A 19-year-old Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet, Dune: Part Two) tramps all the way from Minnesota to New York City to meet his idol, Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy, Speak No Evil), as James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, begins. Mangold’s film chronicles Dylan’s beginnings in folk music and how he helped define the genre and launch it into the mainstream. A Complete Unknown doesn’t shy away from the reaction of fans and fellow musicians when the future Rock and Roll Hall of Famer begins experimenting by adding an electric sound to his songs, a move that will eventually lead to his exit from the folk music scene.
A Complete Unknown picks up Dylan’s journey with his pivotal meeting with Guthrie and his longtime friend Pete Seeger (Edward Norton). The young musician impresses Pete, who is a constant presence at Guthrie’s bedside as he struggles with Huntington’s disease. Bob and Pete strike up an almost instant friendship, and Pete takes the struggling musician under his wing. Peter becomes Dylan’s mentor, introducing him to influential people in the folk music world. He catches the eye of the lovely Sylvia Russo (Elle Fanning), an artist in her own right who becomes his first girlfriend. It’s not long before they are living together.
Another important, talented artist who enters Dylan’s life is folk superstar Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro, Top Gun: Maverick). They have chemistry both on and off the stage, and Joan is drawn to Dylan like a moth to a flame. As she watches him sing a new song, calming an audience on edge about the Cuban missile crisis, she realizes there’s something special about his songwriting that connects with listeners.
A Complete Unknown vividly recreates 1960s New York and its West Village folk scene, focusing on Dylan’s early career. Timothée Chalamet delivers a dynamic, jaw-dropping performance in this entertaining film, which features meticulously recreated musical scenes. Chalamet captures the style, essence, and mystery that is Bob Dylan, along with the man’s self-centeredness and indignation. His mannerisms, voice, guitar playing, and singing style all echoed the voice of a generation. It’s a true accomplishment, and make no mistake, this is not an impression but an authentic performance by Chalamet that ranks as the best of his career.
Edward Norton steals nearly every scene he’s in as Pete Seeger, Dylan’s friend and mentor who helps the young singer-songwriter launch his career, and then grudgingly accepts Dylan moving on to leave his folk music roots behind. Norton deserves an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his outstanding performance.
Elle Fanning plays Sylvia, Dylan’s first girlfriend who is destined to have her heart broken, as both sweet and vulnerable. Fanning and Chalamet have solid chemistry that grows stronger in the latter part of the film. Monica Barbaro impresses in the role of Joan Baez, doing the Queen of Folk proud as she mimics Baez’s unique soprano voice. Barbaro also portrays the fascination and frustration Baez felt while engaged in an on-and-off-again professional and personal relationship with Bob Dylan.
A Complete Unknown‘s sole shortcoming is its failure to offer any fresh insights into Dylan. Any fan of Bob Dylan will already know everything in the film. Still, A Complete Unknown boasts superb singing, concert scenes, and Timothée Chalamet’s captivating performance; it’s a must-see.
GRADE: B+
MPAA Rating: R for language
Running Time: 2 hours 21 minutes
Release Date: December 25, 2024
Studio: Searchlight Pictures
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