Masked and Anonymous - 7971

Amazon.com Masked and Anonymous is a mesmerizing experiment in surreal drama with lyrical content, a cinematic approximation of an epic Bob Dylan song on the order of "Desolation Row." Not coincidentally, Dylan is a co-writer and star of this 2003 film, playing an enigmatic folk-rocker named Jack Fate, a political prisoner in an unnamed, civil war-torn country. Set free to headline a benefit concert organized by an unscrupulous promoter (John Goodman) and television executive (Jessica Lange), Jack embarks on a fateful journey through a battle-scarred land. Taken literally, Masked and Anonymous proves bewildering, even exasperating, but as a feverish act of unrestrained political satire the film has a lot to offer, including some of the best recent performances by Goodman, Lange, Jeff Bridges (as a cynical journalist), Val Kilmer (a babbling prophet), Luke Wilson (a musician), and Giovanni Ribisi (a haunted soldier). Dylan himself proves a stiff cipher, but fun to watch. --Tom Keogh Product Description Music legend and Academy Award winner Bob Dylan (Best Song, Wonder Boys, 2000) -- accompanied by Academy Award winner Jessica Lange (Best Actress in a Leading Role, Blue Sky, 1994), Penelope Cruz (Vanilla Sky), Jeff Bridges (Seabiscuit), John Goodman (O Brother, Where Art Thou?) and Luke Wilson (Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle) -- takes center stage in the craziest, funniest comedy of the year! Dylan is Jack Fate, a former traveling troubadour who is sprung from jail by his scheming manager toheadline a sketchy and misguided benefit concert. With unforgettable cameo appearances by Angela Bassett, Bruce Dern, Ed Harris, Giovanni Ribisi, Mickey Rourke, and Christian Slater and featuring a sizzling soundtrack with four new Dylan recordings plus performances of Dylan classics from Los Lobos, Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia and more! Set Contains: Masked & Anonymous on DVD comes with a commentary track from director Larry Charles, who is good on the details of the shooting schedule, but vague about the movie's aspirations. There are some deleted scenes (none of which shed any more light on the plot), another Dylan performance, and a 20-minute making-of featurette, with the many supporting stars waxing lyrical about the freewheeling shooting style and semi-theatrical staging. The anamorphic widescreen picture is unexceptional, as is the Dolby 5.1 soundtrack, which naturally enough works best with the music. --Mark Walker
ASIN: B00000F2L9
VSKU: GGV.B00000F2L9.G
Condition: Good
Binding: DVD