Bob Dylan’s multi-decade career is not all in this one biopic, but it does start when the young singer songwriter goes to the city to explore his options and as a fan, to meet his musical hero. The film does cover the rise of the musical artist in folk music, until he decides to make the change (as seen in the trailer). I feel like I have been waiting most of the year for this film and it was worth waiting for.
A Complete Unknown opens with a 20-year-old Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet), who travels in 1961 to meet Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy). In searching for him, he learns Guthrie is in a hospital in Jersey. When he arrives at the hospital, Guthrie has a visitor, Pete Seeger (Edward Norton). Seeger wants to hear Dylan sing and urges him to do so “for his hero.” This is a very impressive scene with Chalamet’s vocals and songwriting in the spotlight of two musical greats. The additional vocal performances throughout the rest of the film are most engaging and captivating.
To also establish the timeframe of the music of the early 60s, art was being created at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The scenes of people leaving New York City, away from Manhattan, during the crisis may be a bit chilling for some viewers who may not have recollections or knowledge of that historical period. Another historical point in that period is Seeger defending his freedom of speech in a courtroom. When Seeger first meets Dylan, he provides temporary lodging. He watches Dylan’s talent grow with folk music, then he begins to explore other styles that not everyone was ready to embrace.
Mangold and Jay Cocks’s excellent script also covers the personal relationships he has during this time. The first partner mentioned is named Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning) in the film (portraying Suze Rotolo who is on the cover of his album). While he is living with her, he becomes more acquainted with Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), who already has a career going strong. They strike up their relationship and Sylvie soon suspects something. Dylan is off to perform at the Monterrey Music Festival in California, as well as going on tour with Baez. The audience will be pleased with the vocals by both Chalamet and Barbaro. It can be a crowd – pleasing film for those fans of the music when it was first released.
The ensemble of actors that support Chalamet are excellent and should not fail to be mentioned. Norton and Fanning have more screen time than others, but the actors with smaller roles are also impressive and deserve mention, including Boyd Holbrook as Cash. I am truly impressed by Monica Barbaro as she portrays the lovely and talented Joan Baez. The cast also includes Nick Offerman as Alan Lomax.
The script is an adaptation of the book by Elijah Wald “Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties.” I found the film entertaining and is one that I will continue to encourage music fans to see as it will be in theaters soon – starting on Christmas Day.
Drama, 141 minutes ‧ Rated R ‧ 2024
Source: Searchlight Pictures
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