Todd Haynes (Velvet Goldmine) takes his unique style to make a biopic that is truly different. His subject is the famous Bob Dylan, the legendary star who defies any real category of entertainer. To show this, he decides to have six Dylan’s in play, each showing a different aspect of his very unique path. Haynes’ seems to get a little caught up in himself for this film, but if you can sort through the complex turns you’ll be able to find something great.

Each character might not use the exact name, but everybody from a young boy (Marcus Carl Franklin) to Cate Blanchett tries to pull off the little things in his life. The parts move together to intertwine in a story that transcends time, all to the tunes of the more obscure songs in his career. Blanchett gives a good role as the Dylan of the 60s, Jude Quinn, during the “electric Dylan” phase. This was pretty hard to pull off since it was during a time when the odd singer was fighting his own attempts at stardom. Richard Gere joins in as a wise, older Dylan who is right out of the Old West. This is a clear reference to Sam Peckinpah, the man who cast Dylan in the movie Pat Garret and Billy the Kid. I guess that there is a reason to the “unique” casting choices.

Unfortunately, it goes much further than it needed to go. It stretches on for too long with annoying “whimsical” scenery (who doesn’t love circus symbols?). It may not be a classic film, but it is easily one of the best portrayals of the odd, eccentric, intelligent, and interesting man. Since it is a biopic, this is really all that matters.