A Complete Unknown

A Complete Unknown

An Uncompromising Portrait of an Uncompromising Artist

★★★½☆

A brilliant, albeit uncomfortable, look at Bob Dylan's tumultuous rise to fame.

Directed by James Mangold, A Complete Unknown is far from the "paint-by-numbers" vanilla biopics Hollywood often produces. The film focuses on the specific, pivotal window when a young Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) begins navigating the awkward transition from folk hero to global icon. Mangold pulls no punches, presenting an unsympathetic examination of Dylan’s personal life and his handling of romantic interests like Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) and Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning).

"Bob Dylan is not interested in being a people pleaser. He's a poet and artist who is uncompromising... he marches to his own beat."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Production Brief

• Director: James Mangold (Walk the Line, Logan)
• Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro
• Supporting: Boyd Holbrook (as Johnny Cash), Edward Norton
• Setting: 1960s Greenwich Village / Newport Folk Festival

Chalamet's Transformation

Timothée Chalamet turns in an impressive, parodically-avoidant performance, capturing Dylan's mercurial energy and distinctive singing style. It is fascinating to compare this with Mangold’s previous musical biopic, Walk the Line; whereas Johnny Cash was framed with traditional sympathy, Dylan is often portrayed as a "jerk"—a refreshing admission by the filmmakers. The movie culminates in the infamous 1965 Newport Folk Festival, perfectly driving home the point that Dylan was never interested in meeting the crowd's expectations.

💡 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Live Vocals: Chalamet performed all the songs in the film live, having worked with a vocal coach and harmonica expert for nearly three years.
• The Dylan Approval: The real Bob Dylan personally reviewed and provided notes on the script, ensuring the "artistic spirit" was preserved.
• Johnny Cash Reunion: James Mangold brings the character of Johnny Cash back to the screen here, played by Boyd Holbrook, echoing his 2005 work on Walk the Line.

✅ Pros

• Timothée Chalamet's nuanced and musically capable performance.
• Uncompromising, non-traditional look at a "difficult" protagonist.
• Spirited supporting turns by Monica Barbaro and Elle Fanning.

❌ Cons

• Dylan’s selfish behavior can make for an uncomfortable watch.
• Lacks the traditional emotional "hook" of standard Hollywood biopics.

🏆 Final Verdict

A Complete Unknown is a brilliant, fascinating look at a talented artist. It embraces the friction and flaws of its subject to create something far more interesting than a standard tribute. It is as bold and uncompromising as Bob Dylan himself.

View original review on Letterboxd