It’s New York in 1961: A teenaged and unknown Bob Zimmerman arrives in the Empire State. He is determined to visit his musical hero, folk singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie, who is hospitalized — and to carve out his own place in the music industry.
This marks the beginning of A Complete Unknown, a deeply immersive biopic chronicling the meteoric rise of Zimmerman-turned-Bob Dylan, one of the most iconic musicians in history.
Directed by James Mangold, the film captures the essence of Dylan’s journey from a sharp and determined kid in Greenwich Village to a groundbreaking artist who redefined the boundaries of music.
At the very centre of the film is Timothée Chalamet, whose transformative performance brings Dylan to life. From Dylan’s signature vocal style and unique mannerisms to his mastery of the harmonica and guitar, Chalamet fully disappears into the role. His commitment to authenticity shines through in scenes where he performs live, channeling Dylan’s personality and skill.
The audience doesn’t see Chalamet on screen — they see Dylan. And if one were to close their eyes, they’d hear Dylan, too.
The film doesn’t shy away from the complexity of Dylan’s career, exploring his emergence as a musical icon and his controversial decision to play electric guitar at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. This surprising switch was Dylan’s attempt to resist being pigeonholed as simply an acoustic folk artist.
This big moment serves as both a climax and a reflection of the bigger cultural shifts. Mangold juxtaposes Dylan’s personal struggles with the social and political turbulence of the 1960s, weaving historical events like the Cuban missile crisis and the civil rights movement to display the power of music during the period.
One of the more powerful scenes is when Dylan performs “The Times They Are A-Changin’” to the festival crowd, with Mangold bridging political happenings with Dylan’s songwriting.
The supporting cast is equally great, with Elle Fanning as a fictionalized version of Suze Rotolo, Dylan’s on-and-off girlfriend in the 1960s, adding emotional depth to the narrative.
However, the underwhelming treatment of Fanning’s character is one of the film’s most notable issues. Despite playing Dylan’s partner, she’s frequently relegated to the role of a damsel in distress — often complaining or gazing wistfully at Dylan — without having the opportunity to truly stand out. As a result, her character feels flat and one-dimensional.
Edward Norton portrays an ernest Pete Seeger, capturing the folk legend’s frustration and reverence for Dylan. Monica Barbaro also shines as Joan Baez, whose beautiful duets with Chalamet recreate some of Dylan’s most iconic performances, in spite of Baez and Dylan’s personal frustrations with the other as their big personalities clash.
There’s also a rivalry between Baez and Fanning’s Sylvia as they vie for Dylan’s attention, but the two women never actually interact on screen. This lack of engagement feels superficial and ultimately dismissive of the film’s female characters.
Another flaw is the sheer number of characters crammed into the story. Between Dylan’s backing band, his production team and the array of famous musicians making appearances, the narrative feels overcrowded and difficult to follow through its several-year span.
However, an undeniably great aspect of the film are the visuals and the music. Set against the backdrop of cigarette smoke-filled New York clubs, recording studios and the huge crowds of the Newport Folk Festival, the biopic throws viewers head-first into the atmosphere of the 1960s music scene.
Adding to the immersion is Chalamet’s stellar performance on more than two dozen Dylan songs, including “Like a Rolling Stone” and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.”
Ultimately, A Complete Unknown is more than a typical biopic; it’s a portrait of an artist who defined an era and challenged norms.
Mangold delivers a sharp exploration of Dylan’s formative years, while Chalamet’s Oscar-worthy performance ensures that audiences will walk out of theatres feeling like they’ve come face-to-face with a true music legend.
Featured image by IMDb.
