A Complete Unknown Movie Review: An evocative exploration of an enigmatic musician

Bob Dylan did more than just sing to entertain us. Whether consciously or subconsciously, he championed civil and human rights through his work, his distinctive voice and poetic lyrics mirroring the conscience of a community facing a cultural crisis. For example, his wildly popular song, ‘Blowin' in the Wind’, calls out racial inequality. However, is that a conscious decision stemming from a strong urge to see a change in the world or an ordinary human's reaction to all the injustice around him? This is among the many provocative ideas that the new Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, posits and leaves you with.

Director: James Mangold

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

Rating: 3.5 stars

How do you do justice to a singular talent and icon such as Dylan? A lengthy biopic is hardly the answer, and thankfully writer-director James Mangold does not try to encapsulate the singer’s whole life into one. Mangold’s film understands that Dylan is an enigma and is best portrayed as such. The film, thus, only charts the musician’s rise from the New York City music scene to the epicentre of a folk music renaissance, which resonates with the country’s civil rights movement.

A Complete Unknown starts with Bob Dylan (Timothee Chalamet) going to New York City to meet his idol, Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy) who is gradually dying of Huntington's disease. Dylan performs a song he specifically wrote and composed for Guthrie, and it impresses the latter and his long-time friend Pete Seeger (Edward Norton). Seeger then takes Dylan under his wing, gradually introducing him to music aficionados in NYC. The rest is history. His stature rises gradually and he eventually becomes the Bob Dylan we know today.

A Complete Unknown explores the different shades of Dylan’s personality while also remaining an exhilarating film about music. The pacing never dips, as Mangold abstains from exposition and fills the screen with an array of masterful Dylan songs and memorable characters. Dylan detaches himself completely from fame and disregards public opinion. We learn this not merely through dialogue but from Chalamet’s beautifully internalised performance. The writing also helps. For instance, when his manager Albert Grossman (Dan Fogler) asks Dylan about competition with The Beatles, the musician does not seem to care. The threads showing Dylan’s relationships with Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning) and fellow folk musician Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) further explore facets of him that help make him a more complex and interesting character to study. For Sylvie Russo, it does not sit well with her that Dylan is known to the world around him but not well enough to her, despite their considerable time dating. For Joan Baez, Dylan’s obsession with his own work and lack of appreciation for hers becomes a point of contention. The dynamic between Dylan and Baez involves personal disagreements even as their professional collaboration remains a key part of the story, highlighting the complexities of artists working together. The film effectively portrays the duality of their relationship, where friction and harmony coexist.

All these threads blend well with the larger themes of artistic freedom and artistic integrity versus artistic responsibility. They help paint a broader picture of a man who is larger than life and full of himself, yet has stoic-like qualities. For example, Dylan writes existential and introspective lyrics, stirring up a population gripped with social inequality but hesitates to embrace the tag of being the flag bearer of folk music. He wants to be a free man, performing his new work on tours instead of catering to popular demand. 

Another admirable quality of A Complete Unknown is that it celebrates its central character without ever reverting to overly flattering cliches. Chalamet embodies Dylan's evolving persona with a captivating blend of confidence and vulnerability. Younger Bob Dylan admits to being shy around Seeger and Guthrie. Later, he develops a swagger that shows that he is here to rule. The actor’s singing may not please purists, but he does it with a sense of earnestness that makes it irresistible. Barbaro complements Chalamet with a subtle yet powerful performance; her soprano adds a beautiful layer to the musical landscape of the film. Mangold also surrounds them with an array of terrific performers such as Fanning as Dylan’s girlfriend or Norton as Dylan’s mentor Seeger. Even the relatively smaller characters have their moments, such as Dan Fogler as Dylan’s manager or Boyd Holbrook as Dylan’s idol Johnny Cash. Besides the performances, the art direction and production design also help capture the spirit of the bygone era.

The climax could use some more nuance; it feels a tad abrupt, but this is not a dealbreaker in an existential musical film that serves as a strong character study. Overall, A Complete Unknown is a highly authentic and thoroughly entertaining musical biopic.