Masked and Anonymous

”I stopped tryin’ to figure it all out a long time ago”, muses
Jack Fate, played by Bob Dylan, towards the end of
Masked and Anonymous. For 40 years the world has tried
to get closer to the 20th century’s most influential artist
and songwriter – what does he think about, what does
he mean, what does he want? No answers are given by
Larry Charles’s melodrama, instead the myth is spun further.
The framework is provided by a tale about a mystical future
in which civil war, ragged individuals and dying presidents
are the main features. A whole slew of Hollywood big-shots
circle around Jack Fate throughout the entire film in more
or less bizarre roles – keep your eyes open for a mad Val
Kilmer fondling rabbits or Mickey Rourke as long-haired
presidential aide – yet nobody really comes close to the
singer. And absolutely not Jeff Bridges, in his role as annoying
journalist who, demanding answers, gets a beating
by a visibly amused Bob Dylan. Some are destined never to
understand. But listen, as an alternative, to the music which
is a large part of Masked and Anonymous, for it provides the
clue as to why we care so much.

Anders Dahlbom

Medverkande
Jeff Bridges, Penelope Cruz, Bob Dylan: Producent
Nigel Sinclair: Manus
Rene Fontaine: Foto
Rogier Stoffers: Musik
Bob Dylan: Talat språk
English