Cast: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger

Dir: Todd Hayes

Rating: 3.5

The music biopic is currently one of cinema's most popular topics with the likes of Ray, Walk the Line and Control all being a success.

But I'm Not There, which depicts the ever changing face and musical sound of legend Bob Dylan, is done in a unique way that uses six different actors to depict six distinct stages of Dylan's life and public persona.

As a result director Todd Hayes has produced a sprawling look at one of music's most influential figures that spans decades and a range of different musical sounds.

Woody (Marcus Carl Franklin) is a young black child with a folk music obsession; Jack Rollins (Christian Bale) is an upstart folksinger whose protest songs have ignited an entire generation; Arthur (Ben Wishaw) is a Rimbaud-esque figure who has begun to embrace a new form of lyrical poetry; Robbie (Heath Ledger) is a well-known actor whose marriage to the lovely Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) crumbles under the weight of his lifestyle.

Billy (Richard Gere) is a slippery frontiersman who echoes Dylan's infatuation with the Old West and American folklore; and, finally, there is the substance-abusing, confrontational Jude (Cate Blanchett), who represents Dylan in the turbulent mid-1960s.

What is so great about this movie is it's experimental, you won't see a film like this for the rest of the year, and is unsure within itself whether is actually going to work. And while, at times, it seems to lose it's direction it does successfully show the changing image of the folk hero.

This is not a bog standard biopic of a music star but more of a trip through the singers moods, desires and psyches as the characters struggle with fame and fortune as they all try to discover who they are and where in society they feel most comfortable.

This film works so well because of it's supremely talented cast the role of Jude Dylan, played by Cate Blanchett, is a piece of diamond casting and I defy you to tell Blanchett and Dylan apart.

Both Christian Bale and Heath Ledger are outstanding as raising folk singer Jack and megastar Robbie as they both struggle with their new found fame; Jack shuns the limelight and turns to God while Robbie loses a grip on his marriage.

And yes at some times the moving quickly back and forth between a string of characters doesn't always work and it does run a tad too long but it is one of the most original movies that I have ever seen.

Unlike with Ray and Walk the Line I doubt that you will come out knowing more about Bob Dylan than you did before the film started but it's so rich in visuals and ideas that you can't help but get lost in it.

I'm Not There is released 14th July on DVD.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw