So there that is

I've seen this one five times, in three days, so I guess that explains a lot.
I am surprised with how much this movie isn't appreciated enough. But I guess that has something to do with personal experiences. I did have a look at my own personal abyss, and abyss looked back at me when I saw this one. So many things just rang true.
I loved all of it. The colors. The dialogs. Humor which was a string of gold.
On the other hand, I hear so much comments, from those who liked it, and those who didn't alike, about soundtrack being immensely excellent. It didn't strike me as such, as it for the great part sounds as it was taken from my player. Sounds rather ordinary. I guess that is just another thing that shows how close to me this movie is.

I didn't like it. I know it is supposed to be based on actual events, but I never believed anything that happened.

Acting was rather good I think. But for some reason, it seemed to be trying to be what is popularly called "Wes Anderson like" movie. I personally don't like Anderson all that much, and get annoyed when some excellent movies are compared with his mediocre work, but here I'm, comparing this to Wes. Honestly, this was the first movie I saw that I really did think it is trying to be "Wes like". And the fact that I don't like Wes wasn't the main problem. The main problem is that Anderson is doing comedies. This had no business in comedy realm.

It was also very pathetic at some points.

I've seen this on one slow day at work, and I didn't realize at first it was Gondry. It didn't promise much at first, but I was bored, and I really like Mos Def and Jack Black so I decided to watch it no matter how trashy it looked. I found myself laughing out loud and really enjoying myself. When the movie ended I finally realized it was Gondry, which made me love this one even more. You see, he did disappoint me a little bit with "Science of Sleep" which I felt was to fake and way overdone. Yes, you are weird and imaginative and so kwel, we know it, you don't have to keep proving it.
But, this one had no such intentions. It was just a funny little movie made to look as if they were not trying hard enough so that sweded movies would be easier to fit in.
I can understand why someone wouldn't like it, but this is definitely my favorite Gondry so far.

Oh, my!

I'm not at all fan of Colin Farrell, but just after few shots I new I had to see this one. It was hilarious for most part, occasionally sad, beautiful and proved really worth seeing.

There is certain type of movies that I tend to call misanthropic, or Gibsonian movies, since those are typical in opus of Mel Gibson. In fact, directors who make this kind of movies, usually make no other kind (von Trier, Iñárritu) but Gibson is just most famous among them all.
These directors, I can't escape the feel, have the characters in their movies just so that they could play god in somebody's, anybodies, life. Characters often get killed, or simply wish to be dead.
For some reason, these are considered to be art. Or "difficult" movies, and whenever I state my dislike for them, I'm being told "it's not for everyone" or "that's life!". I beg to differ. I personally love difficult movies. One of my favorite would be "Magdalene Sisters". But these, these are just plain dumb. People are not all ugly on the inside, stupid, arrogant and conceited, there is bound to be someone, every now and then that shines, and who ever is not able to see this, not only isn't an artist, but is the disgusting character of his own lame work.
This movie seams to share my view on the subject, as it forces one of those miserable authors to face their own heroes, and their personal insignificance. Nothing we hear of the novel is really all that good, but is nevertheless regarded as such. Characters are often so enchanted by this novel, that a lot tend to think it's all right for a real person to die in order that this (obviously lame) book could be finished.
As for movie it self, it works perfectly. The visual style is there to entertain you while plot starts kicking in, and as you get more involved, there is less and less of the GUI to distract you. Actors are mostly good, especially Thompson who just sitting in empty white room by typewriter shaking, trembling, going insane, makes you feel more for dying man, then dying man himself. Characters are all well developed, and all seam very much at ease (i.e. mostly if you see their feet, they are not wearing shoes nor socks) making it more apparent how main character is stiff and in need of change.
The real story however is the one ironical, cause all of the sudden, all the details which seamed excessive at start (most notably an Apple and the watch) find their place in universe and give true ironic twist to the story.

I was so cited when I heard about this. Six different actors, one of which is little black kid, the other a woman, and third Richard Gere all to play Bob Dylan?!!? I had to see it. When I did, I fell in love with it. Many say it's pretentious. So what? What's so bad about pretentiousness? Do those people ever say for a book that it's pretentious? For a painting? How come every good movie has to be called that? Perhaps those people are just so used to bad movies, that they got convinced that all movies are lame, and whenever they encounter something with higher standards, in order for it to fit their idea of "all movies = bad" they just have to label it something?
I don't know how much there is truth in portrayal of Dylan's mind works, as movie intentionally sticks to all fallacy surrounding him. I just know that if Dylan is like this, then he is very much like me. :)
Most actors are really good at this, it's disturbing when you realize that Cate never knew much about Dylan before this. Perhaps. Bale was the weakest link here. He is overacting it most of the time, and looks completely inadequate. Everything else, the camera, the script, the way every "other side of Dylan" is approached, and eventually merged together, the use of his lyrics either visually or just uttered here and there by actors. The movie is a spider web, that you'll get tangled up in (blues).
Sure you can call it pretentious. But only if you have never created anything, and never felt that rush. This movie is masterpiece.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but something about this movie was really weird. Yes, I know it's often compared to number of movies of the so-called "quirky" genre. Yes, it's a road movie with bunch of colorful characters, and a lead who through getting to know them learns a lot about him self. There are even all those dream scenes that look as if young Gilliam had made them (which means a lot when I say it). But somehow, I never got the felling that this character is really going anywhere. He said at the beginning that he felt stuck, and wanted to get away. Whole movie, to me felt as if he never moved from his bicycle, and imagined the entire thing away. Then again, there was no reason to assume that is correct.
I guess I couldn't escape this impression, as I recognized my self in there, and I'm exactly the type of person who wants to turn things around, and never does. The light and the camera only contributed to this feel.
As for acting, at first I was shocked how Jena Malone, who is always so damn good, sucked here. Then it just clicked in place when you get to know her a bit better. She's just so good, as she can still fool me so bad :) The other two leads are good, but got somewhat overshadowed by this trick. Rest of the cast I never saw before, so I don't really have much to say.