, its hard not to fall in love with this film. Even if the moments in the movie are not strung together neatly, they are neat moments nonetheless. We get to see Luke Wilson, Jeff Bridges, and John Goodman interacting with Dylan for crying out loud. And we get to see some great performances by Dylan and his band. His version of Dixie should be immortalized. And most importantly, we get to see Dylan: close up. It seems like the first time in history weve been allowed to study this man's face for such long periods of time. Ugly? Agreed. But still intriguing. This film really grabbed me. I have been thinking about it a lot lately, and the films soundtrack, which Ive been listening to even before I saw the film, has become more beautiful to me upon repeated listenings. I am starting to feel as if Masked and Anonymous is the third part of a trilogy that started with Time Out of Mind and was followed up by Love and Theft. Dylan seems to be pouring something out about his soul and his views on life in these albums and Masked and Anonymous seems to be the final punch, the all out slap in our faces that he gives us to make his point clear. The point is that there is no point but that is beside the point.
If I were to review this film, which I am not really intending to do in this post (I am just trying to record my thoughts before I lose them) I think at this point, I would give it a very positive review. That is mostly because I think the film, in the context that it is a film written by, starring, and largely about Bob Dylan, is an insightful and incredibly helpful guide to Dylan's music. There are a lot of intentional references to Dylan's songs throughout the film and I think the way his songs are used in this movie is very revealing of at least some of their meaning.
I really need to see this film again. I have my own interpretation of what Dylan is trying to say, but I am sure he is deliberatly trying to make a film that transcends a single interpretation. In my interpretation, the dictator in the film is God, Mickey Rourke is organized religion, and Dylan is trying to say that God is dead. But watch the movie for yourself and tell me what you think.
I think I love Bob Dylan as much as I do because he is the most honest artist I have ever encountered. He really shows me the expression of a man's heart without God, struggling for meaning to existence and finding none. It challenges me to take my faith more seriously. Anyway, I guess thats all I have to say about that for now.
Posted by todd at August 12, 2003 09:03 PMFor a different perspective on Dylan's spirituality, you may want to check out his "Saved" album.
Posted by: Kate W at August 14, 2003 11:47 AMI have Dylan's Saved album as well as Slow Train Coming and Shot of Love. Slow Train Coming is probably my favorite but Shot of Love has a few of the best tracks like Every Grain of Sand and In the Summertime. What I find most interesting about Dylan's Christian period (Do you know he even ended up on the cover of CCM magazine) was the friendship he developed with Keith Green. There are actually a couple Keith Green songs where you can hear a harmonica, and that harmonica is being played by no other than Bob Dylan. But sadly, Dylan's Christian period was just a period, something he has certainly and most vocally abandoned at this point in his career. His first album after Shot of Love, Infidels, is a return to the more pessimistic existentialism that was prevalent in some of his earlier albums.
By the way, Kate, its really great to see you that you are still checking my blog. Hows Texas? I decided not to go myself but Im sure its a wonderful state.
Posted by: todd at August 14, 2003 12:00 PMOkay Todd, here's my secret: As long as I scroll quickly past the pictures, your blog page looks like any ordinary document. I can take a break from my work and nobody passing by will complain ;) Besides, I like the way you think and your blog is very interesting reading.
Posted by: Kate W at August 15, 2003 11:13 AMlisten for the last time...texas is a great and wonderful state. it may not be much to look at in in parts but dallas, san antonio and austin all kick ass and thats where most of the action and beauty is.
Posted by: dp at August 15, 2003 01:28 PMMe thinks the Texan doth protest too much...Hmmm...Have you ever noticed that those who have the least to brag about are the ones who brag the most? Okay, okay, I'll lay off. I do have to admit that Austin and San Antonio are much better than Dallas. My husband and I enjoyed visiting the Riverwalk for Thanksgiving (Texas turkey=A tasty beef steak). Dallas on the other hand is a scary sight! Until our recent move, the view from our car on our morning commute was one of rundown houses, liquor stores, stray dogs, stray shopping carts, prostitutes, and apparent drug deals. I'm not exaggerating. I won't detail all of our adventures but I will tell you that in the end, the police won't show up until an hour later. Needless to say, we're looking forward to the safety of our home states! I'm glad that dp has had a better experience. Shalom ya'll cowpokes.
Posted by: Kate W at August 15, 2003 03:02 PMKate, you amaze me. Never change.
Posted by: todd at August 15, 2003 06:41 PMyou could find that stuff anywhere, esp. in any major city in america. i mean lets be real here. i bet dallas is overall a safer city than san antonio even. i mean if youre just visiting the cities youre probably only gonna visit the good stuff aka "touristy stuff," where the city puts its best foot forward. ya know?
Posted by: dp at August 16, 2003 02:04 AMIf Zimmy is not still a believer why is he still singing in the current tour: Saving Grace (which he did last nite in NY) and Gotta Serve Somebody?
I strongly encourage all readers of this site to get a copy of Scott Marshall's wonderful book-
Restless Pilgrim which came out this past year.
Blessings to all!
Todd,
I would urge you to reconsider the idea that Dylan thinks God is dead. I think that after his Gospel period, Dylan decided to express his faith more subtly, which was a good thing in a number of ways, not least in that it prevented him from being totally marginalized (which he just about was at that point). I agree with a lot of what you say about Masked & Anonymous. You can certainly see in it " man's heart without God, struggling for meaning to existence and finding none." However, are you sure this is Dylan himself? Could it rather be that this is what he's trying to demonstrate, i.e. that searching for meaning and false gods in following passing causes and pursuing money and such is ultimately useless? Jack Fate, in the movie, is the only character who seems calm. As he says when he's released from jail "I felt free a long time ago."
In the past month, Bob has performed "I Believe In You" in concert, as sincere and impassioned an expression of faith in God as has ever been written. He has continued to perform his Gospel songs all along. It's a part of him now, "it's been cherished and saved," it'll be with him unto the grave, "and then unto eternity." You know that song.
There is so much in his post Gospel work that reflects on his beliefs, just under the surface. I'd recommend looking at the "Lily Among Thorns" website, if you haven't, and especially the piece on Time Out Of Mind, at http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Den/8780/Lily/2rktoom1.html
Even though I don't see eye -to -eye with that site on everything, there's plenty of good food for thought there. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and for your thoughts on the movie.
The "Love & Theft" album closes with the last line:
"Look up,look up,Seek your Maker 'fore Gabriel blows his horn."
If anyone feels Dylan has stopped placing important religious imagery and thoughts in his songs,it's alright to"think twice" for a change,Didn't his year 2000 Oscar-winning "Things Have Changed' hold the line; "If the Bible is right, the world will explode"?
One can argue just as easily that the religious thread continues in his work and becomes deeper and more ingrained/integrated into his creative expression as tie goes on.
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