'A Complete Unknown' review: Timothée Chalamet rocks as Bob Dylan in sturdy biopic
Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures
At one point midway through James Mangold’s well-paced biopic “A Complete Unknown,” Bob Dylan’s girlfriend says, “I don’t know you,” which feels entirely emblematic of the singer-songwriter’s enduring enigma. Walking into the film, I realized I didn’t know much about Dylan, and I’ve since come to understand that’s precisely how he’s wanted it. For those expecting a deep dive that uncovers every minute detail of his life, it’s important to temper your expectations. What you will find is a grounded and entertaining drama featuring an award-worthy performance by Timothée Chalamet, who brilliantly captures Dylan’s mysterious persona while giving audiences something to latch onto.
Chalamet pulls out all the stops, singing, playing guitar, and blowing harmonica as if his life depended on it. The film chronicles the major political, social, and generational shifts of the early 1960s, a time when Dylan was just a humble folk singer trying to make his mark. The story begins with 19-year-old Bobby Dylan arriving in New York from Minnesota to meet his idol, Woody Guthrie (played by Scoot McNairy), who is bedridden in a hospital and unable to communicate due to Huntington’s disease. Wielding his guitar, Dylan plays a tune that catches the attention of Woody’s best friend, Pete Seeger (a somber and compelling Edward Norton), who immediately recognizes the young man’s immense potential.
Pete takes Dylan under his wing, guiding him through the folk scene and introducing him to various stars, including Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), while also connecting him with a local artist named Sylvie (Elle Fanning), with whom he embarks on a romantic relationship. Despite his undeniable chemistry with Baez, the love triangle—one of the film’s weaker components—doesn’t slow down Dylan’s genius or relentless work ethic. In fact, it seems to fuel him.
As “A Complete Unknown” charts Dylan’s rise, it also explores how the relentless pursuit of fame can take a toll on someone who couldn’t care less about it. This internal conflict reaches a boiling point during the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, where audiences expect Dylan to revert to his folk roots, despite his natural progression toward rock music. But Dylan is resolute—he doesn’t care about the expectations of gatekeepers; he just wants the music to speak for itself.
Hollywood has been inundated with music biopics over the past decade, and with projects about Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Bruce Springsteen already in the works, this trend shows no signs of slowing down. However, “A Complete Unknown” stands apart from films like “Bob Marley: One Love” or “Bohemian Rhapsody” for one key reason: a director who understands how these movies should be crafted. We’re not bogged down by unnecessary backstories or a performance that veers into imitation. Instead, Chalamet’s portrayal of Dylan is deeply authentic, particularly through his renditions of Dylan classics like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”
The film moves effortlessly through Dylan’s rise, from his days as a struggling musician playing local gigs in churches to sharing the stage with legends like Johnny Cash (memorably played by Boyd Holbrook). Mangold handles it all with delicate balance, from intimate recording sessions to sold-out stadium concerts, all with breakneck precision and veracity. Strong supporting performances from Barbaro and Norton only enhance the experience.
While Mangold may have faltered with his “Indiana Jones” movie last summer, he returns to his “Walk the Line” roots here, delivering a sturdy, no-frills biopic that isn’t flashy or reliant on gimmicks. You won’t learn anything particularly new about the prolific singer, and Dylan’s rise to stardom is not markedly different from the stories of many other famous musicians. But the combination of a director who is unafraid to let scenes breathe and a phenomenal performance from one of the finest young actors working today makes “A Complete Unknown” worth celebrating.
Grade: B+
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN opens in theaters everywhere Christmas Day
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