Bob Dylan seems to be relishing his role as Favourite Elderly Wank Fantasy Of Middle-Aged Rock Critics, because it's giving him the chance to speak out on anything he wants to, like how unutterably rubbish the new Sienna Miller film Factor Girl looks.
To be fair to Bob Dylan, he isn't angry at Factory Girl because it looks like the most horribly ill-conceived and transparent attempt at an Oscar-worthy film that's been made in years, or because all sensible people would rather staple their eyes closed and run through a minefield than watch a Sienna Miller film. Instead, Bob Dylan is angry because there's a character in the forthcoming movie played by Hayden Christensen who a) is very obviously meant to be Bob Dylan and b) is indirectly responsible for the main character's suicide. And Bob Dylan is so angry with Factory Girl that he wants to stop the film being released at all.
Bob Dylan hasn't been as popular as he is now for decades. His last record went to number one around the world, he's got his very own Bob Dylan radio show and his old poems sell for thousands of dollars at auction. This new position of fame means that Bob Dylan can do whatever the hell he wants, like slag off all modern music – and even try to get major films blocked. Factory Girl – a biopic of Andy Warhol's favourite drug-twatted party ninny Edie Sedgwick – is supposed to be coming out at the end of the month, but not if Bob Dylan gets his way.
In real life, Bob Dylan and Edie Sedgwick are thought to have had some kind of affair. But in Factory Girl, Edie Sedgwick tops herself on drugs after breaking up with Danny Quinn, a character who couldn't be any more like Bob Dylan if a character based on Martin Scorsese followed him around licking his arse all the time. And as far as Bob Dylan is concerned, that's defamation. Dylan's lawyer Orin Snyderr says:
"You appear to be labouring under the misunderstanding that merely changing the name of a character or making him a purported fictional composite will immunise you from a suit. That is not so. Even though Mr Dylan's name is not used, the portrayal remains both defamatory and a violation of Mr Dylan's right of publicity. Until we are given an opportunity to view the film, we hereby demand that all distribution and screenings immediately be ceased."
Shame Bob Dylan didn't use this right to block a release when he let someone make a modern dance-interpreted musical based on his songs too, really. There hasn't been an official response from the makers of Factory Girl, but we'd imagine that Hayden Christensen – who plays the Bob Dylan character – would probably respond by looking at the sky and shouting "Nooooooo!" because he was in a film where he did that once.
For a supposedly Oscar-worthy movie, Factory Girl isn't having the best of times. As well as potentially being stomped into dust by Bob Dylan's mighty boot, Lou Reed – who is played by one of Weezer in Factory Girl – has given this review to The New York Daily News:
"I read that script. It's one of the most disgusting, foul things I've seen – by any illiterate retard – in a long time."
Not really Sienna Miller's day, is it? First she says a lot of dumb shit in a magazine and now this. And we thought Sienna had it bad when Captain Combover did it with the nanny.
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john trenouth says
The Killers?!?
Jesus, how about Goldfrapp, or pay Portishead a pile of money for one more song. There are a ton of bands out there who could do a great job, and the Killers ainn’t one of them.
Sarah says
Ha, go Bob Dylan! I bet he’s just mad Darth Vader is playing him.
brooke says
u know what? screw all of you! hayden is a great actor! bob dylan is an asshole and has no right to try and stop this movie. he hasnt even seen it, so how can he judge ? his name’s not in it, and from what i heard, hayden’s character isnt the reason edie commits suicide, it’s because andy starts using nico in the movies. so he’s got it all wrong! he’s just mad because people are gonna know about him and edie!
Munchie says
And look at that…the movie was released anyway. And don’t call Bob Dylan an asshole, he’s one of the greatest artists of our time. I’m sure his misgivings with the movie are justified,
but you gotta love freedom of expression.
Mae West says
Whoever thought that the allusion to Bob Dylan in Factory Girl was indirectly responsible for her suicide a) has no understanding of the disease that is addiction and b) commpletely misses the scene in the elevator leaving The Factory after the filming of the “folksinger”.
Edie the addict chooses in that minute to abstain from the salvation that he was willing to help her work towards.
Instead, like many individuals in abusive and dependent relationships, she remains the victim her father had being helping to “groom” since she was eight.
Some might try the weak argument that the “folksinger” did nothing after hearing that Edie was close to rock bottom.
Even if he had jeopardized his marriage, by reaching out to help her, he would have met with the same response that his assistant had when he had tried to rescue her from the three men stealing from and raping her.
Edie’s suicide was just that – a suicide. Addicts need to help themselves.
Others cannot save them.
euclid says
Is it Pious Toad Month already?
Dre says
Bob Dylan is the greatest singer ever not to say John Lennon as well. Don’t be gettin your underwear in a bunch Bob just wants to have the facts strait just as you would if a movie was made about you!!! But wait that well never happen because all people are npt fullof life as Bob and John were but rather sooooo generic and BORING!!!!
ONE<3
J Bollocks says
Off topic a bit, but…
How come B Dylan now sounds nothing , that’s NOTHING, like he did when he was famous?
As I’ve always suspected, the weird voiced dipshit was putting on a funny voice to impress the “ladies”/
what a total loser.
notbob says
wah, wah, wah Dylan. Dylan is hanging out with Timberlake too much. He’s so worried about his name and gets his lawyers involved. How about this….let it happen and instead of paying your lawyers, go buy a stockpile of tissues. Is Dylan really benjamin button? An old baby that eliminates in his pants. I hate rich and/or famous people. To me he is not one ounce better than the homeless man on the curb thats drinking 40 of them.
Brianna says
thank you!!
Brianna says
lol haydens a great actor suck on that
Hannah says
getting*
straight*
will*
not*
Please check your spelling before you make a fool of yourself all over the internet.
Elsie says
This may be so, but,Andy Warhol and Bob Dylan (whom I love so, so dearly)used her like they did many luckless females that had the misfortune to cross too closely on the road that they were traveling. Secondly, the smoke screen that blacked out their intimate involvement has lasted 35 years and counting. Look at the deaths of Diana and Marlyn Munroe and ask yourself this: who surrounded the circumstances leading up to these beautiful, talented and vulnerable, young womens deaths? We all know immediately, right? So, why has that never been the case with regards to Edie Sedgwick? “Edie who” was the response from the Warhol entourage when hearing about her death. Why, haven’t they ever heard of this history making icon of fashion, that half of the women of the 60’s Warhol era tried to emulate? “Edie who”, what was that about? What if they had said “we are very sorry to hear that. She was a beautiful model,artist and person that brought so much enjoyment into our lives many years ago”. That would be a normal, respectable, compassionate response to such news. Dylan, Warhol camps had no comment to make. Why was that??
elkjellvis says
If you are going to complain about the spelling instead of taking in what he was trying to say, then you should pick on all the misstakes. So that we all can be impressed by your great way with the language…
Just a thought