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A Complete Unknown (R)

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro

Release Date: December 25, 2024

Runtime: 2 hr. 20 mins.

Genre: Biopic, Music

New York, 1961. 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.

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Review

If one was going to cite a movie title for truth in advertising, it might be James Mangold's Bob Dylan bio-pic, A Complete Unknown because, at the end of the proceedings, it's an apt description of the main character. The reason it clear: Mangold doesn't set out to present a comprehensive look at the singer nor does it offer a probing psychological portrait. It doesn't pander or seek to lionize. Instead, it's a picture of an era and an exploration of Dylan's impact on those around him. To the extent that it offers insights into the musician, it can be summed up succinctly by quoting Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro): he's an "asshole."

Although Dylan (played in the movie by Timothee Chalamet) was not officially involved in any aspect of the production - his name is absent from the end credits - he apparently was given an opportunity to read the script and responded by providing notes. A Complete Unknown's take on Dylan is far from complementary - he's more of antagonist than protagonist - so the real-life Dylan presumably agrees with this perspective. That's somewhat reminiscent of Robbie Williams' self-portrait in Better Man (although Chalamet does not play Dylan as a chimpanzee).

A Complete Unknown follows Dylan through a roughly four-year period, beginning in 1961 with a visit to the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital to meet his idol, Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy), and ending in 1965 following his controversial performance at the Newport Folk Festival, where his decision to perform using electric instruments is met with boos and jeers. In between, he has off-again/on-again relationships with two women, Sylvie Russon (Elle Fanning, based on real-life paramour Suze Rotolo, whose real name wasn't used at Dylan's request) and singer Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), and approaches fame and fans with an inscrutable façade. He befriends Pete Seeger (Edward Norton), who gives him some of his early breaks, and Johnny Cash (Boyd Holbrook). And he allows his career to be guided by his pushy manager, Albert Grossman (Dan Fogler).

Although the movie features many of Dylan's best-known songs, all performed by Chalamet with a better-than-passable imitation of the singer's nasal intonations, it's not a jukebox film or a traditional musical. Instead, it's a drama that features music. The singing comes in logical places during studio recordings and live performances. There are no instances when characters spontaneously break into song and no choreographed dance sequences. Mangold approaches Dylan's music much the same way that he approached that of Johnny Cash in Walk the Line.

At his best, Dylan is impassive and unfeeling. At his worst, he's dismissive and cruel (although he probably doesn't see the latter). He repeatedly hurts Sylvie and his relationship with Joan is such that she calls him an "asshole" on one occasion and a "jerk" on another. He shows minimal affection to anyone and turns his back on a woman who admits to loving him because he hasn't known her that long. He is deaf to the desires of fans and afflicted with delusions of grandeur.

Tasked with portraying this version of Dylan, Chalamet goes full method. For two hours, he is Dylan, recapturing the look, mannerisms, attitude, and vocal inflections of the early ‘60s musician. As always with a performance like this, questions arise regarding how much of this is acting and how much is imitation. Ultimately, it doesn't matter because A Complete Unknown gets us to believe that we're watching Dylan wandering around ‘60s New York City. Mangold gets the details right, creating a place that's both recognizable and alien at the same time.

Having an affinity for Dylan isn't necessary for A Complete Unknown to work. That's because the movie is more about Dylan within the context of a time period than about Dylan as an individual. One could argue that he's more of a presence than a character. We don't know much about his past and Mangold never attempts to get into his mind or explore his motivations. Dylan comments in the film that people make up their own histories and backgrounds all the time. (Shades of The Joker in The Dark Knight.) His birth name is Robert Zimmerman but he changed it because he liked the way "Dylan" sounded. The screenplay uses TV news announcers as a way to pin scenes to certain critical historical events (like the Cuban Missile Crisis and JFK's assassination).

An appreciation of Dylan's catalog - especially his earlier songs - will enhance the movie's effectiveness. (The title comes from a line in "Like a Rolling Stone.") Still, those hoping to gain insight into this peculiar and prickly embodiment of genius will find that desire unsatisfied. A Complete Unknown isn't shallow but the screenplay makes no attempt to psychoanalyze its subject. If there's something to be learned, it's how uncomfortable it could be to enter this man's orbit. His music is iconic and speaks to many but, from the first scene to the last, he remains A Complete Unknown.

© 2024 James Berardinelli

Synopsis

New York, 1961. 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.