Entertainment

Bob Dylan is considered one of the greatest artists of all time, and his name has been a symbol of the evolution of contemporary music. A Complete Unknown, a James Mangold biopic, captures the journey of Bob Dylan’s early years, a story that mixes real-life events with fiction, giving it a unique feel. Some viewers have shared A Complete Unknown reviews with other fans online. The movie is based on Elijah Wald’s Dylan Goes Electric! and it explores Bob Dylan’s life from his arrival in New York in 1961 to his performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. This movie is for fans of Dylan who are curious about his influence, as it offers a detailed look into the ups and downs of his life and music career. 'A Complete Unknown' reviews are in... A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan, 2024. © Searchlight Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection Following the release of A Complete Unknown, viewers shared their reviews about the biopic. Leonard Maltin, who is one of the critics on Rotten Tomatoes, wrote about the movie on his official website. “Will younger people relate to this picture or even care about its central figures? I can’t predict that, but I know when I’ve watched a beautifully crafted period piece. This is my favorite film of the year.” “A Complete Unknown never feels like much of a movie and certainly not a biopic. Rather, it comes across as subpar, reality-adjacent fan fiction.” Candice Frederick reviewed for the HuffPost. “When it comes to fleshing out these characters, we get bupkis. Baez calls Dylan a word that starts with ‘a’ and ends in ‘hole,’ and that’s the only personality trait that informs Chalamet’s portrayal.” Odie Henderson of the Boston Globe wrote. A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan, 2024. ph: Macall Polay / © Searchlight Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection Critics have argued that A Complete Unknown does not go deeply enough into Bob Dylan’s psyche or provide definitive answers about his motivations, but this seems intentional. The New Yorker critic Richard Brody wrote in his “rotten” review on RT, “This sort of performance is essentially stunt work and so is the nonmusical mimicry that comes with it. Yet, because the movie emphasizes the characters’ public faces even in private, it doesn’t demand true emotional depth and expressive range.” Bob Dylan (b. 1941) playing guitar and harmonica into microphone. 1965.. For Editorial Use Only It is understandable if the recent biopic does not do justice to the singer’s personality, as Bob Dylan himself has always been elusive during his lifetime, often misleading interviewers and spinning myths about his past. As the title suggests, the movie embraces the mystery rather than attempting to solve it. Highlights of the movie, 'A Complete Unknown' as reviews pour in A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, 2024. © Searchlight Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection One of the highlights of A Complete Unknown is the fact that it shows Bob Dylan’s relationships with key figures who shaped his early career. In the movie, Edward Norton delivers a standout performance as Pete Seeger, showing what once happened in real life. Pete Seeger’s complicated feelings about Bob Dylan’s pivot from traditional folk to electrified rock are also captured, showing both admiration and disappointment. The narrative compresses timelines and events, such as the moments at Woody Guthrie’s bedside, but these creative liberties serve to underline the emotional resonance of these connections. What truly sets A Complete Unknown apart is its attention to detail in the performances. Timothée Chalamet, (as Bob Dylan), imitates Bob Dylan perfectly, embodying his mannerisms, voice, and presence. The decision to have actors perform live music on set also enhanced the authenticity of the movie. A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, 2024. © Searchlight Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection The movie’s climax centers on Bob Dylan’s controversial decision to “go electric” at the Newport Folk Festival. This moment angered purists and sparked cries of betrayal, symbolizing Dylan’s unwillingness to conform to expectations. Even though the scene was slightly altered for narrative purposes, it still carries the intensity of the backlash and the defiance with which Dylan forged ahead. Moreover, James Mangold’s creativity in the story highlights more emotional truths than it focuses on its historical accuracy, and while this might frustrate some viewers, it effectively reflects the spirit of Bob Dylan during his rise to fame. Elle Fanning shines as Sylvie Russo, a fictionalized version of Suze Rotolo, Dylan’s first serious New York love, portrays the inspiration and heartbreak that define their relationship. Similarly, Monica Barbaro plays Joan Baez, commanding attention every time she appears on screen. Boyd Holbrook leaves a lasting impression on the viewers as he briefly plays Johnny Cash.