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Masked and Anonymous

  • 2003
  • PG-13
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
4.9K
YOUR RATING
Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Bob Dylan, Penélope Cruz, and Luke Wilson in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
Theatrical Trailer from Sony Pictures Classics
Play trailer2:24
12 Videos
19 Photos
ComedyDramaMusic

A singer, whose career has gone on a downward spiral, is forced to make a comeback to the performance stage for a benefit concert.A singer, whose career has gone on a downward spiral, is forced to make a comeback to the performance stage for a benefit concert.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
    • Larry Charles
  • Stars
    • Bob Dylan
    • John Goodman
    • Jessica Lange
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    4.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Larry Charles
    • Writers
      • Bob Dylan
      • Larry Charles
    • Stars
      • Bob Dylan
      • John Goodman
      • Jessica Lange
    • 104User reviews
    • 55Critic reviews
    • 32Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos12

    Masked And Anonymous
    Trailer 2:24
    Watch Masked And Anonymous
    Masked And Anonymous
    Trailer 2:18
    Watch Masked And Anonymous
    Masked And Anonymous Scene: You Leaving Town?
    Clip 1:34
    Watch Masked And Anonymous Scene: You Leaving Town?
    Masked And Anonymous Scene: Looking For Jack Fate
    Clip 2:41
    Watch Masked And Anonymous Scene: Looking For Jack Fate
    Masked And Anonymous Scene: There's A Benefit Concert
    Clip 1:01
    Watch Masked And Anonymous Scene: There's A Benefit Concert
    Masked And Anonymous Scene: Bobby Cupid
    Clip 1:31
    Watch Masked And Anonymous Scene: Bobby Cupid
    Masked And Anonymous Scene: I Wondered If You Would Ever Come Back?
    Clip 2:24
    Watch Masked And Anonymous Scene: I Wondered If You Would Ever Come Back?
    Masked And Anonymous Scene: How Do You Define War?
    Clip 2:05
    Watch Masked And Anonymous Scene: How Do You Define War?
    Masked And Anonymous Scene: Will You Play?
    Clip 1:43
    Watch Masked And Anonymous Scene: Will You Play?
    Masked And Anonymous Scene: I Feel Good About This
    Clip 0:53
    Watch Masked And Anonymous Scene: I Feel Good About This
    Masked And Anonymous Scene: Jack Fate Sings
    Clip 1:06
    Watch Masked And Anonymous Scene: Jack Fate Sings
    Masked And Anonymous Scene: Do You Have Any Idea What The Song Is About?
    Clip 0:58
    Watch Masked And Anonymous Scene: Do You Have Any Idea What The Song Is About?

    Photos19

    Luke Wilson in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
    Christian Slater and Chris Penn in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
    Jessica Lange in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
    Giovanni Ribisi in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
    Bruce Dern in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
    Jeff Bridges and Penélope Cruz in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
    Penélope Cruz in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
    Jeff Bridges and Luke Wilson in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
    Bob Dylan and Laura Harring in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
    John Goodman and Bob Dylan in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
    Bob Dylan in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
    Bob Dylan and Tinashe in Masked and Anonymous (2003)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bob Dylan
    Bob Dylan
    • Jack Fate
    John Goodman
    John Goodman
    • Uncle Sweetheart
    Jessica Lange
    Jessica Lange
    • Nina Veronica
    Jeff Bridges
    Jeff Bridges
    • Tom Friend
    Penélope Cruz
    Penélope Cruz
    • Pagan Lace
    Luke Wilson
    Luke Wilson
    • Bobby Cupid
    Angela Bassett
    Angela Bassett
    • Mistress
    Steven Bauer
    Steven Bauer
    • Edgar
    Michael Paul Chan
    Michael Paul Chan
    • Guard
    Bruce Dern
    Bruce Dern
    • Editor
    Ed Harris
    Ed Harris
    • Oscar Vogel
    Val Kilmer
    Val Kilmer
    • Animal Wrangler
    Cheech Marin
    Cheech Marin
    • Prospero
    Chris Penn
    Chris Penn
    • Crew Guy #2
    Giovanni Ribisi
    Giovanni Ribisi
    • Soldier
    Mickey Rourke
    Mickey Rourke
    • Edmund
    Richard C. Sarafian
    Richard C. Sarafian
    • President
    • (as Richard Sarafian)
    Christian Slater
    Christian Slater
    • Crew Guy #1
    • Director
      • Larry Charles
    • Writers
      • Bob Dylan
      • Larry Charles
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In Bob Dylan's first scene, where he is released from prison, he is wearing a wig. He liked it so much that he continued to wear it for various occasions, including his appearance at the Newport Folk Festival in August 2002.
    • Goofs
      When Nina Veronica meets the TV executives at the television studio, the liquor bottles in the center of the table change position and number in almost every shot where they are visible.
    • Quotes

