“A Complete Unknown” was released to theaters on Christmas day of 2024. It follows the story of a young aspiring folk singer in New York named Bob Dylan. A few minutes into the film, the audience is introduced to fellow folk singers Pete Seeger, played by Edward Norton, and Woody Guthrie who is played by Scoot McNairy. The two are in a hospital due to Guthrie’s worsening Huntington’s disease. Dylan himself is a fan of Guthrie and visits him in the hospital, invited to sing to him. The film follows Dylan going from an aspiring singer to a celebrity. Slowly but surely, Dylan becomes the face of 1960s folk music. Barely thirty minutes in, I realized how much the music speaks for the movie. I was full of anticipation hearing about its release, not because I’m a huge Dylan fanatic but mostly because I absolutely adore Timothée Chalamet. It’s safe to say that I left the theater a fan of both.
Dylan is accompanied by Joan Baez throughout the film as both are big names in folk music. Baez is played by Mill Valley-raised Monica Barbaro. Although she is a supporting character in the movie, Baez is another key singer in folk music alongside Dylan and soon turns into a love interest of his. They mainly worked together after meeting each other in New York.
Dylan is played by Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet. I have been a fan of Chalamet’s work for over six years now, and he never fails to amaze me with his ability to somehow shapeshift into his characters. By the halfway mark of the movie, I nearly felt like I was watching a documentary.
Chalamet has already cemented himself as a diverse actor, with roles ranging from a drug-addicted young man in the 2018 film “Beautiful Boy,” to the classic story of a chocolate maker Willy Wonka in the modernized remake, 2023’s “Wonka,” both earning Chalamet Golden Globe nominations. Not only does Chalamet capture Dylan’s mannerisms perfectly, but he also sings renowned songs by the captivating artist. Having the actor sing makes the movie feel more authentic, and even better when he’s able to capture the unique accent of Dylan.
Once completing further research after watching, I noticed that Chalamet captured Dylan’s attitude nearly to a T, both in the sly remarks and willingness to do his own thing. This is shown throughout the biopic, but mostly near the end. The majority of people in the movie except for Dylan, his band, and Johnny Cash were not amused in the slightest by Dylan turning his acoustic style to electric. This is the climax of the film and is shown by the crowd’s dejection towards change, throwing items like food and cans, and shouting at the band.
“A Complete Unknown” is nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Actor in a Leading Role, Costume Design, Supporting roles, and Best Picture. The awards will be available to watch on ABC and Hulu, Sunday, March 2nd. These nominations are all deserving as the acting is excellent and the costume design has the viewer feeling like they have been shifted to the 1960s.
This movie exceeded my expectations in many ways. I grew much more respect for not only Bob Dylan’s work, but the art of folk music. Leaving the theater, I realized I had a new understanding of the power of music. Currently, I find myself listening to Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Joan Baez nearly every day. I thoroughly enjoyed watching “A Complete Unknown,” but in some parts I felt lost in the plot due to its pacing. I would give the film four out of five stars. It is certainly re-watchable and full of incredible re-enactments.
