A singer, whose career has gone on a downward spiral, is forced to make a comeback to the performance stage for a benefit concert.
Director: Larry Charles
Writers: Bob Dylan (as Sergei Petrov), Larry Charles (as Rene Fontaine)
Stars: Bob Dylan, John Goodman, Jessica Lange, Jeff Bridges, Penélope Cruz.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319829/
Watched on AmazonPrime.
28 songs in the Soundtracks, 27 Written by Bob Dylan, 12 Performed by Bob Dylan, 8 of them listed as Performed Live.
I've never appreciated BD, and this film only reinforces that. I spent the whole time of the film wondering why these people (lots of small parts filled by fairly big stars) would participate, because I didn't understand it at all. The answer is probably that BD wrote the film (I didn't notice that until assembling these notes afterward).
This takes place in some Spanish-speaking country, probably in the Americas. I'm not sure if BD's father was the leader, but he's dying, and the next leader is hanging around waiting. One of the cameos describes his involvement in the revolution, the counter-revolution and the government forces, finishing his story with the revelation that his unit destroyed his own village, supposedly a danger to the gov't, but populated by women, children, old men. So he was running away from service.
JL works for a TV network (in the US?) and meets with (mostly black) execs about what they want from a benefit concert for medical supplies for that country. JG is the promoter trying to get BD to perform, and he's the only act. He's been off the popularity radar, but was formerly a big star, and his hits are BD's hits. JG has trouble with a loan shark or a gambler; we see him get beaten, and he's planning to syphon the concert funds to his debts.
BD has a conversation with the incoming presidente, and maybe with his father (or was that memory?).
JB is a reporter sent to cover the benefit, and he wants to uncover some scandal (where's the money going?). PC plays his gf. He gets into a fight with BD, and another guy kills him (I think).
It's not just me.
Rated 5.5 (4,237)
distr. Sony, dir. Charles; 5-
