MASKED AND ANONYMOUS-2003-In a war torn
fictitious country ruled by a dying dictator, a crooked music
promoter Uncle Sweetheart (John Goodman) plans a big musical benefit
to aid the impoverished country but actually wants to keep all the
proceeds for himself and pay off his debts. Unfortunately the only
performer he can get is a once famous but now forgotten rock star
Jack Fate (Bob Dylan) who's in prison. He's let out and goes by bus
to perform. It turns out Jack was born and raised there and was
childhood friends with the low life who plans to take over when the
dictator dies (Mickey Rourke). Another musician Bobby Cupid (Luke
Wilson) who joins Jack and his band "Simple Twist of Fate"
(Dylan's real band) says he has a guitar that belonged to Blind Lemon
Jefferson.
Meanwhile Sweetheart's wife?/girlfriend?/sister? Nina (Jessica
Lange) insults him, complains, smokes a lot and cries. A government
agent (Bruce Dern) sends a reporter (Jeff Bridges) to spy on the
activities. He's accompanied by his religiously bent wife (Penelope
Cruz). Other characters include an animal handler (Val Kilmer), a
performer friend of Fate's father (Ed Harris in black face), a
government whore (Angela Bassett), Christian Slater as a roadie, Fred
Ward as a drunk and Cheech Marin in one scene with Dylan whose
character mainly listens to others spouting their philosophy and has
very little actual dialogue (he narrates much of it though). I didn't
expect the violent ending.
The film was written by Dylan and Larry
Charles, both using pseudonyms. Charles was a former writer/producer
for SEINFELD who later worked on a lot of TV shows (CURB YOUR
ENTHUSIASM, THE TICK, DILBERT, ENTOURAGE) and directed nonsense like
BORAT and BRUNO.
No comments:
Post a Comment