      Jack Fate: I was always a singer and maybe no more then that. Sometimes it's not enough to know the meaning of things, sometimes we have to know what things don't mean as well. Like what does it mean to not know what the person you love is capable of? Things fall apart, especially all the neat order of rules and laws. The way we look at the world is the way we really are. See it from a fair garden and everything looks cheerful. Climb to a higher plateau and you'll see plunder and murder. Truth and beauty are in the eye of the beholder. I stopped trying to figure everything out a long time ago.

    • Alternate versions
      Laura Harring appeared in early versions of the film (including the cut which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival) playing a character called 'The Lady in Red'. However, her scenes were cut from the theatrical release version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: American Wedding/Buffalo Soldiers/Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over/Hotel/Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life/Masked and Anonymous (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      My Back Pages
      Written by Bob Dylan

      Performed by Mogokoro Brothers

      Courtesy of Ki/oon Records, Inc. and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), Inc.

      By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

    User reviews104

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Poetically creative
    I had read so many bad reviews of this movie. I'd read it was impossible to follow; I'd read that the dialogue was banal; Roger Ebert gave it half a star, claiming it was too ambiguous. So, when I saw Masked & Anonymous, I was prepared for the worse.

    Instead, as soon as the movie began, and that Spanish Version of My Back Pages started playing to bomb explosions and imagery of a future gone wrong, I realize: I'm going to like this movie.

    First, the plot, far too incredible to really explain here (And it sort of depends on your point of view anyways) is very creative in that it conveys an incredible amount of symbolism. On one hand, this is a movie that mocks rock music (Think of the scene where Uncle Sweetheart tells Fate "You're gonna play rock and roll get rich launch your career and bring world peace all at the same time!") On the other hand, this could be Dylan's way of telling us who he really is. "Maybe I'm just a singer and nothing more" he tells us. He's tired of being made to be a counter cultural liberal protester. He's tired of people who think he only writes anti-war songs. Think of the scene where a woman brings her daughter to see Dylan. When Dylan learns that the little girl knows all his lyrics he asks "What'd she do that for?" And the mother quickly responds "Because I made her." This movie is about so many things: You just have to see it and every time you see it again you'll see more.

    Concerning the dialogue. Many people say the dialogue is contrived, banal, or mindlessly poetic. To such people I reccomend they read Shakespeare (He's in the alley). Dylan has been hailed as a modern Shakespeare, so it is not wonder that this movie has the same beautiful poetry that his songs do.

    But I will grant this: Bad actors would never be able to pull off this script. And this was probably the movie's strongest feature: Incredible acting. John Goodman deserves an Emmy for his portrayal of the scheming Uncle Sweetheart. Val Kilmer shocked me with his ability to portray the crazed Animal Wrangler. Jessica Lange gave the best performance of her career. The list goes on... Mickey Rourke, Ed Harris, Christian Slater, all surprised me with brilliant acting.

    If you have the chance to see this movie, just once, do so. And forgive its few shortcomings-- it was made on short notice, and its messages were meant to transcend all imperfections for movie rookie director Larry Charles. This movie will probably be forgotten one day, which is unfortunate, because rarely is a movie this original.
    helpful•84
    16
    • jackfate00
    • Oct 8, 2003

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 8, 2003 (Canada)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Monolith (Poland)
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Gizli saklı
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • American Entertainment Investors
      • BBC Films
      • Destiny Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $533,569
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $30,783
      • Jul 27, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $546,106
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Bob Dylan, Penélope Cruz, and Luke Wilson in Masked and Anonymous (2003)
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