A Complete Unknown is the true story of a folk music legend coming into their own. Nourished and sustained only by ambition, a young Bob Dylan (Timothee Chalamet) makes a pilgrimage to New York. Dylan aims to meet his idol, an ailing Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy) in the hospital. He succeeds, and this chance encounter in 1961 leads to a friendship with Pete Seeger (Edward Norton). Seeger is a fellow musician who immediately recognizes’ Dylan’s talent. As such, Seeger provides Dylan with a gateway into the local folk music scene. Soon after, Bob Dylan becomes a household name. But, with fame, Dylan feels he is sacrificing artistic and creative freedom.
What works in A Complete Unknown is Chalamet’s incredible transformation. Chalamet exudes a quiet confidence laced with genius in every scene. His performances are spellbinding, as his dialogue and musical stylings captivate with every word and note. This result comes via a fantastic vision and script compliments of Jay Cocks (Gangs of New York) and James Mangold (Ford v Ferrari). Mangold recreates the vibrant and turbulent New York music culture with electric flair. It also helps that Mangold presents a raw, honest portrayal of Dylan. Never minimizing his talent or contributions, Mangold also lets audiences explore Dylan’s faults and flaws. A Complete Unknown shines as a modern musical biopic by consistently engaging the audience and showcasing incredible attention to detail.
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Individuals who have grown weary of the biographical cinematic formula may not enjoy A Complete Unknown as much as others. In general, the film follows a very familiar structure. Dylan goes from optimistically aspirational to self-indulgent and finally falls from grace. The movie concludes exactly the way almost anyone would guess. Of course, this is not truly the story’s fault. So many musical influencers have had eerily similar dramatic journeys that deserve telling. Here, Mangold simply presents the facts with historical accuracy in a proven narrative format. That said, the predictability may be irksome and distracting to some patrons.
A Complete Unknown is a fantastic film. Captained by Mangold, anchored by Chalamet, and crewed by incredible talent—Norton, McNairy, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, and Elle Fanning to name a few— A Complete Unknown shines at nearly every turn. While it may succumb to typical tropes, A Complete Unknown has plenty of bright spots and astounding musical numbers to keep it fresh. Highly recommended.
Recommended if you enjoyed: Ray, Rocketman, Walk the Line
A Complete Unknown is now available to rent or purchase through most digital streaming services.
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