'A Complete Unknown' Brings Bob Dylan to the Big Screen

         On December 25, 2024, Searchlight Pictures releases 'A Complete Unknown', which has quickly earned Oscar buzz as well as Golden Globe Awards nomination, as well as a score of 74% on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of this writing. In the film, "Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. He forges intimate relationships with music icons of Greenwich Village on his meteoric rise, culminating in a groundbreaking and controversial performance that reverberates worldwide. Timothée Chalamet stars and sings as Bob Dylan in James Mangold's A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, the electric true story behind the rise of one of the most iconic singer-songwriters in history." The ensemble cast includes Monica Barbaro, Elle Fanning, and Edward Norton. But what did the critics say?

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

        Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com says, "Mangold’s film fluidly captures the intersection of art and fame with solid performances, unshowy direction, and organic editing." Adding, "Mangold’s approach demands a great deal of Mr. Chalamet, and he nails it. Not only does he sound like Dylan when he’s singing, he somehow captures the newness of these moments. When he plays “The Times They Are A-Changin’” for the first time in a great scene, it’s a song that a lot of people in the movie audience know by heart. Still, Chalamet and the production somehow convey the immediacy of that moment at Newport when these people are hearing a masterpiece for the first time. It gives the film an electricity that biopics almost always lack, feeling urgent instead of merely like a jukebox that’s been played a hundred times. Chalamet is ably supported by a great ensemble. Norton and Fanning have been getting some early attention—both have won critics awards already—but the standouts for me are the captivating Monica Barbaro as Baez and a playful turn from Boyd Holbrook as Cash. Barbaro subtly nails how equally enraged and enraptured people could be by Dylan while Holbrook plays Cash as someone who spotted the raw genius in Dylan through all the stuff that fame and expectation put around him. They’re the angel and the devil on Bob’s shoulders."

       Johnny Oleksinski of New York Post praises the film, stating, "Because Mangold has made a quiet and intimate film — not a cliche, showboating one of tears and tragedy — Chalamet never pushes these traits into a silly tribute act. Far from an animatronic impersonator, the actor is always honest and believable."

        Siddhant Adlakha of IGN Movies writes, "It’s formally straightforward, but its focus on the characters in Dylan’s life – rather than the musician himself, played by Timothée Chalamet – turn him into an enigma, for better or worse." Concluding, "Unfortunately, A Complete Unknown doesn’t offer much hand-holding for those unfamiliar with the creative, political, and interpersonal drama in and around the circles traveled by Dylan, Baez, Seeger, and Rotolo. It keeps such details opaque while casting a sense of grandeur upon its proceedings: The camera always floats toward and alongside Dylan, following him through crowded spaces, and becoming trapped by his allure in private moments. Mangold seems less concerned with the musician’s place in our collective history, and ends up more focused on Dylan the enigmatic individual as seen through the eyes of each supporting character."