But Bridges echoes Jack Fates’ views as well: The world is overcrowded, there is a long line at the cluster, and it’s hard to get to the top. Bridges’ girlfriend, Penelope Cruz, who, quite literally, kneels and worships in front of a small, home altar every day and praying (praying for what? For hope…? Some sign? To save the world?) Cruz may be our sacrificial virgin. Our Madonna, pure and good.
Cruz may be representative of the only good and pure thing in the film, and though obviously in love with and involved with Bridges, the ticky-tacky flim-flam journalist man, she offers him some redemption simply by her presence and her very Goodness. IN short, she offers, A soft place to fall, and all of Dylan’s heroes in songs (essentially, Dylan himself) need a soft place to fall because lord knows, he has needed one for so long that the fatigue is visible on his face. And I want to give him that.
Christ, to look at Dylan, even in his mid-sixties, is to see a man far beyond his years. He has aged too fast, too soon, and though much of that we know, or have heard, is drugs – especially heroin and crystal meth will age you decades in just three years (check out link below for more on this), I want to find or give him that place and say Rest now. He may say he doesn’t need a lover, that he is a lone man. That we shouldn’t “think twice, it’s alright” but that is not what his affect says. His affect is one of cynicism and sorrow, a push and a pull tango and feelings of great ambivalence: should he choose Love or Not Love? Is Love worth believing in again? It’s a question only Dylan can answer, and I don’t expect he will ever tell us outright. The best we can do is listen carefully to his lyrics, his music as he continues to make it… that is where the answers lie.
As Jack finds himself on the way back to jail, he sums it up in his head, as the voice-over, Dylans voice, says:
“I was always a singer and no more than that. it’s not enough to know the meaning of things. sometimes you need to not know the meaning…. what the person you love is capable of.
“climb to a higher plateau and you’ll see plunder and murder.”
Article comments
1 - LaShane
Brilliant write up on Masked and Anonymous.
2 - Eric Olsen
super job Sadi, you are in tune with the Dylan soul - thanks!
3 - sadi
i really enjoyed doing this piece as i do any dylan piece, really ~ so just pointmeand i'm game. This one was so unexpected for me and any Dylan fan should see it. Yes, it's silly but certainly a bit of a key to the Dylan soul and well worth it.
thanks for reading, Eric ~ too long, as per usual, but that's just how long it took.
thx. again.
s.
4 - Kathy Thompson
Love this critique! Wec would love to use it at Mickey Rourke OnLine on the "Mickey On Film" section, but would like to credit you properly. Well Done!!!
5 - unknowncomic
This is great! Yeah, really wish someone could help him find a soft spot to get some rest. Am looking forward to your review of Chronicles.
6 - sadi
i will review Chronicles and thanks for the kind words on this review . . . and yes, you can use at MIckey Rouke ONlne but please do credit me properly...
sadi ranson-polizzotti
www.tantmieux.squarespace.com
(use contact link to contact me, or leave an email here).
7 - Pam from the 60's
Well, how 'bout that? Found this one while searching. As usual...good stuff, Sadie. From my point of view; you have Dylan pegged. Really enjoyed this. Thanks,
Pam
8 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
thanks, Pam ~ i hadn't looked at this piece in a while. I just watched Renaldo & Clara and am planning a review of that... it's a tough one to review, but i'll do my worst/best, right? -- have to try at least.
best to you as ever,
s.