In what is beginning to look like an overzealous bout of experimental filmmaking, director Todd Haynes has not only enlisted six thespians to play the role of Robert Zimmerman (including Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, and Cate Blanchett -- yes, the woman), but he has also gathered a (sometimes) impressive list of musical contributors set to reinterpret Dylan numbers ranging from classics to demos (and occasionally both). Dylan himself, who has had no part in the process, has apparently given the filmmakers the a-okay, in essence telling them "Go ahead, knock yourself out."
And boy did they ever. Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo produced the film's house band, The Million Dollar Bashers, who backed artists including Eddie Vedder, Stephen Malkmus, Tom Verlaine, and Karen O on their respective takes. Calexico filled a similar "session band" role in versions fronted by Jim James, Willie Nelson, and Iron & Wine. A veritable who's who of indie rock stardom of the moment, Sufjan Stevens, Yo La Tengo, and Antony & The Johnsons, will also contribute. Music supervisor Randall Poster was quoted in USA Today saying, "We went with a lot of outsiders and outlaws. That's the connection they share with Dylan." Consequently, Mr. Outlaw himself, Jack Johnson, takes a stab at "Mama You've Been On My Mind."
Elsewhere, Charlotte Gainsbourg will be sure to sex up "Just Like A Woman" with some breathy coos, Cat Power will slow down and make smoky "Stuck Inside Of Mobile With Memphis Blues Again," and Craig Finn of The Hold Steady will nasally sing-speak "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window." With such a list of willing and eager musicians, there won't be enough time to play each in the film, which is why the film's creators hope to release an expansive two-disc compilation, the tracklist of which has yet to be decided. Find out for yourself which ones score the action when I'm Not There is released in November. Be there, if only to see David Cross as Allen Ginsberg.
A full list of contributions:
"All Along The Watchtower" - Eddie Vedder & The Million Dollar Bashers
"As I Went Out One Morning" - Mira Billotte
"Ballad Of A Thin Man" - Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers
"Billy" - Los Lobos
"Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window" - The Hold Steady
"Can't Leave Her Behind" - Stephen Malkmus & Lee Ranaldo
"Cold Irons Bound" - Tom Verlaine & The Million Dollar Bashers
"Dark Eyes" - Iron & Wine & Calexico
"Fourth Time Around" - Yo La Tengo
"Goin' To Acapulco" - Jim James & Calexico
"Highway 61 Revisited" - Karen O & The Million Dollar Bashers
"I Wanna Be Your Lover" - Yo La Tengo
"I'm Not There" - Bob Dylan
"I'm Not There" - Sonic Youth
"Just Like A Woman" - Charlotte Gainsbourg & Calexico
"Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" - Ramblin' Jack Elliot
"Knockin' On Heaven's Door" - Antony & The Johnsons
"The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll" - Mason Jennings
"Maggie's Farm" - Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers
"Mama You've Been On My Mind" - Jack Johnson
"The Man In The Long Black Coat" - Mark Lanegan
"Moonshiner" - Bob Forrest
"One More Cup Of Coffee" - Roger McGuinn & Calexico
"Pressing On" - John Doe
"Ring Them Bells" - Sufjan Stevens
"Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power)" - Willie Nelson & Calexico
"Simple Twist Of Fate" - Jeff Tweedy
"Stuck Inside Of Mobile With Memphis Blues Again" - Cat Power
"The Times They Are A Changin'" - Mason Jennings
"Tombstone Blues" - Richie Havens
"When The Ship Comes In" - Marcus Carl Franklin
"Wicked Messenger" - The Black Keys
"You Ain't Goin 'Nowhere" - Glen Hansard & Markta Irglov