Movies - Masked and Anonymous

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	Movies - Masked and Anonymous

Masked and Anonymous is a 2003 film written and directed by "Seinfeld" writer Larry Charles. It was written along with and stars iconic rock legend Bob Dylan. The film has split many viewers and critics about its merits and meaning, as it was simultaneously hailed and panned upon its initial release.

Plot

Its plot could be called thin on a superficial level; an iconic rock legend, Jack Fate, is bailed out of prison to perform a one man benefit concert for a decaying future American society. Yet this is only a starting point for the deeper philosophical questions raised beneath the film's strange, meandering story. The film touches on many subjects from the futility of politics, the confusion of loosely strong government conspiracies, and the chaos created by both anarchy and Nineteen Eighty-Four
-styled totalitarianism. Reflections on life, dreams ( with some scenes being reminiscent of the 2001 Richard Linklater film "Waking Life"), and God's place in a seemingly increasingly chaotic world.

In some ways, the film is political: it describes how Fate sees the political landscape (people fighting for no reason, a nation without hope, governments that can not be trusted) but at the same time Fate makes it clear that "he is only a singer and maybe nothing else." He produces no solutions to any of the problems the film presents. Rather, he makes it clear that he "stopped trying to figure everything out a long time ago."

History

The film was shot in only twenty days and was funded by the BBC. It was distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, a well-known distributor of independent productions. The soundtrack is composed entirely of Bob Dylan songs ranging from his very early 1960's-era material to work as recent as songs from his 1997 Grammy-award winning album "Time Out of Mind".

Many of the actors, including Jeff Bridges, John Goodman (reunited after their work together in the 1998 Coen Brothers film "The Big Lebowski", which also featured the 1970 Dylan song "The Man In Me"), Bruce Dern, Jessica Lange (who has had a long time relationship with playwright Sam Shepard who co-wrote the 1986 composition "Brownsville Girl" with Dylan, from the often criticized album "Knocked Out Loaded"), Penelope Cruz, Luke Wilson, Cheech Marin, Ed Harris, Chris Penn, Giovanni Ribisi, Christian Slater, Mickey Rourke, and Angela Bassett. In addition to several other actors of note, the band of the lead character is played by Dylan's actual touring band of the time. Other stars in the movie include Fred Ward and Val Kilmer.

Music from Dylan's entire career is presented in the movie, though his recent album Time Out Of Mind receives considerable play, with "Dirt Road Blues" and "Not Dark Yet" both used as background soundtrack music in scenes; Dylan also plays a very upbeat version of "Cold Irons Bound" in the film's climax. Furthermore, a live performance of "Standing in the Doorway" was cut from the final edit, but included as a bonus on the DVD.

Quotes

"Would you reach out your hand to save a drowning man if you thought he might pull you in?"

Edmund: There will be no more stupidity. There will be no more mistakes. It's a new day. God help you all.

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