A Complete Unknown Earns Five Stars

"A Complete Unknown" reveals many details of the early life and inspirations of Bob Dylan, one of America's most iconic musicians of the 20th century.

Directed by James Mangold and starring Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, and Ed Norton, explores the early years of Bob Dylan's rise to fame. Mangold, known for Walk the Line, which chronicled the life of Johnny Cash, brings a similar approach to Dylan's story.

Courtesy Searchlight Pictures

Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, and Ed Norton star in "A Complete Unknown," the story of the early life of iconic musician Bob Dylan.

When I first saw the trailers, it took me a few viewings to realize the movie was about Bob Dylan. I have a feeling an older generation would have picked up on it much quicker.

The film follows Dylan's journey from 1961 to 1965, beginning with his arrival in New York to visit his idol, Woody Guthrie, who is in the hospital after suffering a stroke. During this visit, he also meets folk legend Pete Seeger and plays music for them. The story focuses on Dylan's early success, his relationships-particularly with Joan Baez-and his artistic evolution beyond the folk scene.

Timothée Chalamet delivers an impressive portrayal of Dylan, capturing his voice and mannerisms with remarkable accuracy. He even performs all the songs himself, adding authenticity to the role. Monica Barbaro, who plays Joan Baez, also stands out, singing Baez's songs beautifully. Ed Norton is excellent as Pete Seeger, bringing depth to the character.

Going into the movie, my knowledge of Bob Dylan was limited. However, as the story unfolded, I realized I recognized far more of his music than I expected. This is likely due to the countless covers of Dylan's songs by other artists over the years. While I knew the melodies, I didn't always associate them with his voice.

One aspect of the film I particularly enjoyed was Dylan's friendship with Johnny Cash. The movie portrays Dylan's deep admiration for Cash, and a standout moment comes when Cash tells him, "Track mud on the carpet to let people know you've been there." It's a great metaphor for shaking things up and making an impact.

The film's climax at the Newport Folk Festival captures the pivotal controversy of Dylan's career-his transition from acoustic folk to an electrified sound with a full band. The tension between purists who wanted to preserve traditional folk music and those who embraced change is well presented. I understand both perspectives, but ultimately, Dylan's new sound was undeniably compelling.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Complete Unknown. Since watching it, I've revisited the three albums featured in the film multiple times. Chalamet's performance is Oscar-worthy, and I suspect he gets nominated.

I give this film 5 out of 5 stars.