A Complete Unknown
★ ★ ★
The title of this film is taken from a line in the Bob Dylan song, “Like a Rolling Stone.” It makes sense since this cinematic biopic is about Bob Dylan, portrayed by Timothée Chalamet. Director James Mangold does a good job of putting us in Dylan’s world as he’s discovered by Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) and Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy).
We follow Dylan’s journey as he’s pigeon-holed into folk music by CBS Records as well as his producers and managers. Early in the film, he meets Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning) – a fictional character in place of the real-life Suze Rotolo. Suze helped shape Dylan into a music legend. Fictional Sylvie is shown to have more of a minor role.
Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo and Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan
© 2024 Searchlight Pictures
Along the line, Dylan meets Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), and has an affair with her when Sylvie is out of town or when he’s on tour. It eventually leads to his breakup with Sylvie.
The movie takes us on a journey as Dylan tries to break free of the folk-song purgatory and become something else. When he’s asked what that is, he responds, “Whatever it is they don’t want me to be.”
Bob Dylan fans will likely love this movie and enjoy the nostalgic recreations of his performances and key career moments.
Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan and Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez
© 2024 Searchlight Pictures
The film is missing a real plot and story direction. It often goes from one scene of his life to another, which generally works fine. But it fails to go much deeper than Dylan’s surface persona, giving us little explanation for why he’s so rebellious and adamantly against letting anyone get close to him.
It’s a story we’ve seen countless times: talented musicians make it big, are too much of an artist to conform and are often self destructive. That makes sense. It’s the story of a lot of artists with immense talent.
Because the film presents few obstacles in Dylan’s way, or any serious in-depth drama, the climactic moments fall much flatter than I think the filmmakers intended.
Edward Norton as Pete Seeger and Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan
© 2024 Searchlight Pictures
Chalamet is undeniable in his performance as Bob Dylan and does a convincing job of bringing him to life. Norton is wonderful as Pete Seeger as is McNairy as Woody Guthrie. Fanning gives a sympathetic performance as does Barbado. It might just be the acting talent that makes this film one to recommend.
‘A Complete Unknown’ doesn’t really help us know Dylan much better, but certainly reminds us of his once-great talent. Maybe that’s the whole point.
Running Time: 2h 21m
Directed by: James Mangold
Written by: James Mangold
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, Scoot McNiry, Dan Fogler, Charlie Tahan
Biography, Drama, Music
