Masked and Anonymous
Movie Review
"Masked and Anonymous"
Review by Eric D. Snider
Grade: D-
Rating: PG-13
Released: Friday, July 25, 2003
Directed by:
Cast:
One of the more glorious trainwrecks of Sundance 2003 was "Masked and Anonymous," a nearly incomprehensible vanity piece starring Bob Dylan and about a million other celebrities who apparently really, really wanted to be in a film with Bob Dylan, even if the film was useless.
Look at this roster, in alphabetical order: Angela Bassett, Jeff Bridges, Penelope Cruz, Bruce Dern, John Goodman, Ed Harris, Val Kilmer, Jessica Lange, Cheech Marin, Giovanni Ribisi, Mickey Rourke, Luke Wilson. Some only make brief appearances to ramble for a while about something, with Dylan forced to stand there squintily and sort of listen. Most are only barely suppressing their glee at appearing with Dylan.
Dylan himself says little; mostly he observes. When he does talk, it's often to say something absurd, like when someone asks him, "Where you headed?," and he replies, "That way." There's a lot of enigmatic stuff like that here. You pile up enough enigmatic stuff, you're going to have one big, senseless movie.
The story is of Dylan's character, Jack Fate, a fading but formerly legendary folk singer who is recruited to perform a benefit concert. The concert has to do with a revolution that is taking place in what seems like the United States but which might also be a South American country.
There is very little additional plot to discuss, which probably seems strange, considering how many characters there are. John Goodman displays a certain charming energy as Uncle Sweetheart, the big, heavy-drinking man who convinces Jack to perform. Everyone else is just sort of stands around talking, saying almost nothing.
The director is Larry Charles, who directed many episodes of "Seinfeld," which at least KNEW it was about nothing. He and Dylan allegedly wrote the film themselves, under the names Rene Fontaine and Sergei Petrov. Do the pseudonyms indicate they were aware of how boring and senseless the whole thing would turn out to be? Or is it all an elaborate joke?
It's the sort of nonsense that's intriguing for about 15 minutes, simply because its incoherence approaches a surreal level. But then the novelty wears off, and it settles into being the worst thing a movie can be: boring.
Grade: D-
Rated PG-13, some profanity and a little violence
1 hr., 53 min.
Copyright © Eric D. Snider.
This work may not be transmitted via the Internet, nor reproduced in any other way, without written consent from Eric D. Snider.
This item has 2 comments
July 18, 2007 at 6:31 pm
It seems to me this review is but an extension of the debate concerning Bob Dylans musical career, which all critics apparently have agreed died a long time ago. I will not comment on that issue right now, but none the less, this is a narrowminded evaluation of Masked and Anonymous. In my opinion this movie bears a lot of qualities and purpose.
I agree it is cryptic at times and I support the notion that Bob D himself wrote it. But like John Goodman, I think, says in the movie, when commenting on a song Dylan is singing at the concert; "It is open for interpretation" which I think has a lot to do with the whole point of both Dylans songs and of course especially this movie; That nowadays not a lot of things are, open to interpretation. The movie is forcing people to think about life and society, adding a touch of Orwells 1984 feeling. Some people may say this is a cheap ripoff, bringing in 1984. But as you surely know by now, there are no rules in post modern art.
On the performance of the actors, again I disagree. I think you (author of the review above, who ever wrote that?) mistakes the theatre-style of the director with bad acting perfomances. As the ghost from the past says: "The whole world is a stage"; the director and the art director supports this idea with the lighting, cutting etc. aswell as the actors exagerates and displays more emotion than they would in an ordinairy Hollywood flick. It's wondrous to see Pennèlope Cruz display passionate but terminal love and Mickey Rourke as the proud proclaimer of the End of the World, which is ultimately what the movie is about.
My only point of critique on this movie is the ending which is too gloomy for my taste and doesn't leave any hope. Even though this isn't real critique but really only my personal taste, it still reminds me of Bob Dylans concerts at the moment, which have the same melancholy to them.
Of course if you are not into cryptics and thinking yourself this is a boring movie, however I was impressed by the honesty of the minimalistic directing and by the cynic ironi of Bob Dylan when he says things like: "I stopped figuring out everything a long time ago".
- Jens Anton B. Jensen
PS: I have to admit that so far I've only seen the movie once, but this is my immediate reaction to it. Have a nice day guys!
August 5, 2008 at 4:04 am
You know I can just see the scene - an industry party in LA.
Host:“Bob, I’d like you to meet my friend Larry. Larry Charles, Bob Dylan.”
Larry: “Wow, this is, you know, wow, like…”
Bob: “Nice to meet you Larry, what do you do with yourself?”
Larry: “ Well, like, I’m a film director actually.”
Bob: “Really? That’s interesting. I met a man the other day sold snow-shoes.”
(pause)
Larry: “Yeah, right, but like, at the moment I’m working on a television series. It’s called Seinfeld.”
Bob: “How’s that working for ya Larry?”
Larry: (laughs) “Well, great actually, I mean, like, it’s pulling in some big numbers, you know?”
Bob: “Really? What’s it about this show?”
Larry: (Laughs) “Well, nothing actually, that’s like, the gag, you know?”
Bob: “I just wrote a movie-play.”
Larry: “Really, what’s it about?”
Bob: “Well, that’s the thing. Nothing really. That and the end of the world. Was gonna put some songs to it and everything, when I find the people.”
Larry: “Wow! Well, you know, I could help you with that, I mean, I could direct it, although I know you’ve directed yourself, I mean…”
Bob: “You saw Clara & Reynaldo?”
Larry: “Yeah, like at college.”
Bob: “What’d you think?”
Larry: “Great, I mean, I might have done a little editing.”
Bob: “Yeah me too. About four hours worth.” (Smiles)
Larry: (Laughing) “Wow, great, well listen, I’ll give you my card and maybe you could get your people to give me a call. Come with me to the pool bar, I’ll introduce you to John Goodman and Jessica Lange.”
They exit, and cinema is changed forever…
Benito Di Fonzo.
www.benitodifonzo.blogspot.com