Film director James Mangold honors the career and influence of renowned singer-songwriter Bob Dylan in his new biopic, “A Complete Unknown.” The film, released on Christmas Day and starred Timothée Chalamet as a strikingly accurate version of Dylan, and was supported by actors such as Elle Fanning, Edward Norton, and Monica Barbaro.
The film begins following a 19-year-old Bob Dylan as he embarks on his journey as a musician in New York City during the Vietnam War. It proceeds to show the significant moments from the next four years of Dylan’s career, from meeting musical mentor Pete Seeger, played by Edward Norton, to signing with Columbia Records, and his breakthrough performance of electric pieces at Newport Folk Festival in 1965. The film also delves into Dylan’s romantic relationships—and affairs—with Sylvie Russo (Suze Rotolo), and Joan Baez, played by Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro, respectively.
Chalamet spent five years honing his harmonica skills and immersing himself in Dylan’s discography after COVID-19 delayed what was originally a four month process. His dedication to the preparation translated seamlessly on screen. Chalamet’s co-star, Edward Norton, who plays Pete Seeger, even took to praising Chalamet’s work as Dylan. Chalamet effectively connects the viewers to Dylan’s music and bridges the gap between Dylan’s enigmatic personal life and his salient lyrics.
The film was yet another opportunity for Chalamet to showcase his reputable versatility as an actor. From singing joyfully as beloved chocolate maker Willy Wonka in “Wonka”, to his heartbreaking performance as Nic Sheff in “Beautiful Boy”, Chalamet’s role as Dylan has further proven his ability to engross himself in virtually any role that the film industry throws at him.
The soundtrack of the film was tastefully chosen from Dylan’s extensive catalog to demonstrate the progression of his music from mellow folk to folk-rock. The soundtrack included songs from Dylan’s early years, such as “Girl From The North Country” and “Blowin’ in the Wind”, in the bulk of the film, and transitioned into rock songs, such as “Like a Rolling Stone” and “Highway 61 Revisited,” once Dylan decided to defy the expectations and demands of his management and listeners later in his career. No matter the genre of song, Chalamet, and his musical counterpart Monica Barbaro, were able to beautifully recreate these songs in a way that evoked a wonderful nostalgia in older viewers, and a novel love for 1960s music in many younger viewers.
With other popular 2024 biopics such as “Elvis” and “Bob Marley: One Love”, the filmmakers had to make due with pre-existing knowledge and reputations of the stars. Directors and producers of “A Complete Unknown,” however, had the advantage of working with Dylan himself to corroborate the story that they were telling, leaving space to correct any inaccuracies and make the film truly authentic to Dylan’s experiences. Despite his input during the writing process, Dylan—in what some might say a true Bob fashion—did not attend the film’s premiere, and has yet to meet with Chalamet to discuss his role.
“A Complete Unknown” is both an entertaining and accurate depiction of Dylan’s career, and brings to light the evolution of folk music and the importance of authentic art in an ever changing world.
